Hi, Getting new laptop, need advice on what to get to hook up to home Cable Internet

Hi Guys! I'm getting a laptop next week and need to know what I need to get in order to tap into my home Cable Internet modem. We already have one computer set up but want to occasionally hook this one up at the same time. (networking?) I don't know what it is that I need to purchase to get this going, cable or hardware wise. Also, would like to share the printer on occasion too. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions what and where to buy these things please let me know. Sorry don't mean to sound like an idiot, this is a new area for me!!

Thank you!



Oh yeah, getting it through Dell, if anyone is familiar with their items that I can get for this, please let me know.

Thanx!

 

I just checked with my ISP and they have the two options, a wireless option for about $190 and then a cable hookup for about half of that. My isp is attbi.com . And then I have to buy an IP address for $9.95/mo. on top of that! Jeez.

Does that sound about normal pricewise for this stuff?? Just want your guys' opinion before leaping!

 

Anyone? Sniff Sniff............

Anyone?

 

KC - sorry about the delay but I fish weekends and just hadn't gotten to the bbs.

I opted to buy a dsl/cable router/switch rather than pay for a 2nd IP address month after month.

If you have a regular network card in each PC, I think highly of the LinkSys BEFSR41 which you can find for around $60 if you look around a little. They also have one for a USB setup but I don't like USB for networking. Seems to not work real well.

NetGear makes a similar one as do some others.

With one of these, you plug each PC and your cable modem into the device and it takes care of networking your PCs and dealing with the internet traffic.

The router/switch takes the IP address from your ISP and keeps track of all traffic going out so it knows which PC to send a return message to. (NAT).

Your ISP only sees the router so it is cool with your having only the one address.

The part for networking your PCs is very much plug and go. Very little setup for you to do. And the router won't care if you have one, two, or even a third PC plugged in to it.

As to sharing the printer - dead easy if you have it connected to a PC and set it to share. For instance, if you have it hooked to PC1 and shared as printer, then PC2 can connect to it as a network printer \\PC1\printer.

 

THANK YOU NEWT!!

How bout this one?
Netgear EN 104 Hub cheap DSL/Cable router $20
Item # 2056030663


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2056030663

Nice n cheap!!

Lemme know and I'll proceed!!

Catch any fishies???

 

Bought it!!

 

Hrm... I would have gone wireless if I were you. We have 3 systems in the house and one is a laptop. We decided to go with the wireless network last year, and it is WONDERFUL to be able to sit on my back porch in the morning with coffee and the laptop and check email..

Also - One of the desktops is part of the 'wireless' network, so we didn't have to worry about running Ethernet cables through walls and floors... It's truly worth the investment! (You'll find it costs less to create a wireless network, when you consider the time it takes to run the cable, drill the holes, purchase the Ethernet cable, etc. etc. etc.)

For us, the benefits greatly outweigh the expense.. Also - For a few weeks, we had a guest staying here, and he had a laptop w/ a wireless connection.. All he had to do was come in, turn it on, and he was connected!

Gotta LOVE wireless, man!!

 

I need help!!!!

I cannot connect to my home computer!!! I decided to to wire for now, I'll do the wireless in the future but right now this is fine.

Anyway, I cannot connect to my home PC, which is Win2000 and this one (laptop) is WinXP....

Can anyone help me? I really need those files!!!!!

Thanks,
Crysti

 

Is the laptop from work and with networking already configured to connect there? Or is it your own and no networking configured yet?

If no networking yet, will you be using a PC Card (PCMCIA) modem?

And you said above that you had gotten a Netgear EN104. Interesting device but not a cable/dsl router/switch. Hub only so it won't

1) provide DHCP to set the PCs up automatically
2) provide routing/NAT so your PCs can both connect to your ISP/internet thru the router

Still, if you do have networking set up on both PCs, you can make sure NetBeui is loaded on both (it's sorta hard to find on the XP systems), and that both PCs are part of the same workgroup. Then when you plug them into the hub (regular cable, NOT crossover), they should be willing to talk. Provided you have something shared on each and both user accounts set up on each.

 

Hi, I did buy that router but haven't got it yet. I'm impatient and bought another one. I'm not at home so don't know what it is right off hand. But it does get both computers on the cable internet, which is great!

And I'm assuming they are the right type of modem... dunno about that. This laptop is brand new, wouldn't they put one in here? THAT I'm not sure about..



Okay, no networking set up yet. This is at home for home and away use. So, I never have set up a network before and am not sure how, obviously! Hee Hee... I'm not home right now so can't get too specific on things but can see what this response gets and I will be there tomorrow to try out whatever is suggested....

So, that router that I bought off of Ebay won't work for me? If not, let me know and I'll turn around and sell it back on Ebay. I'll see if the one I have is the right one tomorrow.

I hope SOME of that made sense!!!

 

Okay, I have:

D-Link
Express EtherNetwork
4-Port Ethernet Broadband Router

Is this the wrong one? I cannot figure out how to get these two computers together, I'm home now trying...

PLEASE someone help!!!

 

Hi, me again... I'm starting to get really irritated by this!! Can anyone suggest what I do here??? I posted what I have bought, maybe it's the wrong router, but if someone would TELL me, I'll take it back. I just want to connect to my other computer!! I bought a (D-Link DI-604) Express EtherNetwork connection. If anyone could please help, I would be forever grateful! Thanks!!!!!!!

 

Hi, I think I may get this thing working if I can figure out how to configure this "shared folder" thing. I've tried but it won't take somehow... I dunno what I'm doing wrong here. That's the part I'm not understanding, I think that the rest will work if I can figure out that part..

 

YIPPEE GOT IT RUNNING!!!!

I got it up and running! Thanks everyone for your help, much appreciated!!!