Sharing a broadband modem

[engine_okrad]

I am from the UK and on saturday I will be getting an NTLHome 1MB broadband modem installed.

There are two laptops which need to use the connection, sometimes at the same time, so is there any way to share the connection? I cannot really afford to set up a network or wireless network from the major companies offering this..

I should also state i have absolutely NO knowledge whatsoever!

Is it possible to connect an ethernet wire from my computer to my brothers, or alternatively an ethernet wire from his computer straight to the modem?

ANy replied would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance.

[engine_okrad]

i really really need your help pn this one.....

[brad]

Do you Computers have Network (Ethernet) Cards installed on them?
brad

[engine_okrad]

hey, like i said im not computer literate at all, but ive had a look at the back and next to where i plug the modem cable in there is a slightly larger plug which says ether above it. there is nothing plugged in here, thats all i can tell you- unless there is a way from looking at settings in windows etc?

i should say both laptops are identical also.
thanks for the itnerest brad.

[brad]

That's good. (About the Ethernet Cards in both Laptops) When you get your Modem on Sat. it should have a CD with it. Run it on the Laptop that will connect to the Modem. Follow the instructions on the CD and it should set up your Networking and tell you how to set up Internet Connection Sharing. You can post back here if need assistance. You will probably need to purchase a Cat 5 "Crossover" Cable to connect the two Laptops. You can get them at most Stores selling Computer Accessories.
brad

[engine_okrad]

when i mentioned this option to a friend, he seemed highly skeptical. he told me the ''parent'' computer would need to be on for the other to connect to the modem and, if both comps were using the connection, the ''parent'' computer would run slower (of course i understand the modem speed will be slower, but he meant the whole computer, the processing power etc)

thanks for the help, if you could confirm/deny the above statement i will be sorted!

[engine_okrad]

http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/d ... egory_oid=

is this the cable you mean? if so, that one is only 3m... the computers are in different rooms can you get them in bigger sizes?

thanks brad

[engine_okrad]

b........ brad?

....anyone?
.....thanks...

[brad]

Your friend is right. The computer that connects to the modem will always have to be on for the other to use the Internet. The other Laptop's access would be a little slower, too.
You had asked for the easiest/cheapest.........
For almost the price of the cross-over cable you can get a Router/Firewall. Then each Laptop could connect to the Internet without the "Host" being on.
You will need just a regular Cat 5 cable and they come in very long lengths.

[engine_okrad]

you have pretty much made me know what to do !! thanks!

but i found the cable for £7... can you really get routers for that amount? could you point me in a direction of where to purchase these?

thanks again

[engine_okrad]

sorry to be a pain, but regarding my computer always being on... i can live with that

but will the slo downs be noticeable? were gettitn 1000K connection plus the laptops are pretty fast and new.

i mean if it is really noticeable, i will have to consider a router, but just to give me an idea?

[brad]

Well I know here in the US I can get them as low as $30.00 but I'm not sure what that comes to in £. Do a search in Google for Routers and see what you can find. I found this for UK: .
Here's a .
brad

[engine_okrad]

or as they say in england- cheers!!

i will make a new post saturday after its installed!

thats when the real fun will begin.

thanks again

engine/okrad

[brad]

We'll be waitin'. brad