Cable modem

Question

Hi, I have just received an Ispiron 510m. I have a Broadband Cable modem connected to my desktop PC, and I want to be able to connect it to my laptop so I have broadband on there. The only problem is that the modem either takes a straight through cable with RJ45 plugs or a USB cable. The only port on the laptop that will fit an RJ45 is the network port, and will not allow you to access the internet through this. When trying the USB cable, it said that the modem had been detected, but when I tried to install it, it said that it can't install it and that it may not work properly. So how could  I connect it to my modem?

johnallg · Answer

Go to Best Buy or your favorite cutrate computer supply store and get either a wireless (about $20-30 with rebate) or wired ($10 with rebate) Cable/DSL Router and connect it between the cable modem and both your computers using the ethernet (RJ-45) ports between the router and modem.  Then connect by ethernet to the LAN side of the router.  This will allow both computers to be on the net at once and also be a firewall between you and the internet.  With the wireless router, you can be both wired and wireless at the same time with multiple computers.

Kineas · Answer

Ok, thanks for your help. I was actually going to buy a router and then make a LAN, but I was just wondering how I could connect my laptop to my current modem without having to network them. There must be a way, as there has got to be at least one person in the world with the same laptop that wants to connect it to a cable modem, but doesn't have a desktop PC to network it to.

Akule50 · Answer

You should be able to use your Inspiron's Network port to connect to the cable modem. If you're not going to use both at the same time... then "click here" and see if that post might help.

WinXP has "Internet connection Sharing", but I believe you need to add another NIC (total=2 network cards) to your main Desktop Computer to use it (CRS). One RJ-45 going to the Cable Modem and the other RJ-45 to your Inspiron 510m. But a Router is still the better solution and they're pretty cheap now, anyway.

Aloha,
Rod

Message Edited by Akule50 on 05-21-2005 03:40 AM

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Cable modem

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