NTL Cable modem 2 computers 2 rooms need internet to both... Any help?

Lady_K

I have a cable modem with ntl situated in one bedroom. This covers the main pc and my daughter disconnects it to plug into her laptop instead sometimes.

Now we want to move the main pc into my bedroom next door so my daughter has more room on her desk to work and to use her own laptop.

I'm trying to work out the best way to do it for both of us. The cable wire goes from the front of the house through my bedroom around her door frame and into her room. We both want to use the internet and I want to know if there is a way we can get around it so we can both use the computers for net use preferably at the same time with the one cable modem? My daughters laptop is not always there either as she takes it to university when shes there.

I wouldnt mind moving the wiring to my room if I had to but I wanted to know if theres a less hassle way to do it as I'd end up with some redecorating if it had to be moved. There is a large amount of cable wire though too if extra length is needed for anything as I originally asked the ntl man to give me extra as I wasn't sure where the pc would end up so he gave me the rest of the roll. I don't understand about networking but I do know we would want privacy of each pc and its contents. One is windows 98 the other is win xp. I don't know what routers are but would that be suitable in this situation?

Any ideas?

andyinlondon

you could use a router to do this, you would need a router and either sone wireless network cards, or do it with some cat5 networking cable.
But the easyest way would be to move the ntl modem into your room and connect it to the pc (assuming you use the usb connection).
Then using the network port in the pc,
(you might have to buy a network card if your pc does not have one)
just plug in a crossover cable into it
(the same as a cat5 network cable but wired differently)
and run that through to your daughters room for her connection.
then just enable connection sharing on the pc and thats it job done
make sure your daughters pc is set to automatically detect network settings which it probably is as this is the default setting.
and it should be pretty straitforward.

oh and cheap too! all you should need is some cat5 cable wired as crossover.

Lady_K

Oh thanx

I was hoping not to have to move all the wiring back to my room though but if it has to be that way then it does. Why is it better that way rather than leave the modem in the other room? I have an ethernet card in the pc already, we don't use usb not sure if thats any better or worse. The ethernet card on the pc was put in after purchase it's a netgear fa311. I think my daughter has one already in her laptop when purchased. What is a good router to get do you think, its NTL Surfboard SB4100 (I think its motorolla) Do you think I'll still need zone alarm when I have his router? I just hope it's simple because I'm a bit worried about messing up the ethernet thing as I know it causes probs if that happens

andyinlondon

it is a lot less complicated to do it that way.
and of course cheaper too.

you could leave the modem where it is but you will need to run a network cable in to your room from it and another one back to your daughters room for her connection.


if you go the router route (excuse the pun) then you will need to regester its mac address with ntl so the modem will talk to it. and then run a network cable from it to your room ( or wireless ) to access the internet. and of course it will have to be switched on in your daughters room.
so you will be running a cable anyway.

so either way you will need network cables to be run, but with a router it will be a lot more expensive to do it.
£50 for a decent router (£90 for a wireless one and £20/30 for a wireless network card for the pc)

insted of £10 for a second network card for the pc and the price of the cable, perhaps another £10 unless you know someone who can make it up for you.

Rex_Mundi

If you are only planning to connect two computers, and are not planning to add more to your network. Then all you will need is a crossover cat5 cable. This will plug into the ethernet card on each computer. You don't need to buy any additional hardware as long as each machine has a spare ethernet port.

If you can set it up that the modem is plugged into the main computer. The laptop can be plugged in when it's needed. It won't affect the other computer.

For a guide to home networking. Try this
http://www.homenethelp.com/home-network.asp

Lady_K

How come this thread had just vanished from the techie section? I had to find it by searching through my name and past posts as there werent any other pages to look through. It may go back in now as I'm writing this but I don't understand why it vanished.

Thankyou to everyone giving advice on this I'm going to try n have a go at it omg I'm dreading it. I'm going to try the usb for the comp and ethernet for the laptop although I really wanted to stay on the ethernet myself on the pc and not have to move the modem but it seems its easier. I dont understand quite though why I'd need double cable if I did leave the modem in my daughters room, that bit confuses me

I'll post to say how I managed, its the going through the wall thats the most inconvenient

Thanx Lady_K

PS
Is there an easier way for me to look through my past posts instead of navigating to one I've done and clicking on my name to find out?

Lady_K

I'm wondering if the fact that the pc is windows 98 first edition and not se that this will cause a problem with the network sharing. I can't make the first connection the laprop as its going to be disconnected a lot. Also we dont really want to share files, the printer yes but not the files does this mean we can still use the network both at the same time and does 1 of the comps have to be permanently on or can we just share the connection without needing that?

andyinlondon

it will not matter that the pc is w98 as you can still connection share from it.
you will need to have this pc on for the laptop to get on the internet but not the other way round.
and sharing just the printer is easy to do.
yes you will both be able to go online at the same time.
you wont need to have the pc permanently on, just when either one wants to use the internet, or printer assuming the printer is connected to it.
if you need a talk through on this drop me a pm
cheers
Andy

webhamster

linksys wireless braodband router wrt54g , assuimg the laptop is wireless enabled of course.You just plug the cable modem into the wireless router with a patch cable (assuming its a multi modem that does nic and usb), pc into router , and the wireless notebook doesnt need to connect PHYSICALLY at all.BENEFIT always on , no need to have the HOST machine on all the time like ics.

HARDWAY is to enable ics on the main pc , have the cable modem in usb port , connect the laptop to main pc via a crossover cable between the to network cards(nics).Cost more in the short term but for addon of say wireless dixplayers or consoles this is the way to go.

The second option has bugs and limitations , as does the first being a relative noob that you are I would go the router route(pun intended).Of course you need to LEARN a lot about networking to work out any problems.

seth

Branded router are around 20 quid.

Netgear
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=41592
USR
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=5059236279&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=44088

Unbranded cheaper still

If you want wireless in the router its around 30 quid plus VAT
Netgear
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=54227

Again cheaper if you go unbranded

Install the firewall software there is lots of free stuff, and free antivirus like AVG (Free for home use) on all PCs and laptops.

Also worht downloading the free scanner in Doctor Spyware from PC tools to see if you have hijackers, or adware spyware on board.

sevlow

As stated in an early reply you do not need a router to connect two pc's.

Two computers can be connected by a cat5e ethgernet crossover. These are available in a variety of lengths either from your local computer store or Ebay. Both computers will requirea netrwork card which usually already installed on most PC's and laptops. Once connected you can use Windows network and internet sharing wizards to configue the network. This allows you to sahre files and a single internet connection.