[the_blue_tuna]

I am looking at getting DSL , as it has finally became available where I live. My question has to deal with splitting the connection between 2 computers. I dont really have a clue as to what I need or if I can even do it . It would need to be wireless . Where could I get such a thing and what would I ask for. The company I was talking with said that an Ethernet card would really enhance the workings of the DSL . What is an ethernet card? Is all of this stuff things that can be installed by the end user? Thanks for any advice.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by the_blue_tuna

I am looking at getting DSL , as it has finally became available where I live. My question has to deal with splitting the connection between 2 computers. I dont really have a clue as to what I need or if I can even do it . It would need to be wireless . Where could I get such a thing and what would I ask for. The company I was talking with said that an Ethernet card would really enhance the workings of the DSL . What is an ethernet card? Is all of this stuff things that can be installed by the end user? Thanks for any advice.

First, don't just look at getting it, get it... you will love it vs. dial-up. Second... Yes you can do it, wireless however will be much more expensive than wired... as usual, the newest/best technology costs lotsa $$ ..... Where... well, anywhere that sells computer parts/components... I don't know where you live, but I'm sure if you check your phone book you'll find someplace... or Best Buy if you have one near you will have all the stuff you need. Ethernet card... hmm, well, yeah I guess enhance would be a good word.... they might have wanted to tell you that it is NECESSARY... lol ... the ethernet card is the interface between your computer and your connection. A wireless ethernet card tho, is what you'll be needing ... two of them in fact, as well as a wireless router (there are other things you can use, but I strongly recommend a router).... You will also need a DSL modem, however, the company that supplies your dsl should provide it... they might tho, charge you a monthly fee for using their equip, so sometimes, it's worth it to just buy your own. And finally, Yes, ethernet cards are very ..... VERY easily installed by the end user. If you look at the back of your computer, you see all those metal slots running sidewise across the bottom area (usually)? You will remove the case cover, pop out one of those metal slot covers, and the ethernet card will slide into a fitting that sits on the motherboard right behind that opening..... then when you put the case back on, the e-net card will be facing out the back of your pc. Really it is very easy. I myself haven't worked with the wireless stuff, but only because I'd rather spend my money on my tanks now Good luck!

[orion25]

I am assuming one of your computers (a desktop) currently sits near a phone jack. If this the case you will need a wireless router. If all you do on the remote computer is surf the net a 802.11b router will be fine. If you transfer large files often you will want to go with a 802.11g router - it is faster.

Then you will need one wireless network card for the other computer. If the 2nd comp is a laptop you will need a PC (or Cardbus Adapter) Card. If it is a Desktop you will need a Wireless PCI card.

Your connection will go like this:
-Phone jack connects to the DSL Modem with a Phone cable
-DSL Modem connects to the Router with a CAT5 (Network) cable
-The first computer (A desktop with a 10/100 NIC card - or Wired Network card)) connects to the router with a CAT5 cable.
-The second computer (desktop or Laptop) connects with a Wireless LAN card to the Router as well.

As Sueet said you have to have a network (10/100 NIC) to make things work well. There are some USB DSL modems out there but they are slow and difficult to share.

I personally like DLink brand networking products. A lot of people like Linksys also. Here is a link to the configurator section of DLink's site. It should help you decide what you need: http://dlink.com/configurator_v2.0/i...vendorID=dlink

Also, here is an informative page on the Linksys site: http://www.linksys.com/edu/

I hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions.

[Sueet]

Wow, you really described that well.... Guess I need to work on my word skillz

For some reason tho, I can never remember what things are called... even if I know what they do, where they go, how they work... the names just elude me. (needless to say, trying to recall the names of my fishes and corals is killing me... cept the names I give them... e.g. perky, foxy, qb, tango.... lol)

[the_blue_tuna]

I am even worse than sueet , I cant remember what they are called , and Have no idea what they are. I thank you for the info and links . I will start studying these and see if it looks like something I could do . Thanks for the advice.
Jim

[orion25]

If you need anymore help just let me know. I have 3 Desktops and one laptop networked. 2 desktops are wired, 1 is wireless and the laptop is wireless. Networking is great!! I am no expert but I might be able to help.


