2 Broadband connections in 1 house

[DontTouchWilma]

Is it possible to have 2 different broadband connections in the 1 house using the same phoneline? My parents currently have AOL Broadband on the desktop they use, but i don't want to put it on my laptop. If so, any suggestions on which ISP to use, and is going for a wireless router so i can finally use the wireless connection on my laptop a good idea, or are there security issues with using wireless, ie somebody else using my broadband?

I have to admit to being a bit useless when it comes to stuff like this, so any help would be much appreciated

Mark

[robbieduncan]

You cannot have 2 ADSL connections on one line (no matter how many splitters you have). If you really want your own connection you will need a second line to run it on. Is there a good reason you cannot simply have a wireless router and share the single connection?

[jazzybee]

hmm.. some ISPs have launched ADSL2+ at exchanges where they have their own equipment.

take a look at this:

https://www.bethere.co.uk/homebroadband.do

[Ribol]

DontTouchWilma said:

My parents currently have AOL Broadband on the desktop they use, but i don't want to put it on my laptop. If so, any suggestions on which ISP to use, and is going for a wireless router so i can finally use the wireless connection on my laptop a good idea, or are there security issues with using wireless, ie somebody else using my broadband?

Your parents can use their AOL browser, but you don't need/have to use the AOL browser on your laptop if you don't want to, you can use IE. Just get a supported router eg Netgear DG834, stick the cable in the desktop network card and away you go.

[thepassenger]

jazzybee said:

hmm.. some ISPs have launched ADSL2+ at exchanges where they have their own equipment.

take a look at this:

https://www.bethere.co.uk/homebroadband.do

ADSL2+ isn't so much 2x ADSL connections as it is more throughput on a single ADSL line.

AOL over Broadband, whilst being a trifle silly, not as bas as it sounds. Hopefully the actual ADSL component will come from a 3rd party and have the usual password/username system so you could slap a router or wireless router to handle the ADSL connection (feeding it the u/p and other settings it needs) and then just surf normally on your laptop using Firefox/IE, etc.

[DontTouchWilma]

I probably should have mentioned that its rather an old desktop and doesn't have a network card (at least i don't think it does). Think a second line might be the answer, seems the best option as i'll probably need a phone line for work anyway, just wondered if there was an easy option to get the internet up.

Thanks for the advice

Mark

[thepassenger]

DontTouchWilma said:

I probably should have mentioned that its rather an old desktop and doesn't have a network card (at least i don't think it does). Think a second line might be the answer, seems the best option as i'll probably need a phone line for work anyway, just wondered if there was an easy option to get the internet up.

Thanks for the advice

Mark

Well if you get a completley new line installed then I don't see any reason you couldn't have it running ADSL. You'd just need the phone number and contact an ISP.

Although I'd still say it would be cheaper in the long run and be more flexible to put a router in instead of the USB modem and fit their old desktop with a NIC. Router £40 - £50, PCI NIC £10 at most.
Depending on the Routers capabilities (wired only, wired+wireless) you could either bolt on to it with a cable or run over the wireless from the office (hopefully).

[tank slapper]

It is probably worth getting a network card if you go down the ADSL route. You will get better performance than through USB, especially if it is an older machine.

You should be able to find a network card for not a lot. (eg this one)