2 PCs on NTL

bestyman

Hi,
Gonna get my kid a PC for his birthday, he lives with his mum and has NTL. Problem is I dont know anything about NTL and need to connect 2 PCs to the internet using NTL.
Do we ring ntl and get another conection ? or is it possible to split it somehow.
Whats the cheapest way to do this please?
Thanks
Bestyman

EDIT thanks for all your help, still had one more question but late getting back and now on page 3 , just need a little bit more help as per last post.

Cheers

jampton

No you don't need another connection and yes the connection can be shared.

It is difficult to recommend a solution without some more information. Are the PCs going to be sat next to each other ? In which case a wired solution would be appropriate or if not it may be easier to use a wireless solution. For more advice from the real experts on here you will need to know a little about the existing PC such as the operating system , whether it has an ethernet port etc

I have an NTL connection and more than one PC and IMHO a wireless (with 4 wired ports) router is the way forward - this is not the cheapest solution and would start at £40 + £20/PC you wanted to operate wirelessly

highlighter

bestyman wrote:

Hi,
Gonna get my kid a PC for his birthday, he lives with his mum and has NTL. Problem is I dont know anything about NTL and need to connect 2 PCs to the internet using NTL.
Do we ring ntl and get another conection ? or is it possible to split it somehow.
Whats the cheapest way to do this please?
Thanks
Bestyman

Bestyman,

Have you considered a laptop?- laptops are more and more popular and alot of people prefer them to desktops. As i presume the pc would be in your chids room, getting a laptop saves on space etc.

Also wireless seems to be built into just about all laptops you buy new. This would then leave you to get a router (£40 - £70+)(which would sit next to the existing pc and the laptop could be used wirelessly all over the house)

Obviously i dont know your budget but just something to consider. If you watch out for Dell's offer you could pick up a wireless laptop for £375 or chesper through the dell outlet

bestyman

Hi, Thanks for replies.
Ordered a PC from Dell last night so that rules the laptop out.
The 2 pcs are in two bedrooms so ( thinks could drill hole through wall) less than 3metres apart.
All have usb2 but not sure about ethernet yet on both as pc not arrived yet.
At present there is ntl box ( not a set top box) in the bedroom connected to one PC.

I will have a look when the pc arrives and post back.
For now I was just trying to figure out if it could be done, NTL want £18 a month to connect it up seperately. Need to get it working before his birthday.

Thanks
ps both on XP

jampton

Ok one remaining question - will you want to use (or allow to be used) the internet on the new PC whilst the existing PC is switched off ?

It will be a lot cheaper to share the internet connection from the existing PC whilst it is switched on i.e. you will probably only have to buy a cable (less than a tenner) rather than a router (around £30 for wired about £60 for wireless)

bestyman

Hi,
Wouldn`t be a problem having both PCs on ( not my lecy bill its the ex`s) .

This cable for a tenner sounds just the job. Is it ethernet to ethernet and if so what if the 1st Pc is connected to the NTL box with ethernet already? Is USB for one of the conections an option or if not am I right in thinking ethernet cards are about a tenner?

Thanks again

gazza007

You share your connection, no further cost to NTL.

It is an easy thing to do.

Dell PC will have Ethernet port.(RJ45). How does your existing PC connect?
If connected via USB, change to Ethernet cable it will have a connection on the NTL BB Modem. If your old PC doesn't have an ethernet socket, buy a PCI 100/10 ethernet card(less than £10), very easy to fit Windows will see it & load the drivers.

Get yourself a 4 port router (about £20 or less).
Router connects to NTL Modem with small ethernet cable (Should be supplied)
Connect the PC's to the output ports on the router with longer ethernet cables.
You may have to install some management software for the router.
Some configuration may be required, easiest option is to set DHCP on. This is normally done via Internet explorer by putting an IP address in the URL window. ie 192.168.2.1
Any decent router Belkin/Linkyxs will have good instructions.
All you do then is shut down pc's.
Re-boot {power on/off modem& router}.
Start PC's, Router will lease local network IP adresses via DHCP to each pc.
Use the Net etc as normal.
Any problems post back

jampton

gazza007 wrote:

You share your connection, no further cost to NTL.

It is an easy thing to do.

Dell PC will have Ethernet port.(RJ45). How does your existing PC connect?
If connected via USB, change to Ethernet cable it will have a connection on the NTL BB Modem. If your old PC doesn't have an ethernet socket, buy a PCI 100/10 ethernet card(less than £10), very easy to fit Windows will see it & load the drivers.

Get yourself a 4 port router (about £20 or less).
Router connects to NTL Modem with small ethernet cable (Should be supplied)
Connect the PC's to the output ports on the router with longer ethernet cables.
You may have to install some management software for the router.
Some configuration may be required, easiest option is to set DHCP on. This is normally done via Internet explorer by putting an IP address in the URL window. ie 192.168.2.1
Any decent router Belkin/Linkyxs will have good instructions.
All you do then is shut down pc's.
Re-boot {power on/off modem& router}.
Start PC's, Router will lease local network IP adresses via DHCP to each pc.
Use the Net etc as normal.
Any problems post back

This will work however it is not the cheapest solution - NTL modem via usb to existing pc - ethernet to ethernet via crossover cat5 cable between the PCs and use windows Internet Connection Sharing - all you have to buy is a cable of appropriate length.

gazza007

Agreed but you need both PC's switched on together.

jampton

gazza007 wrote:

Agreed but you need both PC's switched on together.

We have been though this already as the orginal poster said earlier - Wouldn`t be a problem having both PCs on ( not my lecy bill its the ex`s) .

bestyman

Thanks, so cheapest option is to just get an ethernet cable. ( whats crossover cat5 mean?)

Can someone please look and tell me if this is the correct cable?

http://195.224.29.130/cgi-bin/Light.storefront/en/searchmask?supp=NT3

If not the home page is here, would be oblidged if someone pointed out what was needed. Might find a few bargains yourself there .

http://www.lightcomputers.com/

I assume I then go into control panel and network conections and its common sense from there? Do firewalls ( windows firewall) and Kerio need disableing? ( anyhow, no big deal at mo, can always post back if stuck i suppose , thanks its appreaciated. )

One last thing, new pc is a dell P4 2.8 ghz but has onboard graphics. Kids play games a lot so should any 128mb card do or am i living in the past ?? 256?? 512?? Games not my departmant.

Thanks in advance...

Bestyman