Cant use laptop and pc together on telewest broadband, HELP!

[sam1984]

I have been having probs since january with usng my laptop at the same time as my brother on his pc.
I have a linksys router which allows me to use m laptop but if my brother so much as turns on his pc it throws me off the net. Similarly, if I go on the net, the next time he tries to on his pc, it has been wiped from the pc and he has to re-install the broadband internet.
I am pulling my hair out with this, can anybody help please?

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

did you by any chance clone the MAC address on one of the devices

[sam1984]

YES AS THIS IS THE ONLY WAY i CAN GET ON THE NET ON MY LAPTOP

[Stuart]

to the forum.

One thing, before I start. On the net, typing something in ALL CAPITALS is considered to be shouting.

What is the model of the Linksys router you have?

Please don't shout - doing so will only irritate people!!

BTW - Welcome!!

[sam1984]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

to the forum.

One thing, before I start. On the net, typing something in ALL CAPITALS is considered to be shouting.

What is the model of the Linksys router you have?

Sorry I do know this as I am not thick and use internet forums all the time! I typed so fast and just clicked 'send' it was too late when I realised!
Thanks for the welcome!

I am using Linksys WRT54GS Router. My brothers pc is connected to the wall via an 'aerial' type connection which is plugged into the modem.There is also a usb cable from the modem to the back of the pc.
My router is also connected to the modem via a blue lead [?]

Does this sound about right?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by sam1984

Sorry I do know this as I am not thick and use internet forums all the time! I typed so fast and just clicked 'send' it was too late when I realised!
Thanks for the welcome!

Don't worry about it.

I am using Linksys WRT54GS Router. My brothers pc is connected to the wall via an 'aerial' type connection which is plugged into the modem.There is also a usb cable from the modem to the back of the pc.
My router is also connected to the modem via a blue lead [?]

Does this sound about right?

This is the problem. The modem can use either the USB port or the Ethernet connection. NOT BOTH (not shouting there). Try unplugging your brother's PC from the Modem, then switch the modem off. Now, plug his PC into your router and switch the modem back on. You will need an Ethernet connection on the PC. If it doesn't have one, you can buy one from any PC supplier, and they cost around £5 to £10 for a cheap one.



You should find both will work then

---------- Post added at 23:30 ---------- Previous post was at 23:28 ----------

In case you are wondering what an Ethernet socket is, your router has five of them (four for network connections, one for the Cable Modem).

[sam1984]

Thanks for that Stuart but it still doesnt seem to work out! We dont already have an ehernet cable running but I unplugged the usb from the modem and pc as you said, but now there is nowhere for the ethernet cable to be plugged into the pc? We cant seem to find anywhere it will go?

[Aragorn]

Sam,

In order to use the linksys router you will need to connect the PC & laptop either by ethernet or wirelessly.

Apologies if this is too basic, but this picture should help you identify whether the PC has a ethernet port. If not, as Stu said you will need to get a card for the PC, such as this. I would be surprised if the laptop doesn't already have an ethernet port. Along with the network card you will also need RJ45 cables. The router comes with one cable, which can be used to connect the cable modem to the 'WAN' port on the router. You will then need two cables to connect the PC & laptop (unless the laptop is going to use wireless!) - you can get them from most e-tailers or PCWorld.

Hth

[sam1984]

Looks like Im goig to have to buy a network card thingy then as I cant for the life of me find a slot for the ethernet cable!

Thanks a lot eveyone for your help!

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by sam1984

Looks like Im goig to have to buy a network card thingy then as I cant for the life of me find a slot for the ethernet cable! Thanks a lot eveyone for your help!

Sounds about right if it's an older PC (about 3 years ago they weren't really standard issue)

[sam1984]

It is older than 3 years old so probably is about right. Not got round to buying one yet though! Im sure I'll need help though when I do!

[popper]

right it took a little working out how you discribed the connections but it seems its like this.

the NTL modem <> Linksys WRT54GS through that blue RJ45.
the NTL modem <> brothers PC also connected through USB
your laptop <> Linksys WRT54GS

"I am using Linksys WRT54GS Router. My brothers pc is connected to the wall via an 'aerial' type connection which is plugged into the modem."

"I have a linksys router which allows me to use m laptop but if my brother so much as turns on his pc it throws me off the net."

implyes that your laptop already has a wireless card fitted and working AND is talking to the WRT54GS or you wouldnt get thrown off whenever your bro powers his machine.

so the easyest thing to do seeing as the WRT54GS does not have a USB connector is buy your brother a wireless PCI card (asuming his is a desktop PCI PC) then both you and him can use the wireless router at the same time.

its the USB connector thats seems to be messing it all up
and its your brothers machine that needs eather the wireless card or as above a RJ45 PCI card and long enough rj45 cable to go from his machine all the way to one of the 4 WRT54GS connectors, installing in his machine.

so you end up with
ntl modem<> WRT54GS (blue RJ45 cable)
laptop&PC<>Linksys WRT54GS (wirelessly)
both your wireless laptop and his wireless PC connect directly/wirelessly to the WRT54GS,
and its that linksys router that takes care of allowing 2 or more PCs to connect through the NTL cable modem.

it might have been nice IF the NTL modems with both USB and RJ45 had the ability
to act as a mini-router but they dont, and it seems thats were the confusion might
arise, dont ever plug both the USB and the RJ45 into 2 machines, they dont work that way.

you will might need to go into the WRT54GS mini webserver later to change setting
for both of you, but i asume its working ok for your laptop right now so perhaps not, we can work that out later if needs be.

P.S
the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster seems to not be a true 11G+ router so it might be wise to get the matching Linksys PCI card that also has
that 'SpeedBooster' option to give him max speed when transfering between machines
on your network, assuming afcourse your laptop wireless card is also 'SpeedBooster' compatable, if not, any old 11G 54mbit/s (really 22mbit/s) or even 11b 11mbit/s while slow would work.

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2004/0...eless_wrt54gs/

P.P.S
anyone reading thinking of getting some wireless kit for the first time would be wise to
get at least the 11G+ or even the new 11N standard for better throughput/error correction
and future proofing.

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 15:19 ----------

Originally Posted by sam1984

It is older than 3 years old so probably is about right. Not got round to buying one yet though! Im sure I'll need help though when I do!

it all depends on what you want to do with the machine, i for instance have an old 386 machine with fancy PCI LOL and that runs wirelessly no problems, (or at least the last time i used it).

before you go out and buy a new motherboard/CPU and so on, it might be wise to post a thread explaining what you want to use it for latest games/multimedia/encoding/etc and see whats the best fit for you before shelling out.

[sam1984]

Thankyou very much for your reply! I finally understand exactly how things sgould be working! Thanks a lot, Sam x