Networking help needed.

[buggu]

I have a basic network setup between two computer using a cross over cable however that means i need one pc on all the time inorder for the other one to be use the internet. Is there anyway of getting round this?

I have tried using a basic belkin 4 port switch but cant seem to get it working.

Alternatively if anyone can recommend any cheap wired or wireless switches or routers worth buying. seems difficult to find good deal or reviews for cable, tend to be more for adsl.

ps: i have a surfboard sb4100 cable modem

[Des]

use a router :

http://www.mplex.com/cgi-bin/ccp51/c...atstr=HOME:ntw

its half decent.. will do the job..

simply plug ur modem and computers into that.. and it good to go

[patrickp]

As Des says (that rhymes!), you need a cable (not ADSL) router, rather than a switch, buggu. Since 10Mb connection speeds are coming upon us as well, make sure you get a router with a 10/100Mb WAN port rather than a 10Mb only one - that won't give the the full 10Mb connection to the internet.

One other thing - don't use your crossover ethernet cable if you're using a router. Use all patch (straight through) cables - although this is not so important now, as many ethernet devices have autosensing which will compensate for this. But better safe than sorry.

Edit: I think you may also need to get your modem upgraded to take advantage of the 10Mb speeds. However, don't go for this yet as AFAIK they're charging £50 for the changeover - sometime next year, hopefully, they should get back to doing the upgrade for free.