computor

I would like to know how to go about how to hook up two computors to get them to work. Computor repair shop says use an Ethernet Switch but they cannot get the second computor to work, repairman was out for over an hour trying to get things going and had to give up. Had heard have to use a router but all avaible are wireless type and computors are not made for wireless on anything. Do not have to be able to be used at same time but would be nice. Service is with a antenna aimed to a tower 15 mile away.

I can't answer your specific question, but I had a Belkin Router for our system.. I changed to this NetGear Earthnet switch, Mod FS 108, And I have less problems than ever.

I just checked out other sites to see what I could find for a pic for you , and I found they have Managed , or un managed switches confused me for what maybe your satellite system may need.
I have room for 6 computers on mine I use Comcast cable for service.

We have wireless internet plus we switched our land line phone over with our wireless internet provider. We have to use a router and have no problem with them. I would talk with your internet provider. They may provide you with the equipment you need at no extra charge. Ours provider did.

Leroy,

Here's link to a kind of geeky website that explains the difference between a router and a switch.

It also contains diagrams of how to incorporate routers or switches into a network.

If your local networking guy can't get your network to work, it seems to me that there must be some serious problem inside one of your computers. Typically, networks are pretty straight-forward to set up by people who have done a few of them before.

Good luck,


Tom in TN
Routers vs. switches

Use a cross-over ethernet cable and you don't need a router.

Your repairman should know this.

Allan

You need to have a physical connection (e.g. ethernet), and you need to assign an IP address to each. Most computers are set up to use Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) by default, so without a DHCP controller, you need to manually set the IP address for both. But you say you've got some sort of internet connection, so something is already setting the IP address for the computer you have hooked up to the internet. What is the connection to your antenna? Is it ethernet? What does your computer say your interfaces are when you run the ipconfig command in a DOS window? I'll bet you already have a router in your antenna setup.

If you need a router, most wireless routers these days also have ethernet ports.

The internet provider said pay for 2 services. That would also make for 2 different email addresses.

WE bought what they told us to get, Linksys 5-port Fast Ethernet Switch SE1500. Both computors were bought as reconditioned units this fall and winter, Both are Dell on windows XP. I bearly know how to use them and all the terms I do not understand. Will print out the responses so the salesman/repairman can read them and possibly get things figured out.

It sounds like you have a wireless internet provider, like mine. (correct me if that's not right)
You have a cable coming from your antenna, where does it plug in currently?
Does it plug directly into the back of your working computer? (through the power adapter)
Some wireless companies require you to use a static IP, not DHCP.
If yours does, then plugging the cable directly into the other computer wouldn't
work unless you set that computer to have the correct IP address.
They would not work at the same time that way.
If your ISP does not require a static IP, then it should work if plugged into
the other PC unless the PC has a networking problem.
If they require a static IP, a router would be a good choice.
You would set the router to use the static IP they assigned, and then have
it hand out Dynamic (DHCP) addresses to your computers.
That way they would work at the same time on different IP addresses.
A wireless router will work, it should have 4 or so ethernet connections on the back.
I'm really surprised the repair guy didn't try that. Was he from your ISP?

We have both cable TV and the internet on this one antenna and outside the house it branches to the tv and to the computor with a small box that transforms the tv like cable to the cable for the computor. then this switch is after that with a cable to each computor. This is as much as I understand. What interface, ipconfig or DOs mean I have no idea. I am just a dummy when it comes to this. The provider is Watchtv.net

An ethernet switch provides a physical connection, but without a DHCP controller the two boxes won't be able to get IP addresses. So-called "ethernet routers" typically have built-in DHCP controllers.

What you need depends a lot in how you're connected to the internet. Namely, if your connection is over Peer-to-Peer Protocol (PTP), then the IP is assigned by the remote system to your computer and there's no way to get the remote system to cough up a second IP for your second computer. But if the hardware on your side of the antenna is a DHCP controller, then you should be able to connect multiple computers to the internet.

He is the serviceman and sales person from the computor shop. The computor had some problems that he needed to be out here to take care of also as they are on a different provider. The wire that comes into the house is a TV cable, used a extra piece I had here to lengthon it and that part is working. Then it goes into a box provided by the servive provider that converts the cable to the type that hooks to the computor. Then a cable to the eithernet switch with one cable to each computor.

