quick networking question

[bhome83]

I have AT&T cable internet and was wondering if I want to network my 2 computers together would I have to pay any additional charge a month for them to be networked? Heard that for cable i need a separate ip # for the other computer so i would have to pay an additional $10/month. if this is true and there is no way around it then i would say no to networking. already pay $50/month as is. just would like to know.

[Confused]

You can network them using a router. It only uses one IP address and assings IP addresses to each PC connected to it. Just be sure that your modem has ethernet connection. I don't know of any USB router being sold it the US.
Chas

[bhome83]

how much are routers on avg? Im looking to not spend that much money at all. I know i have to get another NIC card for my other computer. so does that mean all i will need is a NIC card and a router to get my network working? also, what about a crossover cable? how much are these? My other computer is directly a floor above me so i would need at least probably a 50ft cable approx.

[Confused]

You can catch them on sale for about $50.00 to $60.00. Yhen you will need a NIC in 2nd. PC and straight thru cables between router and each PC (not crossover).
Chas

[jeresimo]

You might like to see this link for additional info:

http://www.cable-modem.net/tt/tt_networking201.html

There are so many ways to SHARE INTERNET CONNECTIONS
like:
I. The Wired Networking:

1. Making one dedicated PC as the Server and the other as Client using Win 98SE ICS. All you need is a Cat 5 UTP Crossover Cable and 2 NIC's to connect the two PC. This cost less.
Or

2. You could use a good Router, NIC's via a Cat 5 Patch cable which cost around US$60.00-80.00. (Prices started to go down considerably now, because of the advent of the good Wireless Router/Access Point)

II. The Wireless Way which is a 'lil bit expensive.

With these you could use one IP, but still you may as well check with AT&T first about their restrictions. I used Verizon DSL and I have no problem sharing Internet connections so far.

[glc]

If you don't want to run a cable upstairs, you can get a wireless router and a wireless nic for the upstairs computer. Wireless router is approx. $100 and the wireless nic is about $60.

[bhome83]

ok im interested in the crossover cable idea. i am only going to be sharing the cable connection with one other computer so i think this is the best way. don't need a full lesson right now just want the just on how to set it up. so do i just install both NIC cards for each computer then take the crossover cable and connect each end to a network card? how do i connect the NIC card to the modem then?

[Markoman01027]

My Router uses one IP Address, and assigns an IP address to the other computer on my network.

You only use another IP address if you are going to like use a regular HUB or Switch, since they don't distribute IP addresses. Correct me if I am wrong.

Look for a nice linksys router on the web. I have one, and it works great. Sometimes I get disconnected and I have to reset the connection of the router and a reboot. But overall, it runs pretty good and the setup is very easy.

[bhome83]

why not use a crossover cable?

[Markoman01027]

I never worked with a crossover cable before, nor have I havent heard anything about a crossover cable working with sharing broadband connections. Suppose you could give it a try and post back with the results!

[bhome83]

i got the idea of a crossover cable from this site and would just like a little more of an explanation of how it works. what connects to what just to make sure it will work for my two computers. i guess i have a hard time believing all i will need to share my broadband is a crossover cable ($20) and another NIC ($20). but if its true i would like to know how the crossover cable thing works.

[Markoman01027]

Here is a great site for all of the information you need to get started.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/ethernet.htm

Good luck and happy reading!

[bhome83]

i looked on the AT&T website and they said for me to be able to network 2 or more computers together i have to pay an extra $5/month for the additional ip. my question is, if i just go the crossover cable way is this considered a network and will i still have to pay an additional $5/month? also, i was looking at diagrams on the internet about using crossover cables and it says that you just directly connect the ends of the cable to the NIC cards in both computers. but doesn't the ethernet card need to connect to my cable modem in some way?

[glc]

In order to share the connection with a single IP and a crossover cable, you have to put TWO network cards into the "server" computer - one for the cable modem and one for the LAN connection to the other computer. You need a total of THREE network cards. You will then use ICS on the "server" computer to share the connection, and this computer must be ON for the other computer to be able to have Net access.

Get a router, trust me. ICS is a pain in the rear and only works well with Win2K and XP.

[Trent Steel]

I second glc opinion, go for the router. In order to do what you want, the crossover cable, you need to buy two additional network cards and the patch cable. Not much of a price difference from that and going to a cheap wired router, either way you still need to make the physical connection through the floor. Additionally you need to have the computer that is connected to the modem powered on in order to get the second computer connected. Additionally you have less of a headache setting up the router, most that I have seen come with an install cd that have you connected within minutes. One final note is that a router setup is able to handle more than just two computers, you can add additional computers with very little hassle.

[jeresimo]

I don't know about you, but if you are a curious guy like me , I rather try and experience how Win 98SE/2000 or XP ICS works. The cost of a decent OEM Dual Speed 10/100 Fast Ethernet LAN Card10 Base-T / 100 Base-TX, PCI slot NIC Extremely compatible Realtek RTL 8139C Chip is only $5.95 each (see example: http://www.partshelf.com/realchip10pc.html ) and a a 100 Ft Crossover cable is our @$17.95 ( see example: http://www.newtechindustries.com/newtech/access/page52.htm )

Try it first and judge for yourself. Then if you feel moving towards the Wired Router way it's easy, because you could always use the existing NICs and convert the Cross-over cable to a Straight-through cable and all you need here is one (1) RJ45 Jack . Then cut out the other end of the Cross-over cable and just follow the other end color schemes. Viola! I suggest you buy a decent Crimper who knows some day you will be Networking your relatives and friends Computers for a nice kiss or fee. he he he. I tried ICS for years and the only complain I got is the delay of Windows to load in all the PCs networked, but that’s the price, until I went to Wired and Wireless recently..

