How can you split Internet connection between 2 computer with one connection?

Answer 1

Router is the best way. The assumption is a DSL or Cable connection to the internet. If you use dial up, you can use one computer as the host. Do help on windows for instructions to set it up.

Someone suggested a hub. Hubs are cheeeeep. Of course, routers are pretty cheap, too. (World has changed. A few years ago, a hub was $50 and a router was $250. Now, both are probably within $10 of each other.) The problem with a hub is it will not assign an ip address to each computer. Most internet providers will only provide one IP address.

With a router, the router takes the ISP's IP address and assigns another IP address to each computer on your home network. All communications to the phone or cable company looks like only one computer is attached. The router "routes" the messages to the correct computer.

A hub will only pass the computer's IP address, and that is going to be the sole ip address the ISP gives you. If both computers are logged on at the same time, the computers get confused because one computer is getting a message meant for the other. You start getting error messages about your IP address.

Answer 2

Assuming that it is a cable or DSL connection (not dial up), you need a router (about $40). You disconnect the cable that runs from your cable/DSL modem to your computer and hook it into the router. The router will then have four or more additional ports. You simply run a network cable from one of those ports to the ME computer, and another port to the XP. And just like that, you have split the Internet connection between the two computers. If you spend an extra $10, you can get a router that also broadcast a wireless signal, usually good for about 150 feet. Add a wireless adapter ($40) to either (or both) of the computers, and you can connect without having to be in the same room or floor as the router. Also good is you ever add a laptop or have friends visit with a laptop.

Answer 3

Best way is to get a Router. A Router is a "computer" in it's own sense... a network computer. It acts as a firewall, can block Internet sites and much more when set up correctly.

Hubs: They can allow more than one computer online, but they are dumb and split the Internet connection, making your connection slow.

Switches: A bit smarter than a hub, but you still split the signal.

Answer 4

SImple way is to get a switch and use it.
It does not split the bandwidth as a hub does. Rather it uses a time sliced access to each and every system.So i think it will not reduce ur bandwidth.

Kindly refer to Howstuffworks if you need further more details on hub and switches.

Answer 5

Router is pretty quick and dirty, but if you want to tinker with windows, here's a link from the microsoft site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/crawford_02july01.mspx

Answer 6

A router