Best Cheap Hub.

[IamDavid]

I'm looking to buy a cheap hub to alow internet access to 3 systems thru my cable connection. I don't want a USB one and would prefer to have a 10\100base one, all my pc's have 10\100 nics already. Any suggestions on which one to get?

Also, I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for so could someone tell me if I need one with an uplink port or will any due?

And, I've heard people say there cable company doesn't allow this and can block it by only allowing access to the MAC address of your NIC card. How do they get the MAC address? I installed my own so maybe my ISP doesn't do this? Thanks for the help.

 

[MallowJr]

Get Nat32 (software downloadable via the net..lets you share a net connection) and plug the cable modem into your PC (as I'm sure it is now). Get another NIC card into your PC (you will have 2 NIC cards in your PC). Get a HUB and plug your PC, and the other 2 PCS into it. Configure nat32 correctly and voila you share your connection. NEGATIVE your PC must be on whenever others want to get on the net.

If you don't want this route, get a router...but they aren't so -cheap- but you can get some for $50-60 after coupons [check gotapex.com, slickdeals.net, techbargains . com]. Most routers have programmable MAC addresses (so I've heard), so don't worry about the mac address that the cable company programmed (hate them).

-ELmO

 

[IamDavid]

<< your PC must be on whenever others want to get on the net. >>


Don't wanna go that route.

Why a router? Back when I was on dial-up I had a 4 port hub that allowed access to everyone, has it changed?

 

[andalas]

If you use AT&amp;T Mediaone, They will use your MAC address as authentication. You could have up to 3 MAC address in their system, but only may active at a time unless you subscribe their home networking, which then you can have up to 4 or 3 connection simultaneously.

I would suggest get a router so that you don't have to turn on 1 computer all the time or everytime you want to have access. With router like Linksys DSL/Cable router you can have all your computer share connection.

 

[Jittles]

I have 2 computers on cable with modem in uplink port and comps into two ports on the hub. Easy as pie no need for router or anything. Of course, my cable company allows up to 8 computers on one modem at a time and I don't know if they all allow that. So both computers get IPs from the DHCP server.

BTW I just have a cheap 20 dollar SOHOware hub.

 

[IamDavid]

Why can't I just get a hub with an uplink port? Isn't that what there used for?
Sorry if I sound lost.

 

[IamDavid]

Thanks Jittles, I thought it was possible.

BTW: What model of hub do you run?

 

[Aboroth]

Do you know what is really, really annoying? Getting someone else's broadcast traffic and seeing it in my log files because this person, who happens to also be on the same cable network segment, plugged their cable modem and their computers into a hub. That is really annoying. If you are going to share your cable modem, please do it so others don't get your traffic. Maybe your cable company doesn't have problems with that, but mine definitely does and it is a pain in the ass.

 

[IamDavid]

SO Aboroth, What do you suggest?

 

[andalas]

as long as your cable provider allows more than 1 computer to obtain DHCP IP simultaneously, You don't need a router. Like jitles said you just connect those CAT5 cable from cable modem to HUB uplink port.

 

[MallowJr]

And most ISPs don't give that...what are you goign to do when you try it out, and find out your ISP doesn't support your DHCP retrievals? Router and nat32 are sure bets. It's like you're telling me a car can ride on bicycle wheels, not many can - but you may waste money trying it if you want! There's a reason why they have programmable MAC addresses, if yours is programmed many hubs (even with uplink) still can't be programmed to a MAC and you'll be stuck...again. BTW how'd you share a DIALUP connection &quot;without your PC being on&quot; and then come here to ask us how to share a cable modem!?

 

[IamDavid]

BTW how'd you share a DIALUP connection &quot;without your PC being on&quot; and then come here to ask us how to share a cable modem!?

Sorry, I didn't explain that part well.
When I was on dial up I did leave a CPU on all the time. I had a 4 cpu network, one cpu connected to the internet and thru the uplink port while the others connected thru the HUB.

Thanks for the advice, I just bought a SOHOWARE 5port hub. Hope it works, if not I'll have to go the Router/NAT32 way.

 

[Electric Amish]

If you use a hub, you will have to have extra IP addresses from the cable provider. They will charge you extra for these. If you use a router of some sort, you only need (1) IP address and you can masquerade the others.

amish