Connect 2nd home pc to internet

[mrsmac2006]

Hello everyone,

I am after a bit of help.

I have bought a secound pc as I am fed up with the kids wanting to be on the internet all the time while I need to be on.

Both pc's are running windows XP home.
I am on virgin cable.
I bet you have guessed what I am going to ask, lol.

I would like to know what I am going to require to connect both pc's so they share the internet. I do not want the wireless connection.

I have a feeling it has somthing to do with setting up a small home or office network but I would like to know what kind of wires etc I will require.

I hope someone out there can help me as I know you technical minded people will be sat having a laugh at me.

Thanx

[Raistlin]

1. Nobody's going to be laughing at you (well, maybe I might, but that's 'cause I'm just 'orrible!)

2. to Cable Forum

3. What you're wanting to do is actually (although you won't believe it now) incredibly easy. The only problem I can see is that you're probably going to end up with wires all over your house If that's not a problem, read on.

What you need to get hold of is something called a router. This is a small(ish) box that connects to the Cable Modem. You then connect your computers to this box and it will share your internet connection across the different machines.

In time, when you get used to the idea, you will be able to do more 'networking' between the machines. For now though, this will help you get to where you want to be.

Like I say though, doing it this way will mean having cables running all over the place.


Exactly how you connect to the modem, and exactly what sort/model of router you need, will depend on what sort of modem it is, and that's where I bow out I'm afraid. I'm not a VM customer so I haven't got a clue what hardware you are using.

If you'd like to hold the line I'm sure somebody will be along shortly with some more advice

[Delta Whiskey]

You'll need a router like this one - http://tinyurl.com/2ge7gv. Even though you say you don't want wireless connectivity now you might want it in the future, the wireless routers aren't that much more expensive I use this one - http://tinyurl.com/2huxar

[mrsmac2006]

Thank you for your quick responce.

And for not having too much of a laugh .... mmmmm...lol

The pc's are going to be station right next to each other. Daft as it might sound but I like to keep an eye on what the kids are doing.

So I need a router I am guessing you can get these from PC world.

If it helps anyone out there I have a 'Cable modem ntl:250' and its blue.

I read the ntl 250 from off the back so I am assuming as us women do that thats what model it is.

Thanx

[Halcyon]

Hi there,

Make sure that the router you buy is a cable broadband router and not an ADSL router as this will not work with your connection.
You can get one from PC World but I'm sure you'l find cheaper online.
I have this one at the moment:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-Ethe...261346&sr=1-51

Very easy to setup.

1. Turn off PC's and turn off NTL cable modem.

2. Still switched off, Connect NTL modem to router and each PC to router.

3. Switch on NTL modem and wait for lights to be steady.

4. Switch on router and wait til lights are steady.

5. Switch on PC's and should work straight away.

[mrsmac2006]

Thank you for you reply.

I will follow your instructions to the t when I get the router.

Been impatient I might just have to go to Pc World. lol

I will check price and then decide how impatient I am.
Thank you again

[Raistlin]

Ok.

Your best bet (in my, admittedly rather humble, opinion) is going to be a basic Linksys router.

As DW has said above, you might not want the wireless now but as most come with it you might as well get a wireless one, disable the wireless, and then it's there for when you do decide you want it.

I think that this little fellow will do the job quite nicely: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WRT5...7263320&sr=8-3

Anything similar from PC world will be ok, just don't buy an 'ADSL' router! Tell them it's for a cable DSL connection.

simply turn everything off and unplug the modem from the computer it's plugged into at the moment.

Using ethernet cables (you will get one with the router, and probably got one with the modem, so you just need one more straight-through cat5 ethernet cable) plug the port labelled 'Internet' into the back of your modem, and then plug your two computers into the other ports (labelled 1-4) in the back of the router.

Switch the modem back on, leave for 5 minutes, switch the router on, leave for 5 minutes, switch the computers on one at a time.

Once that's done you should all be connected to the Internet. You then need to set up the security etc on the router. If you post back here when you get to that point someone will talk you through it all

---------- Post added at 12:28 ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 ----------

Nah

Beaten to it by Halcyon

---------- Post added at 12:28 ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 ----------

[Delta Whiskey]

Looking at the PC World website, I can't see any non-wireless routers listed. The router that Halcyon and I have mentioned would seem to be that way to go, the Amazon price is pretty good too. I bought my router from Amazon, I've never had any problem with them in the eight years I've been a customer.

