Need to Connect 2 PCs to 1 CoX Cable Subscription- What do I need? Help me save Money?!?!

[HumbleFish]

Hi All!

I was wondering If You could help me do this with as little money and pain as possible?

My Son and I decided to go Cox Cable; we have 2 Computers and we live in the same house, and I was wondering what exactly I need to connect both Computers to 1 Cable Subcription? Do I need 2 Cable Modems?

Also, If there's anything better than Cox Cable for cheaper, or if You have any money saving tips, or advice please let me know.

Thanks for Your Help and Time!
Love You!
HumbleFish

 

[KeyserSoze]

Easiest way is with a router. They can be found pretty cheap over at Hot Deals. But, will these computers be in somewhat close proximity? Because, you have to have these wired. On the other hand, if you go wireless, that would work...but be a little more expensive.

You can pick up any cheapy router for around $30. Just hook up your connection into that, and then go from that to each computer.

(Yeah, this is a real simplified response. But that's the chepaest way to go.)






KeyserSoze

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.

Link: AnandTech - FAQ. Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

Link: AnandTech - FAQ. Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

Ignore the prices in the links above. The same or similar hardware can be found for 60%-90% less.

Example: EtherEngine 400-R 4 Port Cable/DSL Broadband Router. $7.99 after rebate.

 

[HumbleFish]

Thanks KeyserSoze and JackMDS,

KeyserSoze,

So, I need a Router and a Cable Modem and two NIC cards?... And The Computers are pretty far away, and in different rooms; so I think that I'm going to have to hard wire them.

JackMDS,

Thanks for the links, they make for some good reading... And thanks for the link to the Router.

 

[KeyserSoze]

Yeah, the Cable Modem, they will give you. And the router you will have to buy. As far as the NIC cards, they should give you one. (They did for me at least, when I first got my subscription.) You can probably get TWO out of them, because they are cheap cards anyways. If you HAVE to buy one, you can find those pretty cheap sometimes, usually around 10 bux on sales.

So, your modem connects into your router. Then, from the router, connect it to each computer via the NIC card. Voila! What OS'es are you running. Depending on that, it should pick up your Internet connection with minimal configuration/setup. Then, you can start playing around with things like File/Printer sharing.




Keysersoze

 

[HumbleFish]

Thanks KeyserSoze,

But I guess it was a false alarm, I tried to order CoX and come to find out they don't have it in my area. Not only that but I checked to see If our lines could handle DSL and it flunked. Also, we did research Satellite but it has very poor performance on PS2, so that nicks that too. Oh well, I guess we'll have to live with 56k for now.

Thanks Everyone, for Your Help and Time!
Love You!
HumbleFish