Computer advice RE: comcast connection for 2 computers

[airhead]

My computer internet connection is by comcast cable modem. We are adding a second computer to the house. My question is to anyone who has 2 computers, what do you do about internet connections? Can I have both connected to Comcast? Or Should i connect one to cable modem and one to DSL?

 

[Dan Murphy]

You hook them up via a router.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I went to Office Depot and got a router there - made sure it worked with Comcast, though. (I'm now w/RCN & it works for that, too).

I then got a 50' cable so I could hook up my laptop, and it works great! Now I have a wireless and can move my laptop around the house wherever I can get connection. It also works for me.

Good luck putting it together. It is rather quite easy.

 

[katerkat]

We have a router, D-Link, that hooks into the cable modem. The PC is linked by cable to the router. The laptop has a wireless card from Netgear. We had a Siemens wireless card & router, but it was less than adequate. (Both died within 1 month of the warranty expiring. )

 

[SetzKitten]

I use a Linksys router to connect our computers. There is a little configuration that you have to do with the ip addresses, but if you do a search on the internet, there are step by step instructions to follow. It really wasn't difficult.

 

[airhead]

I think the new 'puter will have a DSL hookup....

 

[oogieboogie]

Originally posted by airhead
I think the new 'puter will have a DSL hookup....

You're going to pay DSL and Cable???? For the same price as a month's Cable payment you could get a good router setup and only pay a one time fee.

It's really very simple. Cable modem ---> router --> computers
You'll need 2 RJ-45 cables, one for each computer to the router. The router will come with instructions on how to set it up and program the hardware.

I say buy a router. Then come on the DIS and we'll help you set it up or PM me and I'll walk you thru it over the phone.

 

[airhead]

.....will I have cables running through my house?? They're on different floors in the house.

 

[airhead]

....I get 1 month free DSL,no contract to sign. Meanwhile,I guess I'll look into the router thingy.......

 

[oogieboogie]

If you have 2 computers on 2 separate floors, I suggest getting a wireless router.

For this setup what you'll need is:

1 wireless router
1 wireless adapter for the computer that's on a separate floor as your cable modem
1 rj-45 cable for the computer that's closest to your modem

There are plenty of good routers out there. D-Link, Linksys and Belkin are popular models. The router and adapter do not need to be the same brand, different brands will work together. Get a wireless 802.11g router. They're faster than the older 802.11b or 802.11a.

 

[DizGeek]

Your best bet is a wireless router. You'll have both computers on the one internet line and youll be able to network with each pc.

Dont think you can do it yourself...no worries...pay someone...maybe even the cable guy. This will be much cheaper in the long run than paying for a cable modem and DSL.

 

[DennisP]

I hooked up 2 desktops plus a laptop for a friend who has Comcast Cable. It was real easy.

Cable modem to wireless router to desktop #1 NIC
Wireless PCI adapter for desktop #2
Wireless PCMCIA card for laptop.

I believe Comcast charges $3.00 per month for the cable modem. IMHO it's probably better to buy a cable modem than to pay "rent" for one every month.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We have a desktop wired to router, wireless for the laptop. No sense having to IP's. Follow what ob said above, it really is not that difficult. If you have a PC now and are on the Net and on a BB, you can do it.

 

[mickeyfan1]

If you are going to go DSL, then drop comcast and get yourself a wireless router. It is VERY easy to set up, even my DH can do it. We just switched from Comcast to Verizon DSL because there is NO cable where we live. Verizon sent a new DSL modem, I had to get DLink support to help with the router settings, but that was the only problem. Now we are running 2 laptops and a desk top. I am seriously thinking of getting a new router, the DLink is almost 3 years old, and I think I can get one that is a little faster. If you had told me 3 and 1/2 years ago that I would be wireless, I would have said, NO WAY, too complicated. But it is the easiest thing in the world.

 

[DennisP]

The new 802.11g wireless router runs about 54 Mbps while the 802.11b standard wireless router runs about 11 Mbps. The 802.11g is backwards compatible with the 802.11b. To take advantage of the higer speed, the NIC in the computer should be the 10/100 combo card. The newer NICs has triple speeds (10/100/1000).

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Originally posted by DennisP
The new 802.11g wireless router runs about 54 Mbps while the 802.11b standard wireless router runs about 11 Mbps. The 802.11g is backwards compatible with the 802.11b. To take advantage of the higer speed, the NIC in the computer should be the 10/100 combo card. The newer NICs has triple speeds (10/100/1000).

However, right now, speeds on Cable/DSL modems aren't even 11Mbps, so the speed increase would only be noticable if you're transferring files between your computers, within the house.

However, it allows for future upgrades in Cable/DSL technology, so it doesn't hurt to have the option available.

 

[airhead]

This all sounds too freekin' involved for me!! I like the idea of paying someone to do it for me.......

 

[oogieboogie]

my advice:

take to BestBuy and ask the customer rep to get you these items:

BELKIN Component Category 5e Cat. 5e Green Molded patch cable, 6 Feet
$2.49

D-Link AirPlus G High Speed 2.4 GHz 4-Port 802.11g Wireless Router, Model DI-524
$61.00


D-Link AirPlusG 2.4GHz Wireless USB Ethernet Adapter, Model DWL-G122
$58.00

Substitute the brands for whatever you like or what's on sale, but that's the general idea and price. You could go cheaper with the Ethernet Adapter but I didn't think you'd want to open up your PC and fiddle with the insides, right?

This is all you'll need. The process of installing everything is pretty simple. Just follow the instructions on each item and you're good to go.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Make sure if you have wireless home telephones what GHZ they are on. If you have 2.4 you can NOT use a 2.4 router. They will interfere with each other.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by mickeyfan1
Make sure if you have wireless home telephones what GHZ they are on. If you have 2.4 you can NOT use a 2.4 router. They will interfere with each other.

Not completely true. I have a Netgear 2.4g router sitting 2 feet from a GE 2.4G cordless phone and both work pefectly.