Ethernet question

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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 10:37 PM
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Ethernet question

If I have a laptop computer and an ethernet cable, I would need an Ethernet hub to get internet, right? I have a few other computers in my house set up to DSL; I just need to add this laptop to the network.

An Ethernet hub would connect the Ethernet cord to my laptop, but would it also connect elsewhere on the other end? Like would the hub have to be plugged in somewhere to work, or can I just plug in the Ethernet cord into my computer?

I am running a Macintosh.

 
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 10:48 PM
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Several ways to do it..

IF you have a PCMI slot open then I'd say get a wireless router and go wireless. But if not then yea you will need a router still and you will hook the router to your dsl modem, then plug you other PC's + the laptop into the other router ports. Even with wireless you'll still need to plug the wireless router to the DSL modem. If your going to have to buy a new router tehn I'd say go ahead and get a wirelsee anyway then when you do get a new laptop it will either have built in wireless or a PCMI slot. Also I think there are USB wireless adapters. Never used one so dont know how well they work.
Got to tigerdirect.com or egghead.com or newegg.com they all should have a networking FAQ to help design and set up your network.
Hope this helps!
 
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by PSS-Mag
Several ways to do it..

IF you have a PCMI slot open then I'd say get a wireless router and go wireless. But if not then yea you will need a router still and you will hook the router to your dsl modem, then plug you other PC's + the laptop into the other router ports. Even with wireless you'll still need to plug the wireless router to the DSL modem. If your going to have to buy a new router tehn I'd say go ahead and get a wirelsee anyway then when you do get a new laptop it will either have built in wireless or a PCMI slot. Also I think there are USB wireless adapters. Never used one so dont know how well they work.
Got to tigerdirect.com or egghead.com or newegg.com they all should have a networking FAQ to help design and set up your network.
Hope this helps!
Okay well I don't understand most of your reply but I thank you for it anyway. Maybe I should go into more detail...

My laptop DOES have wireless capability, I would just need to buy the separate AirPort thing. I tried using a 2wire PC port adapter, but it has seriously taken me 10+ phone calls, 3 packages full of equipment I didn't need from my ISP, and lots of headaches and frustration to get it to work. I unplugged the Ethernet cable from the main Home Portal, right into my laptop and it works like a charm. The laptop that needs internet I wish to put it in a separate room than the Home Portal, so I would need some sort of portable Ethernet hub. Am I making sense?lol. Can I just run ONE computer strictly off of the Ethernet hub (while the other computers are connected as they are now?)
 
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 11:24 PM
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Originally Posted by Ford Lariat
Okay well I don't understand most of your reply but I thank you for it anyway. Maybe I should go into more detail...

My laptop DOES have wireless capability, I would just need to buy the separate AirPort thing. I tried using a 2wire PC port adapter, but it has seriously taken me 10+ phone calls, 3 packages full of equipment I didn't need from my ISP, and lots of headaches and frustration to get it to work. I unplugged the Ethernet cable from the main Home Portal, right into my laptop and it works like a charm. The laptop that needs internet I wish to put it in a separate room than the Home Portal, so I would need some sort of portable Ethernet hub. Am I making sense?lol. Can I just run ONE computer strictly off of the Ethernet hub (while the other computers are connected as they are now?)
If you have wirelss on the laptop then just get this and replace your current router... http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=2470291! I prefer D-link or Linksys instead of belkin but for thw dollar that will work fine for you.

How are the others currently networked.. Yes if you go cable you will have to run a cable to the room with the laptop in it.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2005 | 11:43 PM
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I'd recommend just getting a Linksys Wireless Router and you'll be fine. The computer will automatically pick up the signal and you'll be good to go!
 
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:03 AM
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I think the vocab is the confusing part.
If you already have a router that's connecting your other computers to the internet then all you have to do is connect your laptop to the router you already have with that ethernet cable. I'm assuming your iBook also has a port to plug that ethernet cable in? There is no need for another piece of hardware if I'm reading your posts correctly. You could also do what alot of people have suggested here and replace your current router with a wireless.
A hub is basically the same thing as a router (used to split your current internet connection) however, a hub doesn't give seperate IP addresses (needed to get online) you would need to get them from your ISP.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:09 AM
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okay well the 'main' computer has the 2wire Home Portal modem. It has only ONE ethernet port and it is being used currently. The other computer is hooked up with a 2wire PC Port adapter, that connects from the phone jack to the adapter to a USB port on the computer.

I had to download a driver for the 2wire adapter. I successfuly did that but was unable to open it (I downloaded it in .sit format). I can switch out the ethernet cables to run my laptop off of the ethernet from the Home Portal modem, but that's not my goal... I want the laptop in a different room, running off the same network really. I am just adding an additional computer and need the internet on it. All I have in the room I want the laptop to be in is a phone jack and a few standard power outlets.

The wording is confusing, yes. I just want something that will work RIGHT AWAY (no wait time), easy to follow, MADE FOR A MAC (so many things aren't, it seems, lol) and easy to understand.

So can the Linksys Wireless router be used only for wireless-capable computers?
 
