2 computers, 1 broadband connection - how?
Discussion
Hey guys,
I have a home pc already hooked up the the broadband, however, another desktop pc has entered the house and needs to share the same connection, im sure this is possible, i just need to know how and what i need to buy etc, can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Regards
Woza.
I have a home pc already hooked up the the broadband, however, another desktop pc has entered the house and needs to share the same connection, im sure this is possible, i just need to know how and what i need to buy etc, can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Regards
Woza.
Woza said:
im not using a laptop, it will be two desktop pc's? is this a problem?
No. First you need to check that both your Desktop PCs have an ethernet networking port on them. Pound to a pinch they do unless they are very old and very shite.Buy an ASDL Router. Its a box that log on to the Internet for you via your Broadband ADSL connection. You will be able to throw your "modem" away after this. Also buy two Ethernet (networking) cables. Get the guy in the shop to make sure you got the right sort.
Plug in the ethernet cables into two of the (usually) four ports on the back of the router. Plug the other ends into your computers.
Plug the router into your broadband snap (the phone line...)
At this point it all may just work.
If not - its because your Internet Service Provider requires your router to be configured. I'm afraid you'll now have to follow the instructions that came with the router supplying information at the right times from the details your Internet Service Provider gave you when you signed up.
If all that sounds too difficult pay a professional/local enthusiast to do it. It should take all of twenty minutes tops and not be that expensive.
Quick guide.
You are probably connected via a USB ADSL modem, such as the Alcatel Frog. This is designed for one machine. Whilst there are ways of adding a second computer to this, it's not worth the effort.
Best you replace the modem with a modem-router. This is a standalone device which manages the internet connection separate from the computers (that's the modem part). The router part creates a home network (allowing both computers to contact the router to access the internet, and talk to each other. A modem-router is about £30-60, and very easy to set up - just follow the instructions.
There are two serious options:
- Wired (ie Ethernet)
- Wireless.
If you can/want, you can run Ethernet cables from the router (by the phone socket) to each computer. You will need a (very cheap) Ethernet card in each computer - odds are there is already a card installed. You also need Cat5e Ethernet cables (pretty cheap), and you may want to make it more formal with sockets on the wall. Still very easy to do.
Benefits are:
- Faster communication.
- Guaranteed speed and quality down a dedicated cable
- No security issues.
If you can't face the wiring problems, you can go wireless. This uses a different router (with a wireless antenna rather than Ethernet sockets). You will need a wireless card in each computer (might be included, might not; fairly cheap). Plug it all in, follow the instructions to:
- Make one computer recognise its wireless card
- Connect to and set up the wireless router, and input connection details to your ISP
- Make the second computer recognise its wireless card, and join the network.
Benefits:
- No cabling
- Moving the computer in the room doesn't mean recabling.
- Easy to add more computers (no cables to lay - you see a theme emerging here?)
Risk is that you can't get a good signal in one room, and a machine struggles to maintain a stable, fast connection.
Either route is pretty simple to install (even installing cards in the computer), as long as you follow the instructions. Almost all computer shops will have wireless routers, and most half-decent ones will have Ethernet routers, and cables and cards.
You are probably connected via a USB ADSL modem, such as the Alcatel Frog. This is designed for one machine. Whilst there are ways of adding a second computer to this, it's not worth the effort.
Best you replace the modem with a modem-router. This is a standalone device which manages the internet connection separate from the computers (that's the modem part). The router part creates a home network (allowing both computers to contact the router to access the internet, and talk to each other. A modem-router is about £30-60, and very easy to set up - just follow the instructions.
There are two serious options:
- Wired (ie Ethernet)
- Wireless.
If you can/want, you can run Ethernet cables from the router (by the phone socket) to each computer. You will need a (very cheap) Ethernet card in each computer - odds are there is already a card installed. You also need Cat5e Ethernet cables (pretty cheap), and you may want to make it more formal with sockets on the wall. Still very easy to do.
Benefits are:
- Faster communication.
- Guaranteed speed and quality down a dedicated cable
- No security issues.
If you can't face the wiring problems, you can go wireless. This uses a different router (with a wireless antenna rather than Ethernet sockets). You will need a wireless card in each computer (might be included, might not; fairly cheap). Plug it all in, follow the instructions to:
- Make one computer recognise its wireless card
- Connect to and set up the wireless router, and input connection details to your ISP
- Make the second computer recognise its wireless card, and join the network.
Benefits:
- No cabling
- Moving the computer in the room doesn't mean recabling.
- Easy to add more computers (no cables to lay - you see a theme emerging here?)
Risk is that you can't get a good signal in one room, and a machine struggles to maintain a stable, fast connection.
Either route is pretty simple to install (even installing cards in the computer), as long as you follow the instructions. Almost all computer shops will have wireless routers, and most half-decent ones will have Ethernet routers, and cables and cards.
