Thread
ADSL broadband shared between PC and Mac
We're thinking about getting an ADSL Broadband internet connection (probably with BT, I'm in the UK). I'm not sure what I need to be able to put my mac onto the ADSL connection as well as the PC. From what I understand, when you are connected to ADSL you are supplied with an ADSL 'phone socket' and an ADSL modem, so how do you get 2 computers onto one modem, and if that is what you do, can the 2 computers be online at the same time? What's the best way of connecting both computers to the ADSL?
You'll need to purchase an inexpensive
home router w/ several (usually 4) 'ports'.
The DSL modem plugs into the router and
the PC & Mac also plug into the router.
Yes, both the Mac & PC can be on-line
simultaneously.
The router takes care of all the problems
such as DHCP address assignment, NAT
address translation, firewalling etc.
In the US, they are about $60-100 USD
depending on features.
I use an Asante FR3004 but the Linksys
or SMC or any one of a million others
works.
See 'practicallynetworked.com' and learn
more.
home router w/ several (usually 4) 'ports'.
The DSL modem plugs into the router and
the PC & Mac also plug into the router.
Yes, both the Mac & PC can be on-line
simultaneously.
The router takes care of all the problems
such as DHCP address assignment, NAT
address translation, firewalling etc.
In the US, they are about $60-100 USD
depending on features.
I use an Asante FR3004 but the Linksys
or SMC or any one of a million others
works.
See 'practicallynetworked.com' and learn
more.
AJPRICE.. Chances are, that the isp you looked at, wants to supply you with their own modem (I think BT do this, amongst others). And most isp's nearly always try to palm you off with a USB modem. Avoid these like the plague!
1, They really dont work too well..
2, It's nearly impossible to share your connection with more than one computer.
3, Should you decide you want a wireless airport set up one day, your USB adsl modem will be useless.
You need a good ethernet equiped ADSL modem. Once set up, they will work on any computer, regardless of OS. And as you want to use more than one computer (Really doesnt matter that you want to use a Mac & a PC. Just so long as they both have Ethernet networking ports) then obviously you need an adsl modem with more than 1 port.. They are easy enough to get here in England. Although perhaps not quite as cheap as America gets em for unfortunately!
I got an Alcatel 510 4 port from UK company http://www.dslsource.co.uk/
It was easy to set up and has worked absolutely perfectly. And the price has just been reduced to �140. It's not the cheapest model.. But it works so well, has a lot of set up options and a built in firewall etc. It's been working great with 3 Macs. One of which is on AirPort.
This company can supply cheaper adsl modems, www.solwise.co.uk/ but I have never used this company or their products myself.
Oh, and I also use www.pipex.co.uk for the isp. They charge �23 a month which is pretty good. And they dont require you to buy a modem from them. So you can use any adsl modem you like.
1, They really dont work too well..
2, It's nearly impossible to share your connection with more than one computer.
3, Should you decide you want a wireless airport set up one day, your USB adsl modem will be useless.
You need a good ethernet equiped ADSL modem. Once set up, they will work on any computer, regardless of OS. And as you want to use more than one computer (Really doesnt matter that you want to use a Mac & a PC. Just so long as they both have Ethernet networking ports) then obviously you need an adsl modem with more than 1 port.. They are easy enough to get here in England. Although perhaps not quite as cheap as America gets em for unfortunately!
I got an Alcatel 510 4 port from UK company http://www.dslsource.co.uk/
It was easy to set up and has worked absolutely perfectly. And the price has just been reduced to �140. It's not the cheapest model.. But it works so well, has a lot of set up options and a built in firewall etc. It's been working great with 3 Macs. One of which is on AirPort.
This company can supply cheaper adsl modems, www.solwise.co.uk/ but I have never used this company or their products myself.
Oh, and I also use www.pipex.co.uk for the isp. They charge �23 a month which is pretty good. And they dont require you to buy a modem from them. So you can use any adsl modem you like.
If you have one computer always up, that can server as a router, since Brickhouse (shareware) lets you share connections in OS X.1 and I heard X.2 has it built-in.
Here on the U.S. East Coast I had DSL with a little home network. Both pc's and Macs shared the internet in peace and harmony, all courtesy of a NetGear RT-314 Gateway Router and an AirPort Base Station. It's not the absolute cheapest system available but its rock-solid and a snap to configure, both for the Macs (OS 9 and OSX) and pc's(Win98 and Win2000Pro).
I didn't design my Home LAN like this, but rather watched it evolve as I embraced the technologies involved one at a time. First I wanted to share my internet connection among several computers. That lead me to the NetGear Router. Then I got a new PowerBook and thought how spiffy it would be to wonder throughout the house all the while connected wirelessly to the internet. AirPort. Now there are products that handle both functions in one piece of kit, and actually improve on AirPort's mediocre range. LinkSys and Asante are two commonly used brands.
I didn't design my Home LAN like this, but rather watched it evolve as I embraced the technologies involved one at a time. First I wanted to share my internet connection among several computers. That lead me to the NetGear Router. Then I got a new PowerBook and thought how spiffy it would be to wonder throughout the house all the while connected wirelessly to the internet. AirPort. Now there are products that handle both functions in one piece of kit, and actually improve on AirPort's mediocre range. LinkSys and Asante are two commonly used brands.
Alcatel and Draytek have introduced new ADSL-Wireless-Routers.
These are the first devices that combine all three functions in one device:
- ADSL modem
- Router
- Wireless Base
thus making your life to configure these much easier.
At home I'm using a Zyxel 642r ADSL Router plus an Apple Airport Base (Snow) which work fine together, but for our vacation flat I went for the new Alcatel device.
I'll keep you posted once I'll get it.
Bruno
These are the first devices that combine all three functions in one device:
- ADSL modem
- Router
- Wireless Base
thus making your life to configure these much easier.
At home I'm using a Zyxel 642r ADSL Router plus an Apple Airport Base (Snow) which work fine together, but for our vacation flat I went for the new Alcatel device.
I'll keep you posted once I'll get it.
Bruno