You are right to want to check the websites the kids are visiting, I would never allow any child under 16 to have a computer in their room.

'Cable DSL'? Are you sure?

I thought it was either cable or DSL, DSL (or ADSL) being the one she doesn't want.

And so far, nobody has asked Mrsmac to ensure that both PCs she wishes to connect have an ethernet port, nor have they told her that she may need to buy two lengths of ethernet cable when she visits PC world (I suspect that the router will come with, at best, one length of cable to connect the router to the cable modem - if it doesn't, then put three lengths of cable in your basket).

[Delta Whiskey]

Originally Posted by Chris T

'Cable DSL'? Are you sure?

I thought it was either cable or DSL, DSL (or ADSL) being the one she doesn't want.

And so far, nobody has asked Mrsmac to ensure that both PCs she wishes to connect have an ethernet port, nor have they told her that she may need to buy two lengths of ethernet cable when she visits PC world (I suspect that the router will come with, at best, one length of cable to connect the router to the cable modem - if it doesn't, then put three lengths of cable in your basket).

Fair points. I assumed the PC's were reasonably new as they are both running XP and therefore would have ethernet ports. She will of course need to buy at least one cable (my Linksys came with one short cable).

The manual for the router is here: http://www.isomicro.co.uk/downloads/befsr41_ug.pdf Chapter four shows how the router is connected.

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by Chris T

'Cable DSL'? Are you sure?

I thought it was either cable or DSL, DSL (or ADSL) being the one she doesn't want.

You're right, my bad.

However.....

Originally Posted by Chris T

And so far, nobody has asked Mrsmac to ensure that both PCs she wishes to connect have an ethernet port, nor have they told her that she may need to buy two lengths of ethernet cable when she visits PC world (I suspect that the router will come with, at best, one length of cable to connect the router to the cable modem - if it doesn't, then put three lengths of cable in your basket).

Originally Posted by Raistlin

Using ethernet cables (you will get one with the router, and probably got one with the modem, so you just need one more straight-through cat5 ethernet cable) plug the port labelled 'Internet' into the back of your modem, and then plug your two computers into the other ports (labelled 1-4) in the back of the router.

So, not guilty

I would imagine that, mrsmac being the intelligent and thoughtful lady she is, she will already have sussed that there is a need to poke around the backs of the machines. We've already established a pattern of behaviour for this as well:

Originally Posted by mrsmac2006

I read the ntl 250 from off the back so I am assuming as us women do that thats what model it is.

Given that at least one of the computers is fairly new:

Originally Posted by mrsmac

I have bought a secound pc [...] running windows XP home.

I assumed that it was likely to have an Ethernet port. I'm fairly sure, given that it too is running Windows XP, that the original PC is new enough that we can make an assumption in that case as well.

So, there we have it. I've made a couple of assumptions, oh dear - I think everything else we've said has been fairly on the money though.

[mrsmac2006]

Hello, that will me a hand's & knee's job wont it! I have already cleaned under the pc desk today lol.

Thank you for adding this your an as I would not of even thought of looking and I am sure I would have been asked in pc world.

I have come across an item in another know shop for £31.99 it is a wireless one. Can you turn all the wireless ones off ( again please dont laugh) I am trying to learn.

It would be ok if dh knew about pc's but he only recently found the on off button. lol

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by mrsmac2006

I have come across an item in another know shop for £31.99 it is a wireless one. Can you turn all the wireless ones off ( again please dont laugh) I am trying to learn.

You can with most routers, if you post a link to where you've found it it may be that it's one I've used previously and I can tell you for sure.

[Delta Whiskey]

Nobody is going to laugh at you, this is a good place to ask questions. The moderators do a great job of keeping it that way.

You can switch the wireless off (see pic of my router setup webpage).

Originally Posted by mrsmac2006

It would be ok if dh knew about pc's but he only recently found the on off button. lol

Are you a mumsnetter perchance?