Broadband thicko! Need to connect 3 computers.

lovebargains · 25 March 2005 at 3:36PM

Ok boffins. Having telewest broadband next week. Asked the nice gentleman for advice on a modem router, and he said I need a dsl one, and that was about it! Ok experts, I have his and hers laptops downstairs, I have networked these, and we are connected via usb with a belkin ethernet adapter. The desk top computer upstairs, is not on the network. Now, I will have telewest installed downstairs, as then I will only need one wire to go upstairs. (Thicko questions alert) For all 3 computers to use broadband, will I have to bring the 3rd computer into the network, or can each one be connected to the broadband router ( will it act as a server?), and go online independantly? ( I would prefer this) At the moment its either the 2 laptops on, or the desktop, never all 3 together.
Also, is wireless as good as it sounds, or should I go for wired.
6 days to broadband, and I have to get something sorted!
Need a lie down now, the help pages I have read are acting like prunes, and going straight through me !!!

NellyLock · 25 March 2005 at 3:56PM

connected via usb with a belkin ethernet adapter

connected via usb or ethernet cable?

ok as far as i can tell from what you are saying - at the moment your two laptops are networked and you desktop isnt. you are buynig b/band and are getting a router or do you already have this.?

will I have to bring the 3rd computer into the network, or can each one be connected to the broadband router

if you buy a broadband modem router WITH ethernet ports as outputs this is possible (you can either get a modem router with 1ethernet and then buy a hub/switch or buy a router with 4+ethernet ports), however if your router is only usb then the router will have to plug into a pc somewhere and that pc will have to 'share' the network

Also, is wireless as good as it sounds, or should I go for wired.

im sitting using a wireless laptop - before i got the wireless adaptor i didnt really rate it - now i think its great! im using an apple airport express which plugs into my router not the cheapest option i know....if your looking to buy a router have a look at the belkin range 4-port 10/100 switch w/wifi i believe they are good!

hope that all makes sense shout at me again if it doesnt!

neil

Paul_Varjak · 25 March 2005 at 5:51PM

Why not try the Belkin on-line networking wizard which will help you to choose what you need?

http://web.belkin.com/config/network2/index0.asp?catid=6

lovebargains · 25 March 2005 at 5:56PM

Hi Neil, I havent yet bought the router cos I'm not sure what to buy! I understand the telewest broadband modem I will get when I have the broadband installed next week can connect via usb or ethernet, into the modem router.
I know all 3 computers connect to the modem router, but now willall 3 computers now need to be networked before I can conect them to the router to share the broadband?
The 2 laptops do not have ethernet connections, they are networked via the usb ports.
Thanks Neil!

urbanite · 25 March 2005 at 6:19PM

You do not want a DSL/ADSL router

Your Telewest Modem will be a Motorolla Surfboard which will connect via Cat5 RJ45 (Ethernet) or USB.
I would suggest getting a standard (wired or wireless) router and connect to it via ethernet or wireless nics.
It all depends really on how portable you want to be and how much money you want to spend.
Wired router + 3xEthernet cards + cables (dependant on wether you have ethernet ports already on pc's)
or
Wireless router + 3xWireless NIC's
About £30 difference in costs
The wired route will be much more secure than the wireless, but dont let that put you off.
WEP is ok, but can be easily hacked, but if your network is not secured via internet you will have the same risks.
All 3 computers will be able to access the net at any time independant of each other, and the only difference you will se to bandwith is if your downloading large files or gaming ( high ping spikes)

NellyLock · 25 March 2005 at 6:26PM

lovebargains wrote:

Hi Neil, I havent yet bought the router cos I'm not sure what to buy! I understand the telewest broadband modem I will get when I have the broadband installed next week can connect via usb or ethernet, into the modem router.
I know all 3 computers connect to the modem router, but now willall 3 computers now need to be networked before I can conect them to the router to share the broadband?
The 2 laptops do not have ethernet connections, they are networked via the usb ports.
Thanks Neil!

if you buy a router then all computers will plug into that, so yes there will have to be a network of some kind however the modem router will be the backbone of this network it as you say earlier forms a basic server with multiple cards, in order for your laptops to be connected you will need to either buy wireless adapters/ethernet adapters for at least one of them unless the router you buy allows both ethernet and usb at the same time.

i will try to do a little text diagram of schematics...

edit my diagram did not work as text formated wrongly! nevermind

ok the modem plugs into the router via ethernet. the upstairs pc then directrly connects to the router via ethernet cable (or wifi card). there is then two alternatives for the laptop both of them can connect directly to router via ethernet cable (or wifi card) or one can connect and the other one can get the internet from the connected laptop (the first method is preferable in most circumstances)

lovebargains · 25 March 2005 at 6:39PM

Aha, cheers Neil, Paul, Nelly and Urbanite. I fell the mist is lifting slightly now!
The laptops do not have ethernet connections built in, they are networked with a belkin thernet adapter through the usb ports. so I assume I can connect them both to the router this way. Right, am off to look for the equipment I need with a clearer idea now!
Cheers All!

Toxteth_OGrady · 26 March 2005 at 1:29PM

Since your TW modem has an ethernet connection you don't need to buy a combined modem/router just a router with a 4 port ethernet switch built in. You have all the rest of the kit already.

Your TW modem would plug into one of the ethernet ports of the router. The Belkin USB/Ethernet adaptors from your two laptops would plug into two more of the router ethernet ports. Finally the desktop pc would plug into the fourth ethernet port from its ethernet NIC. If it's a newish pc it should either have an NIC integrated into the motherboard or as a pci card. If not you can buy one for less than a fiver.

That would be the cable only solution and the router you need woud be something like D-Link DI-604 which you should be able to buy for under 30 pounds.

Alternatively you can go for a full wireless solution. Each laptop would need a wireless Cardbus (formerly PCMCIA) adaptor for about £25 each, and the desktop would need a wireless pci card, also about £25. You would then need to buy a wireless router with at least a single ethernet port to plug in the TW modem. Something like this for about £70. It's very highly rated and features in the PC Pro magazine A-List.

HTH

:cool:

TOG

lovebargains · 26 March 2005 at 2:29PM

Cheers TOG, desktop computer is quite new, so that should be no probs. I've decided not to go wireless yet, we may upgrade so will wait until then. Thanks all!

Toxteth_OGrady · 26 March 2005 at 2:38PM

D-Link DI-604 available for £25.75 (inc. delivery) here

:cool:

TOG

lovebargains · 26 March 2005 at 2:53PM

Thanks TOG, Is this the same sort of router need, the Model - LINKSYS BEFSX41
Product Code - 110411 , I am looking at PC world, as I need to get everything sorted before they fit the broadband, and cant risk ordering by post!

Broadband thicko! Need to connect 3 computers.

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