Can two computers be hooked to the net directly via the cable?

T

timbo59

Member
I know this probably sounds pretty dumb and basic, but I'd appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction.

I need to set up two computers, my wife’s lap top and my PC, so that both can access the net. Rather than go WiFi I was wondering if there was some way I could simply split the connection to the cable company’s junction box, given that our computer’s are set up next to each other. Or would this create issues as each computer would need it’s own protocols to connect?
 
as tremmor said, a router would be your best option for this, you just connect that to the "Junction Box", then plug both computers into that.

You can pick up a router for £20 - £70ish (or whatever in dollars), this would suit your needs, you don't need to buy a wireless router if you don't think you need one.

You could also buy another network card for your computer and use a crossover cable to run the internet through your computer to your wife's (this is not the recommended option though).
 
duh!!!

Okay, call me a dummy!

We used to use a wireless router when my wife and I lived in our former home, with her office in one room and my work area in another. I hooked up directly to the router, I inserted a special card in her computer so that she could get hers to connect. Easy enough, right?

Now that we're next to each other (and she now uses a lap top that obviously won't accept the card from her former PC) I thought the simplest way to go about it was to find some way of connecting the two directly. What I didn't realize, until I did a bit more research an hour or so ago at the local computer store, was that the wireless router we used before was perfectly adequate for the job I'm looking for now - it has four separate slots in the back to hook directly into. Dumb me, I just figured the unit was only good for one thing (creating a wireless network) and that I needed another kind of router for hard wiring computers together to access the net.

Thanks for the feedback though, as always!
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but your wife's laptop if it was made in the last say 5 or 6 years then it should have wireless built in and you wouldn't need to hook a cable up to it unless you wanted to. And if she's gonna be right next to the router she will get excellent signal anyway. What model of laptop is it?
 
I think it would be easier for him just plug in ethernet cables to the computers, no setup or anything like that.
 
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