OK, now we're making progress. It sounds like you basically have a cable model. I'm no expert on cable modems, but I'm sure someone will chime in.

So, if I understand correctly, you have some sort of cable device that has a single ethernet port. (If it had two, your problem would be solved.) That ethernet port is connected to the ethernet port on your PC. Here's what I suggest you try:

1. Get your main computer up and running, then go to the Start menu and pick "Run...". Enter the command "cmd" in the Run dialog; an MS-DOS window will pop up.
2. In the DOS window, type "ipconfig" and hit enter. You should see a bunch of gobbledygook scroll across the screen. Basically it will tell you what network interfaces you have, if they're connected and what their IP addresses are (if any). Don't close anything down just yet, because you may want to look at it again.
3. Unplug your ethernet cable from your number 1 PC and plug it into the second machine. Reboot the second machine; once it's up and running execute the ipconfig command on number 2 just like you did on number one. The results should be very similar to what you saw before, although the IP address might be off a little.

If you can get an IP address on the second PC, then that PC is OK and you'll need to do something with your network setup. However, if the second PC can't get an IP, then your problem is with the PC, NOT with the network. For example, it might not be set up to use DHCP, or it could have a bad network card. Whatever the cause, you need to make sure that computer can connect to the internet on its own before going further.

Leroy, I think we're all offering the same ideas here, but in different terms.
Here is a youtube video that shows how to do what MarkB is talking about.
In that same window, it will tell you whether or not DHCP is enabled.
You Tube

The one we bought back about October was on the system and worked but is very small and slow. Bought the second the end of december and at first would not hook up but finally did and is what I am using now. Then got the switch and tried it and the october computor (bought from a different shop as only what was avaible at that time as the old one got fried) and only the december computor will work on line, the oct one will work off line. I know when I do a post it says something about something traceable.

Leroy, everything you've said so far indicates you should be able to share your internet connection between the two computers. I'm assuming this connection doesn't use PTP, since at one time each computer worked on your setup without any special configuration.

What you need to do to share the connection depends on whether or not your modem will assign more than one IP address. The ISP that provided the modem should be able to tell you that. If the modem will provide multiple IPs, then the ethernet switch should do the job. But if it will only provide a single IP, then you'll need a router to share the single IP.

OK, now what I have to do is find out what a modem is and where it is located. Is it a part of the computor or is it something the provider has? The computor that quit back about October was also a refurbished model from this same place but a different employ there at that time. When we got it we had only dialup service and they had to take it back to install something that it should have had to hook to the phone line. Liked it better than the ones have now, from what little I understand what they call a hard drive went bad and cannot be replaced, Later when we got the wireless service it needed and had a different port for the cable to hook to and the service hooked it up. Have an older model windows 98 that still works good but only has the telephone line hookup. A lot of items in there that would like to be able to transfer to new computor so could use a printer to save what is in the windows 98 model that was bought new. When we were on dialup we could use both that 98 and the first computor a windows 95 by just turning on the one we wanted to use. When we got the 98 it was because had just bought a new camara and it would only work on the 98 and not the 95. Current camara never could get to work with any of them, the 98 or either of the XP models. Hopeing we can get the camara to working with the latest one instead of having to take to store to get printed out. Do not know if any of the xp models had a CD burner in or not, had bought a new burner that was spposed to work on the 98 and had it installed but it would never work. I can get dialup back again if we have the money so what is in the 98 I could forward to the current email address to print out. A lot of items in that old computor are related to the grandson that passed at 23 months around 8 years ago and the other grandkids we have not seen or heard from in years, they should be about 15 by now, think they are in Kentucky but do not know. As you can tell I am pretty illiterate when it comes to computors. So many different items on control pannels that have no idea what they are supposed to do and afraid if hit something I should not will lock up the machine. Thanks for your help.

If I try to get on You Tube or any video it will play for 2-3 seconds and stop for 15 seconds befor doing the 2-3 seconds again and keep repeating. Why I do not have any ideas.

What is a static IP and what is a DHCP?

Leroy, "modem" is short for "modulator-demodulator" and it's a device that converts digital signals to analog and analog signals to digital. The device I'm talking about is the box that has your antenna connected to one end and your computer connected to the other. Your ISP might call it something else, but that's what it is: a modem. You also had a modem when you were on dial-up, but that's different kind of modem.

