[HollyG]

I am new to this so please bear with me. I have one computer and 1 cable modem. Currently my computer is hooked up through the USB port on the modem. I want to get a second computer for my household, so I checked online with my cable service to see if I can connect two computers to my modem and it says you can hook up 2 computers through a home network, but they do not provide tech support for home networking so I need to check through there. So that didn't answer my question on how do I do it, and I have no clue on how to set up a home network. I basically want another computer that can access the internet at the same time and do word processing functions. I wanted to know if I have to pay an additional service fee to my cable company and purchase another modem, or does the second computer somehow get connected to the main computer. There is an empty ethernet connection on the modem, but it says not to connect both the Ethernet and USB cable to the PC, or can you connect the second computer here? Thanks for any help on to do this.

[HollyG]

My current computer:
Intel Pentium III
Windows 98 SE
256 MB RAM

The new computer, since I haven't purchased it yet, will probably have:
Windows XP
Intel Pentium 4
512 MB RAM

[bosshogg151]

You can hook a wireless router between the modem and the main machine and run the 2nd machine either wirelessly, or with an ethernet cable off the router. You can get everything you need at a Circuit City or Best Buy.

[JohnWill]

You get a broadband router, and connect it to the Ethernet connection. Then you can share the Internet connection with multiple computers.

[skinnywhiteboy]

This is what you need:
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...891&pfp=SEARCH

[donnieb6680]

Most cable modems have 2 outputs, a USB for computers that don't have a ethernet port, and an ethernet output. You can just run a network cable from the modem to the new machine, they should both work at the same time. And just keep the usb hooked up to your current computer. This would be the cheap way to go, possibly costless if you already have a network cord.

[JohnWill]

Originally Posted by donnieb6680

Most cable modems have 2 outputs, a USB for computers that don't have a ethernet port, and an ethernet output. You can just run a network cable from the modem to the new machine, they should both work at the same time. And just keep the usb hooked up to your current computer. This would be the cheap way to go, possibly costless if you already have a network cord.

Actually, this is not the way to go for a couple of reasons. The vast majority of cable ISP accounts only allocate a single public IP, and you can't use both connections simultaneously.

The broadband router will allow you to connect multiple machines, have wireless connections if you so choose, and gives you firewall protection to boot. All this for $10-20 after rebate, what's not to like?

[donnieb6680]

I agree that isn't the way to do it, simply a way to 'rig' it if you have too.

[skinnywhiteboy]

Plus the router will provide a small degree of protection because it will come defaulted with all the ports blocked. Granted, it's not a true firewall, but it's better than just being directly connected to the Internet without anything in between.

[JohnWill]

Well, it's a true incoming firewall, just doesn't block any outgoing traffic.