Home› General Chat
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Options

sharing broadband

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
hi, im a lurker, hope thats ok with the powers that be!

i suppose someone knows how i can share a broadband connection between two PC's.

i dont wanna network them and share it across the network, cos i wanna be able to access the net on either PC without the other PC having to be switched on.

i heard you can do it with a hub or router.

how much will it cost? and does it work with all broadband? i hav BT Openworld ADSL at the moment, but might get cable cos its cheaper.

Comments

  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    At home I run a 100mbps network with capacity for 16 computers which connects to the net via pipex home adsl.

    How much money do you have? I would guess at the moment you have a USB modem. The companies are quite sly, in that you have to use their modem, which can't be plugged into a network hub, or pay for the more expensive business connection.

    There is a workaround that allows you to plug into a network while using their modem, and not needing to keep a computer switched on. What I use is a draytek USB router. http://www.draytek-uk.com/ (£179) It consists of a router/firewall in a box. But instead of going to a network modem, it emulates a pc and connects to the usb modem, so your isp have no idea that it is being shared. It is quite easy to setup the NAT and firewall features on it, and it runs like a dream.

    I you have any more questions ask away...
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It works with BT Broadband, we have it in our flat between 3 rooms, the server does have to be kept on all the time though.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by * k-t *:
    <STRONG>It works with BT Broadband, we have it in our flat between 3 rooms, the server does have to be kept on all the time though.</STRONG>

    Yeah, all you need is a server PC, doesn't even need a screen and can be a bog standard 486 or something, along with a USB hub (Dixons). Plug it all in somehow and then you have a shared connection possibly.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    *is left wondering*

    I've got a cable modem here, shared between two computers with no server. They have the ability to be networked to each other, but they're not normally. Maybe ADSL changes this, but oh well...

    I've got the hub at the centre of the network, and leading from the hub is the cable modem and the printer, leading into the hub are the two computers. Quite easy to share. <IMG SRC="confused.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> *is possibly missing something*
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    cheers for the help.

    that ADSL router is expensive, a mate said he's got a cable one for £80.

    i asked because there is all this stuff on the BT Openworld website saying that their ADSL cant be shared, and u had to get an approx £300 a month "business" connection, which includes a router.

    that router on that website posted earlier looks suitable, but i may get cable broadband soon.

    a friend reccomended a Netgear cable router, how much do they cost?
    thanks.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If I remember correctly the netgear routers only have a ethernet connectio to the modem - useless if your ISP provide you with a USB modem and won't let you change it. So your choices are really:
    1. Setup a firewall/router PC
    2. Buy a firewall/router box that has a USB connection
    3. Get a more expensive ADSL connection.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Yeah, all you need is a server PC

    Microsoft's official recommendation is that for small networks under 10 clients in size it is recommended you work on a workgroup (peer-to-peer) connection.

    1) Cheapest option would be to buy a network card and use ICS (Internet Connection Sharing), both machines would have to be on, but its cheap running a small LAN..

    2) Router is the next option, then only one machine needs to be online at the same time... however this would require 2 network cards after all this is a network setup.

    USB ADSL modems are slower in performance than static Cat-5 connecting ones.. after all USB works on 5mbits/sec and 100BaseT works up to 100mb/s, this of course being if you have 10/100 network cards and a router which supports.

    If you can afford a router great, but please stick with RJ45 connections and not USB, you'll get a better performance...

    Have a look at the Alcatel range or indeed the D-Link ones, if you can afford it the Nokia M1122 is mint but its expensive.. <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

    Bandwidth is split depending on how many con-current connections you have.. <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    www.btopenworld.com

    go there for prices. i work for openworld, the products good but the customer service is a bit shite, i should know, im an agent! <IMG SRC="tongue.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
Sign In or Register to comment.