But that's besides the point. From what you're describing, it sounds like that box I'm talking about is what issues your PC its IP address. The unknown piece of information is whether it will issue more than one IP address or not. The only folks who (should) know for sure are are at your ISP. Call them up and ask them: "I want to hook up a second computer. Will this funky box I have hooked up between my computer and antenna give out more than one IP address?" They should be able to give you an answer. (Whether or not it's the right answer is another matter.)

Once you know whether or not you can get a second IP, then you'll know if you need to buy a router. Now it sounds like you have some older equipment, and some of that stuff doesn't work real well. But you should be able to get it online regardless. Good luck.

(quoted from post at 12:08:07 02/23/13) What is a static IP and what is a DHCP?

Click to expand...

I don't want to confuse the issue, but to answer your question the "IP" address
we keep talking about is an Internet Protocol Address.
Every device connected to the internet has to have one, and it has to be unique.
Much like your home address, it's how information (like bills) is delivered.
A static IP is one you have to enter yourself and it doesn't change.
Dynamic IP's (DHCP) are assigned and handed out automatically by a DHCP server.
It may or may not change at every renewal.
If you've never had to enter one, and you ISP didn't do it for you, then
yours is most likely a dynamic IP address.
Sorry you can't get to the video, it may have helped.
It's just a guess at this point, but I think you'll need a router.
Maybe someone you know has one you could try before you buy?

I do not know how old either one is but here are some numbers I did find on tags. The smaller case bought last October is Dell Windows XP professional 1-2CPU, model DHP Serial 8YR3221 and date 110702 and the larger case bought at end of December and curently in use says Dell Windows XP professional, Model DHM, serial FB0FT71 and date 070505. I do know that the last one came from a collage when they got all new equipment and the store got guessing a hundred computors and monitors. Next week hope to sometime be able to see the store service man and have all this information printed out for him to read and hopefully understand and get this thing figured out. When I hit preview message it brings up these numbers 69.88.205.38 on this one, the other not being hooked up how would I find that number?

You don't really need any numbers. Just a router. Most routers come with a switch built-in, so you can run several computers off it. You will see a several ports on the back of it. One port for the internet connection, and then, be sure it has a built-in switch, it will have at least 4 ports to plug your computers, printers, etc. into. (If you get a "network printer someday.) Get a router and your problems will be solved.

If you get a router without a built-in switch, you can use the switch you have to go between the router and your computers. If this the case, you will plug the internet connection into the router, then plug the switch into the router, then plug the computers into the switch.

Whoever that was that come over to your house to fix this must have been a crook casing out your house, because if he knew anything about computers, he would have fixed it in no time.

Leroy, the IP address attached to your post is most likely NOT the IP assigned to your computer. The ipconfig command will tell you the real IP address of your computer. The IP address on your post is the address the outside world sees, but your computer will most likely have an IP address assigned by its DHCP server, which is probably your modem. For example, the IP address on my most recent post was 75.219.38.86, but the IP address assigned to my computer is actually 192.168.0.112. I won't get into why that is, because we're already off in the weeds.

The main point here is that it all comes down to the fact that a computer needs an IP address to talk to other computers over TCP/IP. If your modem won't cough up a second IP address, then you'll need to buy a router to do it.

The trick to watching videos on a slow connection is to let the buffer fill up. Start the video, and as soon as it starts playing, stop it. You'll see a progress bar at the bottom of the player; wait until the bar has gone a fair distance ahead of the cursor before hitting play. If the video gets jerky, stop it and wait longer before restarting.

Local store, owned by a lady that had 3 stores and just closed one. She said about him just young enough that he has a lot to learn. It takes time and I guess he does not know the wire types as well as the wireless.

COMPUTOR'S ARE WORKING. Know I feel like shouting, been trying for quite a while to get both hooked up. Bought a Netgear G54 wireless Router and they are both working now. If it had not been for your help would not have figured it out. Thanks.

That's great! Glad you got it sorted out.

Glad to hear you got 'um up and running. Net gear is a pretty good little router. If you're not using the wireless part, be sure to turn it off for security, to keep someone from getting into your system.

OK, This leads to anouther question. How do you do that? How far will that wireless part work? A thousand feet from closest neighbor.