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carrieeb
new user
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 10
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Hi, wondered if anyone could help a novice newbie...
Six of us are moving into a student house and have ordered two 1mb NTL broadband connections between us, i.e. three laptops on each. I have got very little idea (very) about how we actually hook the extra four computers up to the ones that will have the connection installed proper. I know it's possible somehow but it's the 'how' bit that eludes me... Someone at NTL (who incidentally was shockingly patronising about the rest of the business - ok, so I don't know how to set up multiple computers on the one connection but I do know what exactly broadband is and what sharing will make the connection speed... lol) said that we'd need a router for each connection but as far as I can make out these seem to be for wireless networking and mine is the only one with wireless facility. If anyone can explain how I can poss get around all of this I'd be massively grateful...
Carrie
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timbaker1964
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 372
Loc: Herts
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A wireless router can have 4 'wired' and (I think) 250 wireless connections!!. One of these http://www1.linksys.com/international/defaulttest.asp?coid=6 will do all 6 of your comps. Set one up wired first, then use a wireless card or 'dongle' on all the laptops and you're sorted.
Setting up is very easy, you won't even need the enclosed software.
Good luck.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17961
Loc: Colchester
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I assume these NTL connections are cable, in which case one of these for each NTL modem will provide you with 4 outlets for your laptops, a total of 8 wired connections. They don't need any setting up and you don't need the NTL software once the initial connection has been made to NTL itself. I have been using one of these for over a year with no problems.
Wired connections are by far the simplest, cheapest and and most reliable way of networking but if you want to go down the wireless route, let us know. The two routers plus eight 5 metre ethernet cables will cost you around £40 for the complete kit of parts but wireless will probably be up in the hundreds.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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goodhorsehymn
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 5
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Hello people. We have a similar problem with NTL. We were informed by the NTL salesman that visited our student house, that the best way of setting up our 6 internet connections, would be for 3 1mb connections, and run two computers off each. He said that we'd be able to run one computer via USB, and the other via Ethernet. We've tried this, and as I kind of suspected, the first computer that logs on connects to the internet fine, but the second computer gives the error of 'limited connectivity' and will not connect properly.
I'm guessing we need a router. If we do, has anyone had any experience of NTL saying similar rubbish to them? If there is a way of getting to this to work (preferably easily) I'd be really grateful if you could let me know. We've only got 1 of the lines installed (they decided to assign them all to different crews!) and the other 2 are supposed to be coming on Tuesday. If we could establish whether this will work or not by then it would be fantastic!
Thanks in advance of your help.
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TheFatControlleR
Forum Admin
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 6663
Loc: Megatripolis
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The above advices notwithstanding;
As Clint Eastwood ('Dirty' Harry Callaghan) once said, "I'd say you've been seriously misinformed"!
I'm no networking master, but IMHO you can indeed set up a network using a router (one that can handle 6 users, either wired or wireless, or a combination of the two). I know someone who once had 5 PC's networked on a dialup connection, before getting broadband, so I can't see it being a problem (barring an amount of slow-down dependent upon how many are up/downloading at one time).
Personally, I'd cancel the other 2 installations (and subsequent account expense) and seek advice in the Networking area.
Once you've proved NTL wrong, I'd seriously consider a complaint with regards the mis-selling, (and, perhaps, disinformation, unless he offered a valid reason for his reccomendation, i.e. non-support for multiple users, etc), of the saleman (copies, potentially, going to your local Trading Standards office, Which, and Watchdog!!). 
If any of your housemates are studying Law I'm sure some choice legalese will get some sort of response. 
Good luck. 
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 TFC
'Going to trial with a lawyer who considers your whole life-style a Crime in Progress is not a happy prospect.' - Hunter S Thompson (1937-2005)
Edited by TheFatControlleR (Mon Sep 26 2005 12:21 AM)
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carrieeb
new user
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 10
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Hey, everyone
Thanks for all of your help. We got NTL installed yesterday and we've gone down the wireless route bc the rooms are on three floors and in addition to wireless always being handy for public hotspots and mobility, no-one fancied trailing or tacking yet more cable around the house... for one thing someone would break a leg at some point, tacked or otherwise. Seriously, it'd be possible.
I'm running off the basic Belkin wireless router with two other users who are on Belkin notebook 32bit wireless adapter cards and even with one of the other laptops being in Chinese everything seems to be running just fine... *touch wood* We're currently using 128bit WEP encription - WPA would be dandy but to be perfectly honest I'm not sure if the wireless cards support it and if they do it seems a lot of hassle to go and upgrade the security... Any advice/opinions/points/verbal beatings? Also, I think but am not sure that there's no way of telling who's using my network at any one point - can anyone confirm this?
One other insanely blonde thing and I mean it wholeheartedly when I apologise for the idiocy of this question... Am I right in thinking that the network itself is now running off the router? If so and I disconnected the ethernet cable from my router to laptop, would that kill the network or let me be wireless as the others are?
Very, very sorry to ask this one... Really... 
Best
C
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17961
Loc: Colchester
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Taking your last question, yes the network is now running off the router and yes, if you've a wireless capable laptop you could run it off the network as well.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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goodhorsehymn
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 5
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Thanks for your reply TheFatControlleR. I just called our NTL representative, and he said "that's strange, I've had it working before, but with the old silver modems". He suspects that the old modems possibly allowed this, but the new ones don't. Dear oh dear. He suggests that we get cheap 2 port ethernet routers (£2-5 he says!) for each of the three connections. 3 connections IS cheaper than 1 fast connection (believe it or not, special offer etc) so we're thinking about this.
Only problem is...can't find any 2 port routers around, and certainly can't find any cheap ones! Any one come across these mysterious things?
Cheers 
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17961
Loc: Colchester
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I'm using the latest NTL modem (NTL:Home 100) and I'm networking 4 PCs off it. I'm with TFC when it comes to networking - you certainly don't need 3 NTL modems but if you are getting a good deal, then so be it.
I'm using one of these for my network. It's a 4 port router that works straight out of the box. I can't find a two port router cheaper anywhere on the net and certainly not one for '£3-£5'.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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Hello_There
Moderator
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 6077
Loc: Here, in my room
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Quote:
3 connections IS cheaper than 1 fast connection
May I ask what special offer it is that you're thinking of taking up please? If it's the £9.99 for 1Mb, then please be careful because if you read the small print here, it states that 1Mb Broadband is £9.99 a month for the first 12 months, at the end of this period you will be charged the standard subscription charge (currently £17.99 a month).
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goodhorsehymn
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 5
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Quote:
Quote:
3 connections IS cheaper than 1 fast connection
May I ask what special offer it is that you're thinking of taking up please? If it's the £9.99 for 1Mb, then please be careful because if you read the small print here, it states that 1Mb Broadband is £9.99 a month for the first 12 months, at the end of this period you will be charged the standard subscription charge (currently £17.99 a month).
We're only here for a year, so it works out best
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Chrissyan
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 1082
Loc: By the Sea
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Don't forget to give your months notice after 11 months.
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If I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a terrible warning
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