Cable modem question ..

[Lehman]

I am currently ordering parts to build a new computer to put in my room. The computer that is the family computer which is mostly used by me has a cable modem. I was wondering if it is better for me to get my own cable modem service or if i should share the service with the cable modem downstairs?? Will there be any decrease in speed if the cable modem service is shared? The oinly one that uses this computer alot is my sister and they never download anything just surf the web, ebay, and email. So do you think i should save my money for the cable service and share our broadband access or get my own modem? Also if you siuggest sharing how do i go about doing this, how much will it cost, and what do i need to buy? Sorry for all the questions but hopefully someone will be able to help me. thank you

[fatboyjim]

I don't have Cable, can't get it in my area of the UK so don't know how much a modem for cable would cost. And if you would need a new line

If they are only using it for surfing however. Definitely share the connection


What you will need

2x Network Cards (About $10/£6 each)
1x Crossover Cable (About $5/£3)
Proxy Server Software (Available for free download)


It's very easy to set up a network between two machines. Just go for it!


i.e. Buy the bits and come back here

[Iman74]

Can you "legally" use their modem?

[Lehman]

as in does my cable company allow me to use 2 computers off one connection? If thats the question then i have absolutely no idea id have to contact them. Wouldnt it be the same speed with 2 cable modems in the house as just sharing one since bandwidth is shared?

[Iman74]

It's very logical...if you have 20 PC's connected to a cable modem and only one is using it right now then bandwith is high....if more than one person on it will slow down the performance. Basically you have to examine whether a: is it legal and b: how many persons will be online using that cable modem during your prime time use and take it from there. Personally I think sharing bandwith is better than be stuck with the entire bill.

[Lehman]

Most of the time it will be just me usuing the cable modem especially late at night. the only time this computer is used by me is for maybe an hour a day if that. Isnt there a way to share broadband access with computers in your house without running cables and stuff?

[Furius92]

I know that RoadRunner does NOT cap a single house's bandwith, but a group of houses. I think every 4 houses has a T1 line. I hear it's also faster to split a cable connection and instead of using a hub/router/switch thing use a second cable modem for each computer.

You'll only have one account, and it's totally legal if you're using RoadRunner (I think). Also, if the computers are in totally different areas, you don't have to deal with either drilling through walls/floors or running a cable around rooms etc. Simply split a cable connection twice (or more) somewhere in the house and connect it to each of the modems. I'm pretty sure that will work.

Why else would they sell cable modems w/o cable internet service installation?

[Fuze]

so a crossover cable eliminates the need for a hub?

[Confused]

It will be a lot cheaper to share the modem. You will have a one time charge for a router (about $75.00) and CAT 5 cable ($20.00 + depending upon lengths needed) and the problem of running it. But after that just the one charge. As far as speed being affected, you are already competing with your neighbors with cable modems, another one in your house isn't going to affect you that much. You are paying for a IP address and a X amount of bandwidth. Router would hold the IP address and assign virtual address to the PC's and allocate the bandwidth. Only time you would notice anything over what you have now is if both PC's were downloading a very large file at same time. Think about it, with a second modem you are still competing with yourself as they both will come from the same line. Cable co. will just put in a splitter and a second modem using same line to the house.
Chas

[Alaron]

Furious92 - RoadRunner does allow sharing of connections, my friend has it and he has 4 PCs sharing it.

[Furius92]

Ok, it MIGHT be cheaper unless you need to drill through floors and walls (hire someone to) because you don't want to run wires all throughout your house, across stairways, through rooms etc etc. And using a router sucks... it makes it very hard to do some things, like connect to IRC or send files over AIM.

Cable modems cost around $75 if you search on pricewatch. That's the same as a router, and you don't need to run cables through your walls and floors, or hire someone to drill and stuff.

Confused - ALL of your cable connections run from a single line into your house. I guess if you had 40 TVs running at once, that would slow down your internet connection too, right? ALL of your cable connections will have to compete through a single line.

[fatboyjim]

Yes, a crossover cable eliminates the need for a hub

But it is simply a cable which runs from one card to the other

So this means you can only connect TWO computers before you need a hub

[archie]

Wouldn't it be the same speed with 2 cable modems in the house as just sharing one since bandwidth is shared?

For the most part, the speed would be the same.
The best option is to setup a peer to peer network which will not only allow you to share the internet connection, but will also allow sharing of printer[s] and folders of your choice.
There are two methods of sharing the connection ... one is using a software solution [AnalogX proxy, ICS], the other a hardware solution [router].
Either solutions work well.

edit >check out the Networking & Novell forum

[sushicam]

By all means share the connection. You are paying for the bandwidth so why not use it?

The bandwidth is already being shared anayway with all the other subscribers on the line. (Unlike DSL which is a dedicated connection) So in m view you are paying for a connection for your dwelling, and not a specific computer.

I would not be worried about the additional computer slowing down the connection. The other subscribers on the line will be doing the bulk of the "bottle-necking" for you.

While the raw speed of cable is faster, DSL is a dedicated connection and on the average i think DSL is better. (But this depends on the traffic the cable line is seeing)

Hope this helps.

