Networking questions

[Reedimus]

I'm working on networking 2 of my parents' computers together right now. they have a 10 base t cable modem that is currently plugging to their computer via usb. I don't know much about networking, so I thought I'd run this past you guys before I go out and buy some stuff. If I go buy a wireless router (the computers are on different levels) and 2 network cards and some cat5 cable will that be all I need? will they notice a hit to performance having 2 computers use only a 10 base t modem? is there anything else I should know before I go buy this stuff? help is always appreciated.

[wedor]

Does the router have an RJ-45 port for the cat5 cable? I don't believe you can use a router to share internet coming into a computer via USB, you could possibly do it with a hub. It would be far better to use a router hooked directly to the modem. 10 is plenty fast for internet and sharing, that's as fast as the wireless is anyway.

[Confused]

Router would be way to go (only 1 ISP addr. needed and firewall protection), but I don't know of any that have USB connection. Check your modem as my cable modem has both USB and RJ45. If you go router and use the wireless type then the only cable needed would be a straight thru CAT 5 from router to modem and a wireless NIC in each PC.

For wired router you would need the straight thru CAT5 cable between modem and router, a regular NIC in each PC and straight thru cable from each PC to router.

Hub would require an additional ISP address from provider. Cost of that would probably jusitfy another modem if yours is only USB. Hub offers no hardware firewall protection.
Chas