home networking
 

Can some explain why my local area connection using the ambit usb modem reads as 10mbps operational whereas my local area connection (home network) reads as 100mbps. I have only just set this network up so I am wondering whether I have done something wrong. I have linked two pcs using a crossover cable on win xp pro

Re: home networking
 

nothing wrong there, your PC will be set to automatically negotiate the connection speed, because the modem is not capable of 100mbps it will report 10mbps as that is the theoretical maximum speed the two can communicate at

Re: home networking
 

The two PC's on the cross over cable are running a 100mbps which is that max speed that the two ethernet cards which you are using to connect the two PC's together via the crossover cable can run at. For sharing the internet your never going to get anywhere near 100mbps, however if you share out a printer it will make printing a tick faster for the PC that doesnt have the printer attached to it.

The connection to the modem, either the modem is limiting it to 10mbps or the ethernet card connected to the modem is set to 10mbps. However no point in changing it as your connection to the net isnt going to be anywhere near 10mbps.

Re: home networking
 

ok thanks both, I am currently connecting to the cable modem via a usb, is there any advantage in installing and connecting through another network card?

Re: home networking
 

I suggest you buy a router instead.

These are not very expensive and will provide lots of extra useful functions - not least of which is secure protection from malicious probes from elsewhere on the internet.

Re: home networking
 

Depends what you use your main PC for and how much you use your BB connection.

USB networking is CPU heavy, so if you do online gaming you would probably notice a difference with a 'proper' lan card. If you just browse and email there probably wouldn't be much difference.

In general having a dedicated NIC is preferable to using USB, so if you've got a spare PCI slot and £10/15 quid I would go for it. Even better would be a BB router so that you don't have to have the main PC running to access the internet - wouldn't need a second NIC either!

Re: home networking
 

definately - you can get a cheap router for less than 30 pounds, and a decent branded one for less than 40...
As you already have a nic in both machines, that would be the total cost.

Then you can connect both to the router, and you have no requirement for the main PC to be on when you are using the other one.

Also this will give you a firewall that protects you out of the box from most hacking (and if you configure it well, all hacking).

HTH