Setting up a network...

[TheJkWhoSaysNi]

What do I need?

What I want to be able to do:

-Access the internet on 2 different computers
-Play games across the network.

I heard somewhere that with a direct connection between PC's that you have to have one PC on to get the internet on the other one, I dont want this, I want to be able to access the net without having both PC's on.

I also heard that with a router (I think!) that each computer will only get half of the connection (300k in my case) is there a way around it? Or is that just if both people are using the net?

Thanks for any help, as you can probably tell, I dont know much about this

 

[FatBusinessman]

You basically have 2 options:

- Have one of the computers connect through the other one (this will require the computer with the Internet connection to be on whenever you want to connect through)
- Set up a dedicated router (you can buy these for cable/DSL, or you can probably install some form of Linux on an old computer)

From what you've said, the dedicated router is your best option - it's obviously your choice whether you want a router (about £50, I believe) or a Linux box (trickier to set up, but cheaper if you've already got a computer sitting around).

The half-connection claim is only true if both of the computers are trying to download at the maximum rate. If one computer is just browsing the Web or checking their e-mail, then the connection speed on the other shouldn't be affected much.

 

[Cdr]

Just to add to FBM's post regarding the speed, I've been connected upto a router with a friend, both of us playing BF. Normally our pings (connected to the cable modem alone) would roughly range from 20 - 35. When we were both connected our pings only increased by 5 - 10 points (if that). So, like FBM says, unless you have one PC downloading the full works of Shakespear on DVD, then you'll not notice any decrease in speed.

 

[TheJkWhoSaysNi]

Thanks

 

[FatBusinessman]

No problem - here to help