Hello, does anyone out there know about how a shared modem works?
I�ve got a Motorola Surfboard modem with Auna cable, and as it has two outlets, one USB and one Ethernet, I hooked up our new flatmate to it via the USB outlet: the problem is that although we have 600kps, if she�s using it I don�t seem to get any bandwidth at all - does all the bandwidth go to the first one who happens to be doing something, or is it shared out 50-50 as I hoped? Do I need a router? If we got WI-FI would we both get full high-speed bandwidth?
I�m sorry for such a geeky and sad sounding question, but if anyone can help me out I can save myself from tearing out the little hair I have left! cheers

Hey, I have no experience with this particular modem, but you should not need anything else if you both have Wi/Fi.


You should be able to share his internet connection via his wi/fi.
Asuming you both have Windows XP:
go to network connections. Select his Wi/Fi network card right click on it, and select properties. On the last tab "Advanced" select the Internet conection sharing tab. From your computer, select your wi/fi card right click and select view available networks. You should then be able to see his computer.

In fact we only have the normal high-speed cable connection right now, I was wondering if it would be better to get wi-fi: it�s not my first choice as we�d need to get a fixed phone line (expensive) in order to be able to have that. Would a router make a difference and share the signal more equally?

I thought that scooter was asking if he got wifi, not that he had it?

I would be interested in the answer to that, as I have RSDI which my husband plugs into when he is here, and although it takes him a long time to logon (would that be cos he has an internal modem?) once he is online there is little time difference when we are both surfing

scooter, are the 2 outlets on the modem live or is it just the usb one that works?

if only the usb one works, check with Auna and make sure that the deal you have with them allows for multiple simultaneous connections.

many broadband providers these days only allow for one pc connected at once with their basic deals and charge for additonal connected pcs.

your ethernet port may not even be live (active).

saludos,
jer...

There�s a USB and an Ethernet outlet, both work, apparently at the same time, but seemingly without an even distribution of bandwidth..

hi scooter

i may be able to offer some help here - i used to have cable in the UK. They dished out a Terajet Cable model which had both USB and Ethernet (RJ-45) connections. If i remember correctly you could only use 1 at a time.

To share the connection you will need to have a computer or device between the cable modem and the machines wanting to use the connection.

The cheap way of doing this is to setup internet connection sharing in Windows. Then your partner will need to connect their ethernet port to an ethernet port on the pc connected to the USB interface.

The downsides:

• you need to have the USB connected machine switched on when you need to connect via the additional machine.
  
• it is slower than dedicated hardware doing the same job.
  
• In fact a single machine connected to the cable modem using USB will be slower than the same machine connecting via Ethernet. Software emulation is slower than dedicated hardware.
  
• additional network cards are needed to support additional hardware.
  

A better solution would be to have dedicated hardware between your machines and the cable modem. This will set you back 84� or so (based on a search on kelkoo.es).

The advantages:

• You can normally share the connection with up to 4 machines or extend it with a ethernet hub or wireless access point as needed.
  
• Most decent routers have a builtin firewall. Most PCs connected to the internet can be infected or taken over within 20 minutes or less. Without a router (hardware or software) you are vulnerable to attack.
  
• the hardware is normally quite small (compared to a pc and makes no noise.
  

If you have a spare PC you can use it to act as a dedicated firewall/router. See smoothwall.org.

I would recommend looking at either a Netgear or Linksys. There are other companies. However these two tend to design their products more toward a home user, in fact that goes more for netgear than linksys. If you are going with a router from a company that imports from Taiwan or China say, beware that setting up things can been extraordinarily difficult in comparison. I consider myself to be PC and Network literate but some kit i have used from the far east should require you pass a test before you open the box.

You may find that Auna may not allow you to swap PC's on either the ethernet or USB port. If you want to change over PCs connecting direct to a modem you might have to register what is known as the MAC address with the company (Telewest in the UK used to do this) or Wait 12 hours after switching off the first PC before connecting the second (NTL in the UK did this). Another advantage to getting a dedicated router since you set it up once and away you go.

For some general Cable modem tips and information have a look at this website. It was setup by someone in the UK to answer questions about NTL and Telewest's cable modem services but should give you loads of information about cable modems in general.

I have a question - where is the best place to order/buy PC kit. Specifically I will need to get one of these router thingamies and was wondering where to get them apart from PC City or El Corte Ingles?

\g

hi,

i now have some experience with one cable operator here in spain, ONO.

It seems they do tie the connection to the first PC that connects to the cable modem via the ethernet port. If you want to connect another PC using the same ethernet cable you are out of luck. Unless, that is, you can spoof the mac address of the first PC making ONO think you still have that first PC connected. I guess Auna will have the same restriction.

I was not able to pick up the Linksys broadband router (without wireless) from PC City and I did not want to pay 125� for the wireless version . In the end i was able to pick up a 4 port firewall/router for 32� from pcbox.es (they have physical stores all over spain). It seems to work ok with VPN passthrough and also has the MAC address spoofing. I now have 2-3 PC's connected to my cable connection with a wireless access point thrown in.

hope this helps someone...

\g