What do you do if your cable provider doesn't...

[jblaven]

"support" home networking....

This is from their website...

"Home Networking Questions

What is a home network?
A home network connects two or more computers together with network interface cards and network line, and enables the computers to have file and print sharing capabilities.
TOP

Do you support home networking?
No, we currently support one computer per cable modem
TOP "

it can be found at...

http://www.chartercom.com/service/faqs/charterpipeline_faqs.asp#pipeline_20

Should I read this as, "we only provide tech support for one computer" or should I read it as, "if you connect more than one computer to the connection, then we will have you locked up and then we will burn your house down." ?

I want to connect two computers to a cable connection. I have read some posts; it sounds like I need a router. The problem is, my good friend (who has done small networks before, says I need a hub). Now I am really confused!

Please help! Can I hook up two computers to this cable connection? If so, do I need a hub or router?

Thanks,

Joe

[scooter4n]

I use Hub,or you can use switch, it's easyer. First comp (2 NIC's) firs to cable modem, second to HUB, this is your Proxy server.
Second comp to your HUB.
Let me know if you need more help.

[JimmyG]

The best solution is a multi-port router. This is a switch and a router combined. I use a Linksys.

[UnseenMenace]

I would assume that your ISP states that it does not support networked computers however I believe it would be worth checking what they intend the statement to mean.
When sharing a internet connection across I network I would generally use a router as they are generally more secure than a proxy and offer some kind of protection such as a NAT firewall.
the router will also handle easily a dynamic IP if you are allocated one by your ISP and keep the machines behind the router hidden thus making your network more secure.

[LandShark]

if u look at most boardband service, they do stated that they r expecting a computer per account (monthly payment). however, almost 95+% of people who r using boardband connection have it connected to a few machines.

honeslty, as long as u r not doing any server service (hosting web site/FTP/game) u'll be fine. 'cos the isp's primary target is web/ftp/game server!! they find u, they'll close ur account!!!

as for sharing, a router will be the easiest way to do it especially u don't have much networking experience. and it doesn't need one of the computer be on all the time in order for the rest to access the net.

[LXDoctor]

Just to clarify what these others are telling you...

You have 2 options

Buy a router/switch (4 ports + 1 for the cable modem) I think these are selling for like 50.00 www.techbargains.com

Or

put 2 network cards in one computer. Run the Internet connection to 1 and connect the other to a hub. Then run Internet connection sharing with win98 or whatever os.



To be really cool ;)

Buy a router/switch/wireless gateway for ~125.00 and go 802.11b! wireless to like 1500 feet. Awesome if you have a notebook pc. But conflicts with 2.4 ghz phones :(

Doc

[jblaven]

Thanks guys,

I think I will go the router route. :rolleyes: :p

Joe

[Tamasha_Strife]

Ok ive been reading this thread and I'm now very confused.

I have a "thing" that says HUB on it but it also has a port called UPLINK. Shouldn't I be able to plug my modem straigth in there and have 2 comps connected to the net that way???

[LandShark]

no, ur modem CAN'T plug in it and have 2 rigs sharing the net! however, u could connect 2 or more rigs together w/ a hub tho, and have one of ur machine serve as a gateway/router.

Hub or Switch = could be use to connect machines together. however, it doesn't have any feature that would let u share a net connection w/ it.


Router = has built-in ability (DHCP, etc.) to allow whoever connected to it to share it's connection.

[Oni]

Originally posted by LandShark
no, ur modem CAN'T plug in it and have 2 rigs sharing the net!

That really depends on the ISP. My ISP (Cogeco) allows 3 IPs per modem, so I don't need a router.

[Gresyth]

Charter does not care if you have more thatn one computer on the net. They do not SUPPORT home networks. If you have a hub/router/switch and 2-2000 computers they dont care. Charter Tech Support is not trained to deal with networks. If you need help you will be told by Charter TS to contact your OEM or hub/router manufacturer.

They DO sell additional IPs in some areas. In those markets TS wil be able to provide basic help with setting up a hub. If you need more then you have to go to the manufacturer or your oem or here.

