My housemate has a Mac (eMac) and cable Internet (Comcast, in case it’s relevant).
I just bought a Dell. Neither one of us knows what to buy to make it possible for me to split her cable internet bill with her with a wireless hookup. Comcast won’t tell me: they want me to pay $199 to have someone come out and install a “home network.”
The neighborhood store where I’d buy stuff is staffed by teenagers who are intimidated by the whole Mac/PC interface thingy.
I go to look online, and all I can figure out is that I’ll probably need to buy something that has the word “ethernet” in it’s name. Beyond that I’m stumped.
Can someone walk me through this? Please type very, very slowly.
First make sure your computer is able to ‘do’ wireless. I’m assuming you already have that capability. Second, find out what kind of wireless your computer has (G or K or whatever). Third, go to your local computer store and buy a router that is configured to match your computer configuration. Lastly, do the basic plugging in, then call the toll-free number for the router manufacturer and have them walk you through it.
Ethernet cord from cable modem to a router. The ethernet cord is already there. It goes from your cable modem to your roommate’s computer. Instead of going to roommates computer, it goes to a wireless router, which you will buy for this purpose.
On both computers, you will need a wireless ethernet card available from the computer store of your choice. Use the support number that comes with the card if Windows doesn’t automatically pick it up and set up your connection. They should be very easy to install. Simply take the side panel off your pc and plug it in to the PCI slot. They are configured so they will only fit in the appropriate slot. Can’t help with eMac. Haven’t seen the I/O ports on those.
Currently, Comcast supplies one IP address for the apartment and it is assigned to your roommates MAC. Using the router, Comcast still supplies one IP address. You and your roommate will share it. More specifically, it will be assigned to the router. The router will, in turn, assign other IP addresses to you and your roommate that Comcast knows or cares nothing about.
There you go. Sharing an internet connection via wireless.
You don’t have to go wireless to do this. You can hook up an ethernet router instead and run cables from it to each computer.
-Cable from wall to cable modem
Ethernet cord from cable modem to router
Ethernet cord from router to your PC
Ethernet cord from router to her Mac
Cheaper than wireless, but you are limited to where you can run ethernet cords. Same room is most convenient, though you could run cable through the apartment.
With wireless, you will want to decide if you need to secure the connection to just the two machines or if you are comfortable letting anyone with a wireless card share your connection. Instructions will be included with the wireless access point (router) on how to limit connections.
Don’t worry. This is actually a very simple thing you want to do. The hardest part will be installing the wireless cards in your computers, and that isn’t hard at all.
Don’t forget also that almost all wireless routers have ports in the back for wired networks. Soooo, you can set up your PC to be wireless, wile at the same time leaving your roomies mac hooked up to the router via a wire. I have 2 computers on wireless and one wired… It’s just as easy.
The PC card is a laptop pc card, but at that price, it’s worth it just to get the router.
Also, you can buy desktop adapters that fit the PC card into it, but if you already have a wirelss card, you won’t need to worry… just sell it on ebay, or hook up a friend with a laptop.
PS when you get everything together, come back and ask about setting up encryption.