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:17 AM
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From: Kamloops. B.C.
ok, now I understand what you got going on there. The 2Wire that uses the phone line is the Devil.
Save yourself alot of hassel and purchase a wireless router. Most come with 4 ports for ethernet connection and can handle several hundred computers using the wireless feature. Keep the one computer connected using Ethernet, just have it connected through the router instead of the modem. Since the second computer that is now using the 2wire adapter is in another room you may have to purchase a wireless adapter for that, and your iBook can connect with wireless in the 3rd room as well. (Assuming all 3 computers are in 3 different rooms)
 

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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Tical84
ok, now I understand what you got going on there. The 2Wire that uses the phone line is the Devil.
Save yourself alot of hassel and purchase a wireless router. Most come with 4 ports for ethernet connection and can handle several hundred computers using the wireless feature. Keep the one computer connected using Ethernet, just have it connected through the router instead of the modem. Since the second computer that is now using the 2wire adapter is in another room you may have to purchase a wireless adapter for that, and your iBook can connect with wireless in the 3rd room as well. (Assuming all 3 computers are in 3 different rooms)
Awesome. LOL, I agree with you about the 2wire. None of the lights on the adapter have come on at all. I am glad to know that somebody knows what I am talking about! lol.

The idiots at my ISP sent me an Installation CD, but the 2wire Setup Wizard would 'unexpectedly quit' alll the time. Then, my ISP told me that the Installation CD was NOT for Macs, and they'd send me one for Macs. What do they do?? Send me the same exact cd! Okay, then I get on the phone with them again, and they tell me that USB won't work; I need an ethernet cable. They sent me an ethernet cable and I was still clueless,lol. So I tried establishing a temporary dial-up connection to download the supposed driver I needed for the 2wire thing. "No carrier detected" "No dial tone" was all the error messages I got. I could not establish a stable connection AT ALL. So I called back tonight and they said to switch out the Ethernet cables with the main modem. It works, yeah, I downloaded the driver, but the driver won't load, soo??lol.

A wireless router sounds good. What does it connect to? How does it connect?

Will computers that have wireless capability only work with the wireless router?
 
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:30 AM
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Eww that was even worse than I feared...
I was thinking she might be on a Token Ring.

Yea definatly go get a wireless router and be done with it!

I have the D-Link, model DI-524 cost about $40-$50 (I can't remember) Have 2 computers online + one file server for storage with ethernet cables. Then 2 towers and 2 laptops on wireless. (was to lazy to run cables to the back of the house for the girls computers.) Have had 10 other laptops out her online all at the same time on the wirelsee before!
 
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Tical84
Keep the one computer connected using Ethernet, just have it connected through the router instead of the modem. Since the second computer that is now using the 2wire adapter is in another room you may have to purchase a wireless adapter for that, and your iBook can connect with wireless in the 3rd room as well. (Assuming all 3 computers are in 3 different rooms)
Ohh, do you mean take the Ethernet cable out of the Home Portal modem, and just plug it into the wireless router?

The computer using the 2wire adapter, could it still work fine without a wireless router?

Would I have to buy another wireless router for the iBook (the one that needs internet)?

by "wireless" router, does that mean I don't have to hook up any ethernet cables or does that mean it's only for wireless enabled computers?
 
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:35 AM
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From: Kamloops. B.C.
Originally Posted by Ford Lariat
A wireless router sounds good. What does it connect to? How does it connect?

Will computers that have wireless capability only work with the wireless router?
You will connect the wireless router to the DSL modem with an ethernet cable. From there you can connect a computer to the router using another ethernet cable or wireless as long as the computer has a wireless adapter in it.

That question is a little difficult to answer because of the wording but...If you want to connect wirelessly yes, it will have to be to a wireless router, however just because the computer has wireless capability, doesn't mean you HAVE to connect it wirelessly. You can always use ethernet.

Take the 2wire adapter out of the one computer and replace it with a wireless adapter
 

Last edited by Tical84; Sep 5, 2005 at 12:38 AM.
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Tical84
You will connect the wireless router to the DSL modem with an ethernet cable. From there you can connect a computer to the router using another ethernet cable or wireless as long as the computer has a wireless adapter in it.

That question is a little difficult to answer because of the wording but...If you want to connect wirelessly yes, it will have to be to a wireless router, however just because the computer has wireless capability, doesn't mean you HAVE to connect it wirelessly. You can always use ethernet.
Let me see if I understand this correctly...

Get a wireless router. Unlplug Ethernet cable from the DSL modem and plug it into the wireless router. Am I right so far?

Okay, how can I connect a computer to the router using another ethernet cable if they are in separate rooms?

Is the wireless adapter different from the wireless router? If so how can I get one?
 
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:40 AM
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
edited to draw, scan and post diagram....

Look at this and see if it makes since if not I'l draw one up
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/diagr...ireless-ap.asp
 

Last edited by PSS-Mag; Sep 5, 2005 at 12:44 AM.
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 12:43 AM
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From: Kamloops. B.C.
Originally Posted by Ford Lariat
Let me see if I understand this correctly...

Get a wireless router. Unlplug Ethernet cable from the DSL modem and plug it into the wireless router. Am I right so far?

Okay, how can I connect a computer to the router using another ethernet cable if they are in separate rooms?

Is the wireless adapter different from the wireless router? If so how can I get one?
Right.
EDIT: Actually, now that i reread that...unplug ethernet from computer and plug into wireless router

If they are in seperate rooms i suggest not using Ethernet, get a wireless adapter for it.

A wireless router will send the signal to the wireless adapter which will plug into each computer you want wireless.
 

Last edited by Tical84; Sep 5, 2005 at 12:49 AM.
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