[jeff_harrison_344]

Originally posted by LXDoctor

To be really cool ;)

Buy a router/switch/wireless gateway for ~125.00 and go 802.11b! wireless to like 1500 feet. Awesome if you have a notebook pc. But conflicts with 2.4 ghz phones :(

Doc [/B]


How exactly would this work as I am considering this myself. Would I be able to buy a D-LINK DI-713P WIRELESS ROUTER & WAP W/ 3PORT SWITCH & PRINT SERVER, and have a D-LINK wireless PCI card in my other computer...and have the switch hooked up to the main computer in my basement and voila? Would the router be able to go through 2 floors that are made just out of wood thats about a 65foot direct path?

[LandShark]

Originally posted by Oni


That really depends on the ISP. My ISP (Cogeco) allows 3 IPs per modem, so I don't need a router.
ooops, i meant his "Hub" that he was asking 'bout, not modem. and assuming he don't wanna pay extra for additional IP (who will....? :D )

[Maddman]

Originally posted by LandShark

ooops, i meant his "Hub" that he was asking 'bout, not modem. and assuming he don't wanna pay extra for additional IP (who will....? :D )

I did because they bumped the cap when I haD 3 ip's.

[LandShark]

Originally posted by Maddman


I did because they bumped the cap when I haD 3 ip's.
oh, do they?? who's ur isp?? and how much did they bump up?? i still miss my 3mb down speed before comcast brought my local @home service......:(

Jeff Harrison --> well, 2 floor "might be" pushing the limit depending on how far r they apart. wood is much better than concret & steel! i'm using Linksys wireless AP + Router & 4 ports Switch, but don't have to go through 2 floor tho..... a friend of mine could shoot through 2 floor (from basement to 2nd floor), but it's pretty much straight through 'bout 25' away.

good luck!

[jeff_harrison_344]

Originally posted by LandShark



Jeff Harrison --> well, 2 floor "might be" pushing the limit depending on how far r they apart. wood is much better than concret & steel! i'm using Linksys wireless AP + Router & 4 ports Switch, but don't have to go through 2 floor tho..... a friend of mine could shoot through 2 floor (from basement to 2nd floor), but it's pretty much straight through 'bout 25' away.

good luck!


Ohh...hrmm...well If your talking about DIRECTLY up from this basement to the one in my room, we could be talking about only 30 feet. But all I want is as close to a sure thing as I can, I do have a few dollars to spend if I need to. Ok so if I have what you are doing I could maybe get a decent signal? What if I had 2 Wireless PCI cards in each computer and an access point lets say on the middle floor just by itself and not connected to anything...would that help?

[LandShark]

yeah, the best way is to set the AP in the middle while the machines surrounding it! that's the shortest distance for every machine!

[jeff_harrison_344]

Originally posted by LandShark
yeah, the best way is to set the AP in the middle while the machines surrounding it! that's the shortest distance for every machine!

Really Landshark?? Ok my last question then I will finally understand what I need to do for it to work!!: So would I still need the Linksys Wireless AP & 4PT router hooked up to my main computer, to have the access point in the middle floors, or would I now just be able to have the 2 wireless PCI cards in each computer, and the acess point in the middle?

Once this question is answered I will purchase what I need...finally!:eek: :D

[LandShark]

either way. mainly depending on the location & the distance of those 2 machines!!

if putting the AP/Router near one of the machine and the distance to the other machine isn't that far (20'~30' straight line, not much walls, ceciling, etc.) then, hook one of the machine directly to the AP/Router via wired is the most ecoomic way. u'll need 1 NIC, 1 wireless PCI card.

but if putting the AP/Router near/next to one of the machine, and the other is too far away from it, then ur best bet (for signal) is to have the AP/Router sitting in the middle of 2. that give u the shortest distance between both machine. this way, u'll need 2 PCI wireless card.

DO NOT believe what those manufacturer said 'bout signal distance!! in real world, inside a house w/ walls & ceciling, it's more like 20'~35' max. distance!! so, do ur purchase according to ur house/machines location!

good luck!! :)

[Maddman]

Originally posted by LandShark

oh, do they?? who's ur isp?? and how much did they bump up?? i still miss my 3mb down speed before comcast brought my local @home service......:(

Jeff Harrison --> well, 2 floor "might be" pushing the limit depending on how far r they apart. wood is much better than concret & steel! i'm using Linksys wireless AP + Router & 4 ports Switch, but don't have to go through 2 floor tho..... a friend of mine could shoot through 2 floor (from basement to 2nd floor), but it's pretty much straight through 'bout 25' away.

good luck!

