Broadband - multiple users

[c00ky83]

What do I need for myself and two flatmates to connect to broadband via one phone socket? Any ideas on prices, or if any suppliers will include them?

[Ethel]

You need a router and wi-fi cards.

Should cost �60+, depending on your needs. If the computers are wi-fi enabled you won't need the cards, only the router.

[theultimateq]

You need a router and you can either go wireless or wired (I recommend the latter, unless you really need wireless). Wireless is only much good if you have a laptop, and even then file transfer performance is flaky in my experience, and you get lower speeds than wired.

[trevHCS]

To expand on whats been said.

Wired option: Get something like a Thompson Speedtouch 510 router (about �80) which has 4 network ports so as long as each computer has a 100Mbs network card you just plug in and go.

Wireless option 1: If you had something like the speedtouch or similar router then you could connect it to a "wireless access point". I run on a Netgear WG602 v3 which just plugs into the router and broadcasts around the house.

Wireless option 2: If you don't have a router already then there are ADSL wireless router's available which combine both the ADSL router bit and wireless in one box (less electrical plugs required).

With either wireless option you'll also need wireless network cards in each computer, although modern laptops are often 54Mbs enabled anyway (you don't want less than 54Mbs!).

Main advantage of wired is that you get a 100Mbs network, although most ADSL only 1/2 to 8Mbs. Main advantage of wireless is no cables to worry about.

Finally, if you are going wireless, read the instructions on enabling security or everyone and his dog will be able to "borrow" your connection. It's pretty simple usually, but you *need* to read it.

[c00ky83]

Thanks - I found a 5-way wired router on ebay for �17, which I guess would suffice!