You might want to try the following PC World site for buying Home Networking gear. I have not went through it so I cannot verify its usefulness.

http://pcworld.com/howto/bguide/0,guid,17,00.asp

Ryan

[Ninong]

We have three desktops that share the same cable connection. I know nothing about computers and have no desire to learn so I called some outfit I found in the yellow pages. They sent out a guy to do the wiring ($60 and it took him about 2 hours because one computer is upstairs and the two downstairs are on opposite sides of the hallway) one day and then another guy to hook up the router and insert some kind of an ethernet card or something into my computer ($160 for him and it took him about 45 minutes!).

That's just the labor costs. We had already ordered the router and card from Dell when my sister purchased her computer the month before. I thought it would be easier to go wireless but my sister was not interested in wireless because of potential interference, so we went wired even though it was a mess getting the wiring done. The guy cut holes in the wall and ran it through the central A/C ducts. I think. I know it was a lot more trouble than they anticipated. He was a subcontractor hired by the computer service company to do the wiring and he did all the hard work and got less money than the other guy who simply showed up, plugged everything in (15 minutes) and then fiddled around on the computer for another 30 minutes to get it up an running.

Believe it or not, we pay only about $9/month extra for our high speed (1500 kbps) cable connection because it's part of a package deal with the premium T.V. channels. The total bill is $99/month and that includes absolutely everything Charter Media has to offer. My sister was already paying something like $89/month just for the T.V. junk and I was paying $39.95/month for the high speed internet service. Then they decided to offer this package deal including internet service to get people to go for all the T.V. junk that my sister was already taking. Originally my account was separate from hers before it was combined. I think they said we could hook up as many as five computers for the same $9/month total.

[orion25]

With a router(s) you can hook up 100+ computers and they will never charge you because they will never know.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by orion25

With a router(s) you can hook up 100+ computers and they will never charge you because they will never know.

My cable company knows that I have a router,,, and they know I have six (and sometimes up to 8) computers hooked up to it, and they don't care..... they just wont give any tech support while its on the router..... if I need tech support, I just disconnect the cable from the router, switch it with the cable on my pc, and voila, the network is disconnected.... they don't care, so it's not a big deal.

[Zivman]

Originally Posted by Sueet

My cable company knows that I have a router,,, and they know I have six (and sometimes up to 8) computers hooked up to it, and they don't care..... they just wont give any tech support while its on the router..... if I need tech support, I just disconnect the cable from the router, switch it with the cable on my pc, and voila, the network is disconnected.... they don't care, so it's not a big deal.

They care, but really can't do anything because you are using a single IP address, so technically you only have one connection to the internet.

[orion25]

Originally Posted by Zivman

They care, but really can't do anything because you are using a single IP address, so technically you only have one connection to the internet.

That is the beauty of a router with DHCP. Your ISP sees only one comp connected but you have as many as you want. I love my router. My ISP wanted to charge me $5 for each additional computer connected each month. HA.......

Blue, If you really do not know a lot about computers you may want to pay a service tech to set it up for you. I know CompUSA has this available but I have many reasons to not shop there. They are not a good company when it comes to above-the-table business practices. I will explain more if you like but it will take a while.

I would suggest trying to do it yourself. I can help and if I cannot help you I know of a few sites that can. These sites are visited by people that are Networking GURUS!! They taught me all I know and now I set up my network, with a file server, and build my computers! I am changing my server over to Linux soon using what I have learned.

Just let me know if you need any help and I will do all I can.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Zivman

They care, but really can't do anything because you are using a single IP address, so technically you only have one connection to the internet.

No, they don't. I asked them specifically about it when I signed up for service, and I also discussed it with the installer tech when they came to put it in..... and I installed it with the second service tech when he came to install our second digital cable box... They said they don't care how many computers I hook up.....BUT they will NOT troubleshoot or offer any kind of technical help while it is hooked up..... IF I have a problem, I have to disconnect the network (oh so difficult ) and well, to be honest? Their techs are in general too dumb to help me even if I did unhook my network, lol...... they may have a smart one or two..... but I've never gotten to talk to them.

[Poseidon]

If you live in an area served by SBC, order the Homeportal by 2-wire. It is a modem with a wireless router built in. 802.11b i think. It costs $50.00 and then you will need an adapter for the second computer, depending on if is a laptop or desktop. DO NOT buy the adapter from SBC it is much cheaper at Best buy or Circuit city. However, the homeportal itself is a good deal. By the way I work for SBC, that's how I know about the Homeportal... I have DSL and love it, save for the software that comes with the standard modem, it stinks. But the homeportal PPPoE is much better, being it is a router instead of just a plain modem.