It was and is road runner and I was able to utilize 9.4Mbps most days. It is between 2 and 3 Mbps right now with a single IP address

[Wallacebw]

regarding hosting services/games/etc... I have been using this trick for quite some time...

I use a linux server (custom build but redhat, or any other reputable build will work) running iptables and when an ICMP Ping request is found it replies with a network not found error... try it if you wish...

ping wallacebw.homelinux.com then open a browser to it...

Most isp's won't port scan your box without first getting a ping reply...

Works for me... this is comcast cable service in MD, USA BTW...

Brian

[jeff_harrison_344]

Originally posted by LandShark
either way. mainly depending on the location & the distance of those 2 machines!!

if putting the AP/Router near one of the machine and the distance to the other machine isn't that far (20'~30' straight line, not much walls, ceciling, etc.) then, hook one of the machine directly to the AP/Router via wired is the most ecoomic way. u'll need 1 NIC, 1 wireless PCI card.

but if putting the AP/Router near/next to one of the machine, and the other is too far away from it, then ur best bet (for signal) is to have the AP/Router sitting in the middle of 2. that give u the shortest distance between both machine. this way, u'll need 2 PCI wireless card.

DO NOT believe what those manufacturer said 'bout signal distance!! in real world, inside a house w/ walls & ceciling, it's more like 20'~35' max. distance!! so, do ur purchase according to ur house/machines location!

good luck!! :)


Ahh I am still a little bit confused (sorry I am so slow)...but Landshark given my situation, which way do you think would give me the strongest signal?

[LandShark]

jeff --> u stated 1 machine in basement, the other in 2nd floor w/ 65' direct distance away & wood ceciling??? well, honestly, i think it's pushing!! but could still be possible w/ an aftermarket antenna. the best way (i think), would be having the AP sitting in the 1st floor, and the machines connect to the AP via wireless.

wallacebw --> so, r u saying if the isp (comcast also here) can't ping any machine behind the modem, it should be fine?? my network is behind a router/firewall, and they did say they only see the modem online but no machine behind it.....(when i was having connection problem & calling the tech)

[Vfrjim1]

On that gameserver/ftp/web server topic, at MY ISP back in 1998, there was NO caps and I ran into a little trouble cause of a 24 person game server that stayed full 24-7, they did not warn me, and was capped manually( before all of my neighbors would eventually be done) They did NOT close my account, but was put on a "Known Abusers" list. But, Nowadays, MOST cable/DSL companies do not allow you to go over your cap and can use all of your bandwidth with whatever servers you want( for example, KaZaA, Morpheus etc, did you forget that all of these progs are servers?) I do share my Cable Modem with my sister next door WIRELESSLY, so the legality is up to the fine print of your ISP, I know that if you run into problems with your connection, they will ask you to remove your network out of the picture and troubleshoot one computer to the modem, that is what they mean by no support of home networking.

Jim

[jeff_harrison_344]

Originally posted by LandShark
jeff --> u stated 1 machine in basement, the other in 2nd floor w/ 65' direct distance away & wood ceciling??? well, honestly, i think it's pushing!! but could still be possible w/ an aftermarket antenna. the best way (i think), would be having the AP sitting in the 1st floor, and the machines connect to the AP via wireless.



No no, sorry about that, my situation is I have on in the basement, and one computer on the 3rd floor, so there are 2 floors in between, made out of wood and no metal. Now If there was an invisible line from the downstairs puter and the upstairs one that could go threw floors etc. It would be about 30feet max. Now with that info what do you think :S P.S. Thanks LandShark for being such a big help!

[LandShark]

well, even tho it's "just" 30' or so. but 2 wooden ceciling.....??!! it's really hard to say....... but still recommend to sit the AP somewhere in the middle floor and as close as both machine (right under or right on top) as possible.

[jeff_harrison_344]

Ok thank you. Ok So i finally have what I am going to do figured out, how does this sound Landshark and everyone else, I will have 2 Linksys Wireless PCI cards in each machine, and the Linksys wireless access point on the second floor? ANd just to make sure the access point doesnt have to be hooked up to anything right? well I hope it works!