Help connecting 2 computers

purple-smartie

Hi. I need help connecting 2 computers to the internet. at the moment im using one of these...

conects from my phone socket to pcs usb. Im sharing this with eldest DD at moment so its a bit of a pain when we both want to go online at the same time. I havent got a clue what I need to buy to connect both. Ive tried looking through the others threads but they just confuse me even more. How do I know if our computers have a wireless card and where does it slot in

do I just buy another one of these modems or something else? also will I have to get a certain speed of whatever I buy. I only use the internet for shopping and the usual surfing and chatting, no downloading apart from usual updates of things but daughter plays online games, star wars galaxies and world of warcraft and does some downloads but not much.

I just need pointing in the right direction of what to buy and what prices are so i dont get ripped off. Thanks.

joshm_2

This might be of some interest: http://www.adslguide.org.uk/guide/connections.asp

purple-smartie

Do you know which is the easiest and cheapest way and if theres any good deals about at the moment for any of this. both computers are downstairs at moment, seperate rooms, but id prefare not to have wires all over the place.

skiddy2k

buy a router... should be less than £50, can get it from PCworld, comet etc... enables you to split your internet connection between both computers... kindof lyke spliting the telephone-cable and shuving it into both computers. most routers can also be used as firewalls, protecting your computer as well

purple-smartie

Ive had a look on various sites at these routers and there seams to be a difference in some. do i need a certain type, speed etc or do they all do the same job. Im totally clueless when it comes to things like this

purple-smartie

The pcs are downstairs, one in the front room and one in the back room. I dont think any have a wireless card.

Broadband comes through bt phone line connected to the modem that I posted above. this plugs into the usb.

Both computers are on XP

albertross_2

If both PC's have an ethernet network card (most do nowadays), you could just get a broadband adsl router (e.g. netgear DG834), and wire them upto that, but you would have to trail the wire.

Or, you could get a dg834G or dg834GT wireless router with one wireless PCI card, then wire one up directly using ethernet, and put the wireless card in the other. (no trailing wires).

Or you could get a wireless router and two wireless network cards, and go totally wireless.

If you decide to use wireless, check the wireless sticky threads about using WPA encryption (https://www.grc.com/passwords), otherwise your neighbours could use your connection and snoop on you.

I'm assuming they are both desktops..

There are cheaper options than the netgear, have a look at ebuyer, or the wireless sticky for options..

I think PC world or curry's were selling a half price linksys router recently, there are some threads about it somewhere on the board.

albertross_2

P.S. you need an adsl broadband router (for BT lines), not a DSL/cable router (which is for cable phone lines)

Any wireless speed will do 54g (54 Mb/s) or 108+, as your broadband speed is well below these speeds, so no point paying extra money for a 108 router..(unless it is only a couple of quid dearer)

purple-smartie

Thanks for your help. Ive had a proper look this morning and both pcs do have a wireless card installed. Now im alot clearer on what to buy I will have a good look online and get something sorted.

Thanks.