Modem

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RainDownMyBlues

New Member
So I have a wireless modem upstairs, hardwired to one computer, and everything else is wireless. 4 laptops, one other desktop(my main machine).

I'm basically wondering if there would be any possible conflict to using two modems in one house? I want to hardline this computer, but running THAT much cat5 cable would be absurd.

Also, is there any speed different? I'm going to assume, and hope there is.
 
Geoff

Geoff

VIP Member
I'm assuming you mean wireless routers, because I don't see why you would want to pay for two high speed connections. To answer your question though, you can easily setup two wireless networks in your house without conflict, simply set the channels on both so that they are as far apart as possible without overlapping with nearby wireless networks.
 
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Zatharus

VIP Member
RainDownMyBlues said:
I'm basically wondering if there would be any possible conflict to using two modems in one house? I want to hardline this computer, but running THAT much cat5 cable would be absurd.
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Please do clarify if you are speaking of two discreet internet connections or one internet connection and two wireless routers. It sounds like you are asking if you can have two separate broadband connections off the same cable coming into your home. Depending on whether or not you have Cable or DSL service, this is possible. But, like Omega was referring to, you would be paying for an additional connection.


Also, is there any speed different? I'm going to assume, and hope there is.
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If you had two independent broadband connections, you could technically double the available bandwidth to your house. One circuit for one group of computers with their own bandwidth cap, and another circuit for your main computer. Keep in mind that by having two separate connections to the internet, your computers won't be on the same local network (if you need that).

What service do you have currently? DSL or Cable?
 
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RainDownMyBlues

New Member
Two modems off the SAME connection/service.

DSL. And speed difference I mean from direct ethernet cable, rather than wirelessly received.
 
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Zatharus

VIP Member
RainDownMyBlues said:
Two modems off the SAME connection/service. DSL. /quote]

In this case you will have to purchase two separate broadband accounts. And, for DSL, you may also have to have an additional phone line run to your house specifically for this second service.


And speed difference I mean from direct ethernet cable, rather than wirelessly received.
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It depends on what kind of wireless connection you have. Unless you only had a very poor connection to a 11mbps 802.11b connection, you would notice zero speed difference accessing the internet over wireless compared to a direct Ethernet connection. Very few people have broadband offerings even approaching that speed in the first place. If you are sharing a 54mbps 802.11g connection, you would have faster local network access between machines but the same internet access speeds.

In short, wireless systems available today offer much more throughput than you could get on your broadband connection in the first place. You can get greater local LAN throughput with a wired connection, but you will not get any greater internet throughput.
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RainDownMyBlues

New Member
I guess I don't understand why you'd have to have another service plan. I mean, modems just convert what's going over the phone line, into a signal your computer can access... So why are multiple ones on one line not possible?
 
MadModder

MadModder

Member
When you pay for any broadband internet service, you are essentially leasing your IP address from the provider. Each modem connected to your phone line requires its own unique IP address, otherwise the modems will conflict. In turn, you have to lease another IP address from the provider in order to properly run two modems from the same home.
 
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Zatharus

VIP Member
MadModder said:
When you pay for any broadband internet service, you are essentially leasing your IP address from the provider. Each modem connected to your phone line requires its own unique IP address, otherwise the modems will conflict. In turn, you have to lease another IP address from the provider in order to properly run two modems from the same home.
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Bingo. You cannot share a single IP between two modems. Also, with DSL, I do not believe you can even have two modems on the same line. That is why I stated that you would need another phone line as well.

DSL works similarly to the old POTS modems in that it is a point to point connection on a dedicated line. Cable systems on the other hand are behave more along the lines of a network router. You connect the cable modem to a shared system. This is an important distinction. With cable, you and your neighbor's signals are traveling along the same shared bandwidth line to the nearest "neighborhood" hub which then hooks up to the master distribution center. Again, DSL is a point-to-point connection between you and the phone company's hub. This is also why distance from the distribution center means more to DSL than cable as far as your end max speed is concerned.
 
Geoff

Geoff

VIP Member
So basically all you want to do is have network connectivity on both floors without running an ethernet cable between the two floors, correct? If you really wanted you could set up two wireless access points to setup as a bridge, which would serve only to connect both floors on the same LAN, then you can have a switch connected to that bridge and have more wired/wireless clients on both floors without having an ethernet cable going between the two.

Another option is to simply get a wireless router and place it in a better location so it covers your entire house, and if you need a wired client buy a separate wireless bridge device.
 
Bob692006

Bob692006

New Member
Wanted to add to OMEGA's post. Depending on the type of router's you have you can actually setup two wireless router's within the same broadcast range and setup one to act as a wireless bridge. This is, from the research I've done, a good bit cheaper than buying a straight-up wireless bridge. What type of router are you using now? Let me know and I'll get you the appropriate material to walk you through setting up the wireless bridge or I will write up the instructions myself. I've setup a similar network in my mother-in-law's house using two Linksys router's so that she could get her Blu-Ray player onto her internet without running extra wire.
 
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