There is nothing priceless like learning isn't it? Although this entails a 'lil bit reading the: "How to ICS in Windows OS". It pays to learn thru the School of Hard Knocks. Then you will find yourself visiting PCMech University often. Look at us how many years had been since we registered here. lol!


As to additional fee with AT&T, I don't think so that they will be charging you, because you will be only using one IP number only.

This is just IMHO.

[tvpincdoc]

I have attbi as well.

I used a Linksys BEFW11S4 wired/wireless router along with ANY Network card (I have Linksys and some old D-Link cards).

All you need is a card for each computer (I also have a wireless card for the laptop, so that roaming is possible), the router (I think that a kit can be purchased at Costco for about $79 which has the router and a network card-I'm not sure about anything else). The only other thing that you'd need is cat5 wire.

I haven't quite figured out how to internet share AND file share. It seems that Windows XP wants to allow ONLY one at a time.

If anyone has this figured out, I'd greatly appreciate out how it was done.

[tvpincdoc]

By the way, NO NEED to pay the extra money with ATT&T. They informed me that since I was using a SINGLE address, they considered it a SINGLE system.

They didn't expect any additional funds. No reason to check again-if you know what I mean!

I have been using it for 1 1/2 years without trouble.

[bhome83]

alright so let me get this straight. since i already have a NIC in my computer im using right now, all i need to do is buy 1 more NIC for my other computer and then buy a router, and some cat5 cabling, and that is all i have to buy? correct me if im wrong. I saw that bestbuy has a deal like this for this week:

D-Link 4 Port Router: $49.99 minus $4.99 minus $30 Rebates= $15

is this what i should be getting then? $15 is good price? also what kind of NIC do I need? from my network properties on my computer it says i have a realtek RTL8139 Family PCI fast ethernet NIC. does my other NIC have to be the same or can i just get any old NIC card for the other computer? Also about how much is Cat5 cable? my other computer is directly one floor above me. just trying to figure out approx. how much this all will cost to see if it is worth it. thanks.

[glc]

You can't beat 15 bucks for a router. Any old NIC will do. Best Buy has premade Cat 5 cables in blister cards on the wall, go look at the prices. You will need to clone the MAC address of your existing NIC into the router, don't ask how yet, just read the manual for the router you buy, they are all different, if you need help doing this when you are setting it up after reading the manual, than ask.

[AlwaysUp]

I don't know the specs on the D-Link 4 port router, but yes these are all that you will need. If I read your post right you have an AT&T cable modem, NOT DSL, right? If this is right just make sure that your cable modem has a RJ-45 network connection. It would be helpful if you would post the model of the router you spoke of so we could look at the specs on the net, to assure we are giving you good info. I personally would go with a Linksys BEFSR 4 port switched router, but I understand you are on a budget.

[AlwaysUp]

GLC, I never did anything to Clone my MAC and never had a problem. I also did the install manually and not with the install disk that came with my router. I did however install the cable modem and the router at the same time myself. Did this method avoid the cable modem ever "seeing" my NIC and was only able to see the router? I'm a little uneducated on what actually takes place here. Please enlighten.

[Tuf]

If you didn't do anything to clone your MAC address than you didn't clone it. In which case it would lead you to believe that your ISP doesn't keep track of MAC addresses. AT&T didn't used to in some markets but are starting to nationwide. That's why you are starting to hear all the bellyaching about being charged for additional IP addresses when the they weren't before.

[glc]

If you set up your service initially with the router, then AT&T is now keyed to the real MAC of your router. The way it works is - when you set up the service, the modem queries the first network device it sees for its MAC and registers it, it can't tell whether it's a nic or a router.

[bhome83]

so by using the router does that mean that i will have the same ip address for both computers, therefore not having to be charged an extra $5/month by AT&T? and yes i have a RCA cable modem supplied from AT&T. How do i find out if my modem has an rj-45 network connection? and if it doesnt then what? this is from the info on bestbuy.com of the router details.
http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=...at=&e=11161711

[Confused]

The router will use the IP address assigned by your ISP and it in turn will assign IP addresses to each PC. You will set them up to use DHCP and obtain address automatically. Router instructions are very clear and straight.

You modem will have to have a RJ45/ethernet connection to hook to router. Looks like a big phone jack. Some DSL modems only have USB and there are not any USB routers being sold in this country at this time.
Chas

[bhome83]

yeah my modem is connected by ethernet so it should work. so then the router automatically gives my other computer a new ip #? won't AT&T not like this because it clearly says on their website that another ip# costs $5/month. im willing to try it of course but not if they are gonna give me **** and all. thanks for helping everyone. probably will buy that deal on a router at best buy and see how it goes.

[glc]

The router takes ONE ip address from AT&T, then assigns your PC's PRIVATE ip addresses that are NOT visible to the outside world. All AT&T sees is a "device" with ONE ip address.

[bhome83]

so what is AT&T talking about on their website about charging $5/month for another ip? is this some different kind of network? also, this router thing i would be doing is legal and everything right? just don't want to have tech. support come out one day for my modem and find out im on a network and not paying any extra $$$

[Confused]

If you use a switch or hub to network with then each PC would need a IP address from your IP. But since routers assign IP addresses to connected devices then you only need one.

I cain't address the legal issues because I don't know what the situtation is in your case with AT&T. My cable co. does not support routers (I can use one, they just won't support it), so if I have a problem that involves them I have to disconnect the router and plug in one PC to the modem. In 18 months I haven't had occassion to call them.
Chas