How do we split a cable connection???

[picardal]

I was just wondering if there was a cheap way I could split the cable connection for two computers at my house.... Ive heard about hubs and ive heard that you can use software to do it???... But i dont really know what hubs are and what they do...
Can someone help me out????
Any suggestions????

THX

 

[konichiwa]

Click me

 

[LucJoe]

Basically from what I've heard there are two ways to do it. You can use one computer as the main computer, and put two nics on it, then the other computer can connect to it and share internet with it. I'm not exactly sure how you do this, but both the computers would share the same IP address.

The other way I know of (which is the way I use), is to get a hub, and another IP address from your cable company (costs $5/month for me). Connect the cable modem to the Uplink port on the hub, and the two computers to two of the ports. This is the easiest way IMO, and both computers will have their own IP address.

Good Luck

-Joe

 

[picardal]

i cant get an extra ip address... It cost 15$ more for me
So I need two nics huh???
Will that cause conflicts???

 

[konichiwa]

<< So I need two nics huh??? >>
Yes

<< Will that cause conflicts??? >>
No

 

[lastig21]

I use the dual nic way for my dsl. It works like a champ and is super easy to setup in Windows 2k. Here is a pretty poor explanation for you.

 

[Soccer55]

Another way is to use a router to split the connection instead of a hub. With a hub you need an extra IP, with a router, you don't.

-Tom

 

[picardal]

does it put strain on one of the computers????---just wondering

---so what I need is a total of 3 nics....2 terminators to connect an extra coaxial cable...the coaxial cable---(the same one used for cable tv right?)

any software required for this???

This wont use an extra IP address???
thx

 

[helloedchen]

i think an easier way for you to go is getting a cable router. It'll share one ip across X amount of comps.

here's how i have my home network set up:

cable modem
|
router
^
cp1 cp2

both share the same ip and works very well.

 

[picardal]

couldnt i just use a normal network cable in between the computers???

 

[picardal]

remember, i want this to be as cheap as possible
and since I have extra nics laying around---the nic way sounds great

 

[picardal]

Gonna write this message again...

does it put strain on one of the computers????---just wondering

---so what I need is a total of 3 nics....2 terminators to connect an extra coaxial cable...the coaxial cable---(the same one used for cable tv right?)

any software required for this???

This wont use an extra IP address???
thx

 

[Soccer55]

The cheapest way would be the &quot;2 NIC way&quot; where you basically split the connection through one of the computers. IMO, the easiest way is to use a router. It splits the connection, makes a little network in your house (for file/printer sharing if you need/want it), and acts as a hardware firewall. The drawback is that the router is more expensive as you have to buy the router and the ethernet cables (unless you have the cables already).

-Tom

PS- I have my house networked with router to split RoadRunner in this setup:

Cable modem
|
V
Router
| | |-----> my computer
| |-----> sister's computer
|-----> mom's computer

 

[picardal]

yeah, i wish i had the money for a router now... Ah well, ill have to try out the nic way
Better than nothing... Can i set up a firewall 2??? not sure...
will it stress one of the computers and do i have to connect the computers with a coaxial cable???

 

[gunf1ghter]

well, actually if you want to get specific about it. NIC's that have coaxial connectors usually cost $5-$20 more than NIC's that just have an RJ-45 connection. All you need is two NIC's with an RJ-45 connection and a crossover CAT5 cable. Then just use internet connection sharing in windows to connect both PC's to the same internet uplink.

Piece o' cake and cheap.

 

[picardal]

can I just add connectors to the nics???? like buy them somewhere???
the cable(cat5) that youre talking about is that from normal cable tv???

 

[Soccer55]

The way a cable modem works is that you plug in the coaxial cable (the type that goes into your tv) and you connect the modem to your computer via ethernet cable (CAT5.....usually a grey color with clear connectors at the end). So you don't have to worry about dealing with the coaxial cable.....all you need to worry about is the ethernet cable (CAT5 with RJ45 connectors). AFAIK, you basically set it up like gunf1ghter said.

-Tom

 

[picardal]

haha ok...how expensive are those connectors of yours---like 5$ each>????

 

[Soccer55]

No. RJ45 connectors are the little plastic things on the ends of the cable that you use to &quot;plug in&quot; the cable. They come attached to the cable already. Think of the things on the ends of phone lines.....only bigger

-Tom

 

[picardal]

Ah nice, so all i need is 3 nics and a really long ethernet cable....nice
All these technical words confuse me.!!!

 

[weovpac]

After you install the 2 nic's on the computer with internet connection, install one nic you want access the internet. Then you need a program to setup a proxy. I use Analog X. Download it and read the read me. It will explain how to set it up. I started using this recently, for some reason every once and a while I have too reset my cable modem. You can use other proxy programs, but this one is free. I tried it since I had a nic card laying around, but soon going to get a cable router.

 

[picardal]

thx everyone

 

[Paulson]

Get a router

That's what I'm using. I have a public IP address and am splitting it up between bother computers i have here......