Router question

[NCC1701]

Hello all, I just recently moved back into my olds' place, and of course I brought my PC with me. Now, my PC will eventually be moved to the spare room downstairs, right next to my room.

The first problem is, my folks' router only has two ports, an ethernet port, to which their new pc is connected, and a USB port, to which their old one is connected, so I can't connect to that one. The second is, the spare room where I want to put my pc is about 10 metres away, so even if I bought a new modem, I'd have to run a cable down there. I'd like to avoid that, because this house is only a year old, and I'd like to avoid drilling holes in floors and walls at this time.

So I was thinking about buying a second modem for downstairs, which would be easy enough, there are cat 5 cables all through this house. Would that be a good option, and what sort of problems can you forsee that would prevent me from doing that?

 

[Rhody the Ram]

I haven't yet had my morning coffee, so I may have missed something in your post. It's odd that a router would have only two outputs - most have four. And to have an on board usb? Is this a combo unit that serves as both router and cable modem?

If this is cable internet (and not DSL), I don't think you can add a second modem. That would require a separate activation with the provider, and would probably incur additional monthly charges (if it's even possible.) I *think* the same is true for DSL. Instead, consider getting a wireless router. They are inexpensive now (about $30US or $40US) - which is less than a modem - and you can easily connect that distance. If your computer is new enough to have wireless, you're all set. If it does not, it is usually easy to add (depending on whether you have a desktop or a laptop.) If all else fails, they make usb wireless connections that are good enough. You'll have the whole setup done for, probably, about $100US. Plus, if guests come, you now have a wireless network for people to use (if you give access - remember to set up a password key!!!! Many people forget!!!)

Hope this helps.

 

[Brolan]

Hello all, I just recently moved back into my olds' place, and of course I brought my PC with me. Now, my PC will eventually be moved to the spare room downstairs, right next to my room.

The first problem is, my folks' router only has two ports, an ethernet port, to which their new pc is connected, and a USB port, to which their old one is connected, so I can't connect to that one. The second is, the spare room where I want to put my pc is about 10 metres away, so even if I bought a new modem, I'd have to run a cable down there. I'd like to avoid that, because this house is only a year old, and I'd like to avoid drilling holes in floors and walls at this time.

So I was thinking about buying a second modem for downstairs, which would be easy enough, there are cat 5 cables all through this house. Would that be a good option, and what sort of problems can you forsee that would prevent me from doing that?

That sounds like a DSL modem not a router. You could get a four port wired router, connect the WAN connector (if it has one, otherwise any other ethernet connector) of the router to the modem. Then hook the new parents PC to another ethernet port on the router. You would hook your PC though one of the cat 5 connectors to another ethernet port on the router. Configure the router and you are done.

Or you could get a wireless router and skip the cat 5 connection to your PC and use a wireless LAN card. But I prefer wired connections if I can do it.

 

[nx1701g]

When I purchased an additional PC I was required through my ISP to switch to a home network with separate modems for each computer connected to a dedicated router. You may want to contact your parent's ISP to see what they require.

 

[NCC1701]

I haven't yet had my morning coffee, so I may have missed something in your post. It's odd that a router would have only two outputs - most have four. And to have an on board usb? Is this a combo unit that serves as both router and cable modem?

Okay, maybe I got my jargon wrong, it's a DSL modem alright, acts just like the 4-port router we had at the flat.

Instead, consider getting a wireless router. They are inexpensive now (about $30US or $40US) - which is less than a modem - and you can easily connect that distance. If your computer is new enough to have wireless, you're all set. If it does not, it is usually easy to add (depending on whether you have a desktop or a laptop.) If all else fails, they make usb wireless connections that are good enough. You'll have the whole setup done for, probably, about $100US. Plus, if guests come, you now have a wireless network for people to use (if you give access - remember to set up a password key!!!! Many people forget!!!)

Hope this helps.

That sounds like a good option. I'm pretty sure my PC has wireless, it's only a year and a half old, it's just I've never used it before. Thanks for the help, everyone

 

[Brolan]

When I purchased an additional PC I was required through my ISP to switch to a home network with separate modems for each computer connected to a dedicated router. You may want to contact your parent's ISP to see what they require.

Screw your ISP, they are just trying to get as much money out of you as possible. There is no reason a single DSL modem can't support a network of 5 or more PCs. Mine has 5 PCs, a wireless laptop, 2 Xbox 360s, 1 Xbox, a Toshiba A30 HD-DVD player and a Slingbox all hooked up to it.

 

[Brolan]

I haven't yet had my morning coffee, so I may have missed something in your post. It's odd that a router would have only two outputs - most have four. And to have an on board usb? Is this a combo unit that serves as both router and cable modem?

Okay, maybe I got my jargon wrong, it's a DSL modem alright, acts just like the 4-port router we had at the flat.

Instead, consider getting a wireless router. They are inexpensive now (about $30US or $40US) - which is less than a modem - and you can easily connect that distance. If your computer is new enough to have wireless, you're all set. If it does not, it is usually easy to add (depending on whether you have a desktop or a laptop.) If all else fails, they make usb wireless connections that are good enough. You'll have the whole setup done for, probably, about $100US. Plus, if guests come, you now have a wireless network for people to use (if you give access - remember to set up a password key!!!! Many people forget!!!)

Hope this helps.

That sounds like a good option. I'm pretty sure my PC has wireless, it's only a year and a half old, it's just I've never used it before. Thanks for the help, everyone

You just need to hook up a router to the DSL modem and share the connection like I described above. If you have a complex network you can also hook another router, to the router, hooked into your DSL modem.

 

[GMac]

A 4 or 8-port switch will do the job just as well and shouldn't cost the earth (most of the major vendors - Netgear, D-Link, Linksys etc sell 'em over here for under £20).

GM