How to connect two computers

ali99

Hi - I have a pc upstairs, and we are about to get a computer downstairs. I know it is a really basic question, but how do I get the new one to share the same broadband connection? The upstairs one is directly by the phone line so the modem connects there, the one downstairs won't be near a phone socket.
Sorry to ask something so completely basic - I think I need a router? but I don't really know what I am looking for or if I need any other cables. Our current pc is from mesh and the new one will be the dell studio hybrid. We are getting it from currys, as we get free delivery and cashback, so if anyone could identify the other bits we need from currys, that would be fab!

Thank you!

Ali

samhale

What is the modem- a USB DSL one?
If so, just buy a router.
I was with BT, so bought a Homehub for 50p (£5 paypal voucher), plugged it in, and had wireless.

From there you can buy a wireless PCI card, a USB dongle, or cable it with ethernet cable.

ali99

samhale wrote: »

What is the modem- a USB DSL one?
If so, just buy a router.
I was with BT, so bought a Homehub for 50p (£5 paypal voucher), plugged it in, and had wireless.

From there you can buy a wireless PCI card, a USB dongle, or cable it with ethernet cable.

Um, it says speedtouch 330 on it? It is from talktalk, although the phoneline is still BT. Should I go to talktalk and see what they do? I don't know if I need all the other things - I don't know what they are:o

thomas01155

Ask them if they can give you a free router.

Wookey

Router will allow for multiple pc's to connect, as long as each pc has a network connection or network card installed simply run a cable from each to the router or go the wireless router option.

If the modem/router you have is a single connection only then you will need to connect the two pc's together using a crossover connection cable, this option isnt so good as both pc's need to be turned on to get a connection.

samhale

ali99 wrote: »

Um, it says speedtouch 330 on it? It is from talktalk, although the phoneline is still BT. Should I go to talktalk and see what they do? I don't know if I need all the other things - I don't know what they are:o

Exactly what I had, a speedtouch 330.

Unfortunetly you can only use them on BT, and I've checked, they don't work on talktalk.

You can bother unlocking them, but I wouldn't bother, just buy a cheap bt voyager router.

ali99

Hello, I'm back and still totally confused. I have bought a wireless router, but I haven't opened the box in case I have got the wrong thing! How do I know if either of my computers are OK to go wireless? Sorry to be totally clueless but I really don't know what I am doing!
And I have another question - I looked on talktalk and found lots of instructions about setting up a router, but it wants to know what operating system you are using. I have one on XP and one on Vista - which do I use to set up the router? And when I put in passwords, does this have to be the password I currently use for talktalk - as that just connects automatically and so I don't remember what it is!
Seriously in a muddle, any help appreciated.
Ali

espresso

How can anyone tell you if you have bought the correct router if you don't tell us exactly what you have bought? e.g. make/model.

samhale

And you need to find out if you have 2 wireless computers otherwise you need ethernet cables

ali99

Sorry. The router is Linksys by Cisco. It says it is Wireless-G ADSL2+ Gateway, All-in-one modem and router solution for Internet connectivity. I have no idea if either computer is wireless. One is the Dell Studio Hybrid 4037 from Currys but it doesn't say anything about modems on the spec, and the other is from mesh and is the one I am using now but I have no idea if it can be wireless or not. I don't want cables running all round the house - one is upstairs and one is downstairs.

Does that help? Sorry to be so hopeless:o

espresso

ali99 wrote: »

Sorry. The router is Linksys by Cisco. It says it is Wireless-G ADSL2+ Gateway, All-in-one modem and router solution for Internet connectivity. I have no idea if either computer is wireless. One is the Dell Studio Hybrid 4037 from Currys but it doesn't say anything about modems on the spec, and the other is from mesh and is the one I am using now but I have no idea if it can be wireless or not. I don't want cables running all round the house - one is upstairs and one is downstairs.

Does that help? Sorry to be so hopeless:o

Well you have bought the correct type of router. It is best to have one PC connected to the router via an Ethernet cable, so you just need to make the PC upstairs wireless enabled. You could set up the router now, just completely disconnect the Speedtouch modem and follow the instructions in the user guide and use the info that you have found regarding TalkTalk specific settings.