(I currently have cable, but am thinking about changinf to DSL when I move)

[jon12345678]

You could try a wireless router. But the initial cost is high ($400-500, might be cheaper now, haven't looked in a while). Two wireless adapters(USB or PCI), and the router itself. It does work pretty well. I can take a laptop outside, walk around the house and still get a good connection. And I should warn you that there are some security issues with wireless.

[Confused]

Furius if he goes for second modem, cable still has to be strung to the second modem, plus he has the added monthly charge (cable co. charges for the IP address that second modem requires). Use existing cable modem, have one time charge to network and save monthly charges. I believe router is best way to network as it holds the IP address and assigns addresses to each conected PC, hence only one charge from cable co. Not limited to 2 PC's that the crossover cable and gateway setup mandates, plus gateway PC has to be on anytime network access is desired. Router gives option of adding PC's without changing configuration of existing PC's. No requirements of one being on. Router offers hardware firewall protection.
Chas

[WJWheels]

Originally posted by Furius92 Why else would they sell cable modems w/o cable internet service installation?

Because many of the cable companies RENT the modems for a ridiculous monthly price. One can buy a very good cable modem in the $70-$100 range.

[Lehman]

If i have a tav where i am putting in my computer wouldnt it be easier to just buy a new modem? Cause im moving my tv and desk out of my room and putting my computer right where my tv was. So would all i need is a cable modem or would i need something else too? Im kinda confused because theres a cable line already there and im not sure what else i would need.

[Furius92]

I really don't think they charge you an additional charge for a second modem. They charge you for the service, you are simply splitting it at a different area. Your IP address is sent to you, you don't get it "assigned". It's sent over the cable connection and renewed every 15 minutes or so. So, you'll have the same IP for both modems.

On the wiring issues, you HAVE to run a wire from your router into your computer. But if you are a near a cable connection with a second modem, you can simply run a cable wire from there, instead of running one from the router.

Don't hold me to the no second charge thing, I'm doing it all on theory. But why else would they sell a cable modem seperate from service installation? I'll call my ISP (RoadRunner) in a day or two and tell you for sure.

[Confused]

If you already have the cable outlet there, then it will be simpler to use a second cable modem. Maybe you made that clear in your original post and I missed it. Only drawbacks are the monthly charge for second PC, probably not as much as the original connection, that you wouldn't have with a router and router also makes it easy to network the two to share printers and files.
Furius as Wheels pointed out, the monthly charge that cable co's. charge is the reason they are sold on the net.
Chas

[Furius92]

Well I called my ISP and they wouldn't give me an answer! They told me that it's illegal to tap into someone else's service between floors of an apartment building. Too bad I'm living in a house... I'll take your guys' word.

[Jade]

I would say go for it. Get 3com stickies for the walls and run them ontop along there, if you can't go through the furnace openings. You can also get a cable splitter but that sort of cable is more expensive but more resistant to heat. I split mine and run it along older apartment heating conduits.

[archie]

I'm not sure if it's just a matter of misreading this or what ... but some suggestions here seem to imply that you can split a cable, have two modems, and it would somehow work [both PCs would share access at the sme time]. Am I reading this right?
I cannot see how it would be possible to have both computers access the one IP address from the cable provider while both PCs having access to the internet simultaneously. What would happen in this situation, AFAIK, it that the IP addy would be picked up by one PC [PC1], and if the other PC [PC2] required access, PC1 would have to release the IP address ... which would allow PC2 to get it ... so both could not be on at the same time.

[Confused]

Thanks Archie for going into detail. I've been trying to impress that an additional IP address is needed with a second modem, so therefore it is much cheaper and a better solution than a second modem.
Chas

[Lehman]

Hey guys thanks for the information but my parents just decided to let me put the cable modem in my room if i pay an isp bill for them. A 40.00/month cable modem at the cost of a 10.00/month isp...cant beat that.

[DickD]

I have roadrunner service and pay $10 extra for a separate IP address for my daughter. We each have a nic connected to a hub and the hub is connected to the cable modem. At one time i had a home networking setup but uninstalled it because it wasn't necessary. My download speed seems to be pretty constant tested at pcpitstop.com at around 640kb per sec. When we transfer files between our computers we use icq and it is very fast. I really don't see any reason to have the added expense of 2 modems.

[WJWheels]

Originally posted by DickD I have roadrunner service and pay $10 extra for a separate IP address for my daughter. We each have a nic connected to a hub and the hub is connected to the cable modem. At one time i had a home networking setup but uninstalled it because it wasn't necessary. My download speed seems to be pretty constant tested at pcpitstop.com at around 640kb per sec. When we transfer files between our computers we use icq and it is very fast. I really don't see any reason to have the added expense of 2 modems.

Trade the hub for a multiport router and you can save the extra $10 a month.

ICQ? If you're already networked, why not just direct transfer?.... or better yet, map a folder as a drive on each other's pc.

[DickD]

WJWheels:
I have thought about changing to a router but we have ATT Broadband and had cable
tv as well. Got tired of all the hard sell they do to you with the cable tv and discontinued it. To make a long story short after 5 tries to get them to send me a bill for the internet service I gave up and put the $50 bucks in the bank in case they ever get their act together. as far as trading files goes we rarely do it.
I am in it for learning, building, and tinkering. Slow learning and lots of tinkering makes for many reformats. Been a "Wrench Monkey" most of my 40 years of workin for a living and have "Popeye forearms and Stubby fingers" but I love this hobby!