[RapidGaming]

Hey,

We're connecting via Nildram at 512kb/s ADSL. My desktop has no ethernet card and connects through an Alcatel SpeedTouch 330 modem. My laptop has a 10/100 LAN card, a RG-11 modem connector and a RJ-45 Ethernet connector.

We're looking to share the 512kb/s ADSL connection between the desktop and the laptop. We don't have a router yet, so we're open to suggestions. Would the router work? How will it work with the desktop, how do we connect it? As I said, we haven't used or had a router before, so we're kinda in the dark about this..

We don't have loads of money to spare, so which option would be the cheapest? We also don't need wireless connectivity. Which make should we go for? Please also be aware we're not located in the US, we're in the UK!

Lots of questions

Thanks for ANY help on this matter.

Scott Andrews

 

[coulterp]

The USB modem is a draw-back! Were it Ethernet things would be a lot simpler. As it is, it is possible to share the USB/ADSL connection using something like Microsoft's Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) software -- but it is not very easy to set it up and the PC hosting it (i.e your desktop I assume) will still require an Ethernet card to get to the laptop (which it could do without a router if you wished by using a cross-over Ethernet cable). Whether you have ICS depends on the OS running on your desktop (XP? W2K?).

Most routers you'll find are going to require you to have an Ethernet port in all PCs you want to connect. So your desktop without the Ethernet card at the moment is probably going to need one.

The UK site http://www.adslguide.org.uk/ has lots of useful info with extensive reviews of the hardware available and the page http://www.adslguide.org.uk/guide/connections.asp give you some very clear diagrams of the configurations you could consider with a USB modem in the set-up. You'd be looking at something like the second diagram in the USB modem section.

 

[RapidGaming]

Thanks, I'll take a look. The desktop is running Windows ME (ugh...) and the laptop, XP.

 

[RapidGaming]

Idea!!! http://www.google.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-Belkin_F1U200#fulldesc

Would I be able to use that to connect the USB modem up between the 2 computers and share the connection?

Thanks.

 

[coulterp]

I don't believe you can what you are suggesting for an ADSL connection. As I understand the USB modems used for ADSL they allow a connection to be established to comms software running on a PC and I don't think they could establish the connection through to 2 (or more) PCs just because they happen to be on a USB hub. If someone else can correct me there then I'd be only to happy to hear.

I think the only valid way you could share the USB modem connection is via the configuration shown in the link I gave earlier (http://www.adslguide.org.uk/guide/connections.asp).

 

[RapidGaming]

Okay, so if I put this in the desktop, then I can do it? http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=107334 - Just checking that this is a 10/100 ethernet card, then I'll need an adaptor or...?

Moreover, I found this ADSL modem: http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=DM602&pm=260

The unit's web based config means it can be used by any PC or Mac owner with an Internet browser. You can connect using the USB or Ethernet interface, or both.

 

[coulterp]

Your first link is the ethernet card or adaptor. So if you put that in the desktop you can link to any other device that has an Ethernet interface (such as a modem or router or (combined) modem router such as the DM602).

The second link an ADSL modem/router. I did see that the page you supplied says "You can connect using the USB or Ethernet interface, or both." But you can't use both at the same time! See the product data sheet http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/support/DM602-DS.pdf quoting: "It gives you two kinds of connections – Ethernet and a Plug-and Play USB port so you can enjoy the benefits of either one."

Personally for any comms type work I shun USB like the plague. Ethernet every time (and leave your USB ports for what they are good at, connecting cameras, scanners, portable hard-drives and the like).

The problem with the DM602 is that it is a single-port Ethernet router. So when you link from the router to a PC that's it; it's difficult to link to other PCs (unless you have a spare Ethernet switch or hub to hand). If you don't have a spare switch or hub to hand then you would be better getting a modem/router with a built-in 4-port Ethernet switch, e.g. http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=DG834&pm=415.. This handles your ADSL connection and you plug all your PCs into the 4 LAN ports available on the router.

I'm not recommending Netgear by the way (although I do use a Netgear WGR614 wireless router on my own LAN); there are loads of similar devices from Linksys, 3Com, Belkin, D-Link all much of a muchness in terms of capability, reliability and ease of use.

 

[RapidGaming]

Thanks!!

So what I need is the ethernet card (http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=107334), and a multi-port ADSL router? What cables should I additionally purchace?

Thanks again!
Scott

 

[coulterp]

If you've decided to abandon the ADSL modem and go Ethernet then you need the one Ethernet card as you say for the desktop.

The multi-port ADSL router should probably come with two cables: one phone cable (from telephone point to router) and one Ethernet CAT5 cable (from router to any available PC Ethernet port). The Netgear DG814 product card cartainly states that. I think the DG814 is also supplied with 1 x micro-filter. (Note the DG834 is, more or less, the same as the DG814 but with wireless as well).

Unless you already have other Ethernet cabling then you will also need a further straight-thorugh CAT5 Ethernet cable to connect the second PC to the router. Depending on length (1m, 3m, 5m, 10m etc) ca. £5; check out any of the usual sites - RS Components, Insight.com, Expansys, DSL-warehouse, even Amazon.com.

 

[RapidGaming]

Thanks - I think I've got it! Just looking into wireless now!

 

[coulterp]

Note wireless will not quite give you the LAN speed of wired (although its catching up with the latest models) and it is much easier to secure wired (if security is a potential issue for you). But of course there is the convenience of no wires with wireless.

If interested in wireless then http://www.netgear.com/products/wireless.php might help (some useful papers about half-way down the page).