Highly unlikely that your PC has one installed its very rare for desktops to come with them fitted. To check though click start/control panel/network connections and it will be in there. It will probably just list your local area connection. A wirelss modem/router combo will cost about £60-£80 you can often get them bundled together with a usb wireless receiver for the same money. I would imagine you will only need one as you can then plug the first computer in via an ethernet cable from the router as it must be close to the phone socket already. So in total around £60-£80 job done. Well apart from setting it all up anyway. Good luck.
Woza said:
im thinking the wireless option would be the best, how do i know if my pc already has a wireless card installed?
and are they expensive?
Woza.
Be warned. Wireless networking can be brilliant. And it can be unusably bad. Thick walls, insulating construction materials and so forth can make it fairly slow and possibly not work at all. Only worth considering if you can't run the cables or they would intolerably ugly.and are they expensive?
Woza.
If wireless doesn't work there is the option of "Mains" networking (sounds weird) but my experience of this is it ain't so hot either.
Definitely get a "wireless" router. It will have the ethernet cable snaps AS WELL as the wi-fi stuff so you can do both wired and wireless. More chances for it to work.
Woza, are you cable BB or telephone line BB (Virgin or BT/etc)?
If the latter, then as above - ADSL based router.
If the former, then cable based router.
If you decide upon a Buffalo Technology one - whatever you do, don't ever try and have them replace a faulty one.....and I mean EVER!
Go through the retailer or just go for a Netgear or LinkSys one instead.
If the latter, then as above - ADSL based router.
If the former, then cable based router.
If you decide upon a Buffalo Technology one - whatever you do, don't ever try and have them replace a faulty one.....and I mean EVER!
Go through the retailer or just go for a Netgear or LinkSys one instead.
I'm a newcomer to all this but can highly recommend this Netgear model: http://tinyurl.com/242wfb
Networking can be a minefield to amateurs (like me) and Currys will let you return it if you really can't fix it up and want to return it.
Also, the Netgear model comes with (IMHO) excellent software which takes you through the setup, including security. Ease of install is important to a non-expert I think.
So I dumped my old ADSL USB modem and the new Netgear jobbie connects me to the internet, provides a firewall, provides wireless connectivity (file transfer between machines/remote surfing) and you can also connect them by cable, which is faster - I'm moving 60Gb as I type, and it's doing about 500Mb a minute.
Networking can be a minefield to amateurs (like me) and Currys will let you return it if you really can't fix it up and want to return it.
Also, the Netgear model comes with (IMHO) excellent software which takes you through the setup, including security. Ease of install is important to a non-expert I think.
So I dumped my old ADSL USB modem and the new Netgear jobbie connects me to the internet, provides a firewall, provides wireless connectivity (file transfer between machines/remote surfing) and you can also connect them by cable, which is faster - I'm moving 60Gb as I type, and it's doing about 500Mb a minute.
The Major difference to you between a router and the ADSL modem everybody has presumed you are using is that the connection is made by the router. Hence you will no longer see a "logon" box asking for your username/password. This is because once you have connected the PC's to the router you fire up Internet Explorer or Firefox and connect to the router's internal Web page, (The web "address" is a series of numbers similar to 192.0.0.1, just check the manual that comes with the router). This allows you to change the Username and Password to that given to you by your ISP. It will also allow you to change any details required to connect to your ISP. Usually these are on the ISP's help page so make sure you go along and read it an take note's (or print) the settings from it. Once done the PC's pick up the connection via the Network cards and connect automatically.
Edited by telecat on Thursday 31st May 08:37
Our old router died after 5 years switched on (not bad for a cheapo Alcatel jobbie).
Replaced with a Netgear router. Plugged in, pointed web browser at 192.168.8.1 and entered the login name and that was it. No messing around with router config. Only thing remaining was to lock down the wireless with a password!
http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways...
4 ethernet ports and wireless and it looks cool too
Replaced with a Netgear router. Plugged in, pointed web browser at 192.168.8.1 and entered the login name and that was it. No messing around with router config. Only thing remaining was to lock down the wireless with a password!
http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways...
4 ethernet ports and wireless and it looks cool too
Woza said:
Hey guys,
I have a home pc already hooked up the the broadband, however, another desktop pc has entered the house and needs to share the same connection, im sure this is possible, i just need to know how and what i need to buy etc, can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Regards
Woza.
Just been through this myself. If they both have ethernet, just connect them together. Worked for me. If you've got BNC ethernet, you just need a bit of co-ax a pair of tees and a pair of terminators. If you have RJ45 ethernet, you just need a bit of Cat5. You do need to make sure you get a crossover cable though, if you're not using a hub.I have a home pc already hooked up the the broadband, however, another desktop pc has entered the house and needs to share the same connection, im sure this is possible, i just need to know how and what i need to buy etc, can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Regards
Woza.
Windows works it all out and does the bizzo.
Edited by dilbert on Thursday 31st May 09:16
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