Is there any way to get round this, apart from go wireless?

greyskittles

We recently had a new modem fitted by Virgin Media. Our old modem had more than one socket for plugging in multiple internet wires. However the new one only has one socket so we can only connect one computer at a time.

Is there any kind of adaptor-thing-ma-jig I can buy to get round this (rather than going wireless)? At the moment we just pull one wire out of the modem, plug the other in, and then restart both to switch the internet over.

Or are the new virgin internet-boxes/modems/whatever they're called deliberately rigged up so only one pc can be connected at one? :rolleyes:

espresso

greyskittles wrote: »

We recently had a new modem fitted by Virgin Media. Our old modem had more than one socket for plugging in multiple internet wires. However the new one only has one socket so we can only connect one computer at a time.

Is there any kind of adaptor-thing-ma-jig I can buy to get round this (rather than going wireless)? At the moment we just pull one wire out of the modem, plug the other in, and then restart both to switch the internet over.

Or are the new virgin internet-boxes/modems/whatever they're called deliberately rigged up so only one pc can be connected at one? :rolleyes:

You need a router e.g. one of these here. Nowadays they don't cost that much less than wireless routers.

mitchg

Another option is what is called a switch its a more cost effect way of linking multiple network devices to use a connection without the network options a router will offer. These can be around £10 and up to buy.

greyskittles

Thanks to both of you.

I'm guessing with the router I'm going to have to set up a network? I've tried doing this before with a wireless router and failed miserably... The firewall on the master computer kept blocking the other computer on the network from connecting to the internet and no matter what I tried I could not get it to work.

Can anyone link me to the 'switch' that mitchg mentions?

espresso

greyskittles wrote: »

Thanks to both of you.

I'm guessing with the router I'm going to have to set up a network? I've tried doing this before with a wireless router and failed miserably... The firewall on the master computer kept blocking the other computer on the network from connecting to the internet and no matter what I tried I could not get it to work.

Can anyone link me to the 'switch' that mitchg mentions?

No if you use a router, it connects to your cable modem and automatically shares the bandwidth between any PC's connected to it, either using Ethernet cables or over wireless. If you buy a wireless router, you do not need to use the wireless part as the WiFi can easily be switched off if you don't want to use it at the moment.

C_Ronaldo

Its easy to setup a w/less router

albertross_2

A router is better than a switch, gives you added nat protection, which acts like a very good firewall.