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Sharing Internet Access or Creating Your Own LANIf you want to access the Internet to check your email while your kids want to play games on nickjr.com or something, then this article will be of interest to you. Of course, you will need more than one computer. If you have a cable modem, you will already have one of the items needed to create your own LAN. What is a LAN, you ask? A LAN is a local area network of computers that use network cards and drivers to communicate to each other. A LAN card and its software (drivers) must be installed before your computer can communicate with your cable service provider to obtain Internet access. If your have more than one computer, then decide if you want a wired or wireless network. A wireless network will allow you to sit outside with your laptop while another can be anywhere else in or near your home. This option is more expensive, but you will not have wires connecting each computer to the router. You will have to establish an access point from where the signals come which your neighbors may enjoy. Yes, they, too, can have Internet access at your expense, if they install a network card and its drivers. Unfortunately, if you use a cordless phone, your phone call or your Internet access may be disconnected. Both wired and wireless network routers contain a firewall. Once you decide which network you want, shop around for the best prices on the products you need. I use a cordless phone and my computers are close enough together to choose the more economical option of wired networks. I can always drill holes in the floor to run the cables below the floor. Longer cables can be purchased if necessary. I already owned some LAN cards and cables, but I had to buy more to network several computers. Then I bought the router and a laptop card. When I had everything I needed, I could install the network cards, install their drivers, connect the wires from the router to each computer and it should work, right? Actually, one should always read the manual. Then call RCN Customer Support (or whomever your Internet Service Provider is) to have them reconfigure the IP address so the router can share your Internet connection with all of the computers on the network. Don't worry, you don't need to understand why, just call and they will talk you through the steps. Then you and your kids can enjoy Internet access simultaneously! What you will need depends on how many computers will be networked. You will need an Ethernet (Ethernet is your network configuration) 10/100 PC Card for each desktop computer, a PCMCIA Card for each laptop or notebook PC, drivers (included with purchase of network card), an Ethernet cable/DSL router (with 4-port switch that can include hubs to add more than four computers), cables to connect each computer to the router, and the obvious computers, Internet access, telephone to call for support and pain reliever in case this doesn't work the first time (just kidding). To connect two desktops and a laptop,
I am using the following items: Wireless networks do not require cables to each computer, but it requires more expensive network cards and an access point in addition to the wireless router which also costs more. Shop around before buying and install it yourself to avoid installation costs. Then enjoy unlimited Internet access as your young kids enjoy NickJr.com, your teenagers enjoy chat rooms, your college students download MP3s and etc. Gotta go, my son is calling me. So much for uninterrupted Internet access. Yvette Kuhns, Power Pages Web Design, April 2002 Printer Friendy Version. If this article helped you, please donate any amount via PayPal. Thank you! If you have any questions or helpful hints to share, please email me. Please view our list of past articles for more useful information.Back to top of page I Resources
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