Need Help Building Home Network

[gizmosmustang]

OK I have Satellite Internet and which only has one modem but with the new computer being done this thursday I want it to have internet so after searching the internet I saw on a website a Dual Modular 8-Pin Wall Jack and I was wondering if anyone has used one of these before and how hard it is to hook everything up.
Matt

[Death_blooms]

just get a network switch, plug in all PC's and use Internet connection sharing. You will need one PC on at all times hooked up to the modem.
Alternatively see if you can get some kind of satellite modem router.

[PrOLifIC_onE]

You may not even have to go that far. If you are just using two PCs, just put a second NIC in the one that you want to be the primary PC. Then run an ethernet wire from that second NIC to the NIC in the other PC. From there you can setup a home network/internet connection sharing on the PCs.

Windows has some wizards to run you through the process on both PCs, assuming you are on XP. Just go into My Network Places or View Network Connections and then on the left column there is a link to Setup A Home or Small Office Network. That should lead you through the process just fine. At the end click the radio button to "just finish the wizard" (they default it to 'make a network disk', but there is no need for that if both PCs are on XP).

With this solution, your primary PC will have to be turned on in order for the second one to have access, like death_blooms said. If you end up wanting more than 2 computers online at once the death_blooms suggestion would be the way to go, as long as they are all wired.

Another option instead of a switch is to use a regular or wireless router. I would only suggest that if you chose to go wireless. The slight downfall to a regular or wireless router would be that you would not be able share files between the primary computer the rest of the computers on the home network, unless you can run your satellite modem connection directly to the router's input. BUT my extra NIC card solution or the switch solution would allow for file/print sharing if you choose to enable it.

Another thing to note is that the primary computer will only share it's extra bandwidth if both PCs are online at the same time. So if both PCs are online using a lot of bandwidth, the primary PC will get most of that bandwidth.

If you have any other questions, just ask

[Death_blooms]

Originally Posted by PrOLifIC_onE

You may not even have to go that far. If you are just using two PCs, just put a second NIC in the one that you want to be the primary PC. Then run an ethernet wire from that second NIC to the NIC in the other PC. From there you can setup a home network/internet connection sharing on the PCs.

Yeh true but its got to be a crossover cable if its a PC to PC connection rather than PC to network swich

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Originally Posted by Death_blooms

Yeh true but its got to be a crossover cable if its a PC to PC connection rather than PC to network swich

True, good catch. I forgot to mention that.

Now, as a '5 minute mod man,' I will be quick to point out that a regular ethernet wire can be modded to be a crossover cable pretty easily with some wirecutters and some electrical tape, as long as you don't mind a piece of electrical tape being visible somewhere on your ethernet wire. I won't bother explaining unless you are interested in the specifics. Just let me know.

Crossover cables can be purchased at computer stores or even some hardware stores like Lowes or Home Depot....

[Death_blooms]

Originally Posted by PrOLifIC_onE

True, good catch. I forgot to mention that.

Now, as a '5 minute mod man,' I will be quick to point out that a regular ethernet wire can be modded to be a crossover cable pretty easily with some wirecutters and some electrical tape. I won't both explaining unless you are interested in the specifics. Just let me know.

why don't you write a guide on that because there's that newegg competition worth a shot?

[gizmosmustang]

could I strip 3 ethernet wires tie them together with shrink tubing and run one to one pc and the other to another with out any problems?
Matt

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Death_blooms

Yeh true but its got to be a crossover cable if its a PC to PC connection rather than PC to network swich

XP W/SP 2 is autosensing you can use a straight through. Yes I have tested this.

Originally Posted by gizmosmustang

could I strip 3 ethernet wires tie them together with shrink tubing and run one to one pc and the other to another with out any problems?
Matt

No you can't do that. The tips above are what you have to do.

[Death_blooms]

Originally Posted by gizmosmustang

could I strip 3 ethernet wires tie them together with shrink tubing and run one to one pc and the other to another with out any problems?
Matt

I don't no what you mean but listen to hitman he noz his ****

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Death_blooms

I don't no what you mean but listen to hitman he noz his ****

He is talking about splicing Ethernet cables, this method doesn't work with Ethernet.

Each computer needs it's own IP address, and your ISP only provides one. You either have to use Internet Connection Sharing like explained above, or use a router. I am not sure if a Cable/DSL router with work for satellite internet.