Adding a second computer to internet

[gypsybrie]

My son received a free computer and we would like to get it hooked up to the internet for him.

It is a 2001 Gateway.

We have Cable Internet and we also have Vonage phone service.

So my questions are:

1 - What is do I need to do to get him online?  Is it as simple as buying a cord and hooking it into the vonage router?

2 - Once we get him hooked up will the internet connection slow down if we are both online at the same time?

Thank you so much for your help - what a great site this is  

[2k_dummy]

1. Almost that simple. You will have to configure his machine to aquire its IP from the router.

2. Not so you'd notice.

[viking]

How many ports that Vonage router has?
Yes, it should be so simple. But you will tell us if you managed it or not, right?
For 2 - it depends on what are you doing on the internet, what he will be doing on internet. It depends greatly on your bandwidth. If you have a lot of bandwidth allocated, then you will not sense anything. If it is something like a dial-up (which I doubt), you will be on internet in shifts

[gypsybrie]

Thanks for your quick replies!

As far as ports, are you meaning the plug-ins for the cable? - If so, then I have 2 ports on one side and 4 on the other.  Then the main plug-in for the cable line.

We have cable internet and they offer 2 speeds of the cable internet and we have the slower one, ummm, I'm thinking it's like 500 and something maybe?  The higher one is 700 and something.  Wow - I'm not feeling very computer smart LOL

As far what we will be doing online - message boards, chatting, games, and I do graphics.

[unlovedwarrior]

i have a 2001 gateway play machine and it should automatically get an ip as soon as you plug the cable into the back of the computer..

turn the computer off plug the cat 5 cable into the router then into the computer turn on the computer and give it a bit to get an ip.

youll know if its getting an ip address. if you see two computers on your taskbar lower right hand side of the computer screen and there is a lil yellow dot going back and forth.

if you cant get the ip address then come back and well help

[gypsybrie]

Thank you very much

It will be a little bit before I come back - we're gonna do this for him for Christmas

[unlovedwarrior]

have you tried what i said yet or youll reply when you get back?

[gypsybrie]

I'll let ya know after we try - we don't even have the cord yet LOL  I needed to know if I had to get anything more than that.

Which does bring up another question I guess - there were 2 different kinds to get, different numbers, which one is best?

[unlovedwarrior]

cat 5 will be good for you.. the cat5e is just upgrade cat5 but wont give you anything more and same with cat6 they just give faster data transfer rates, but both computers have to support the transfer rate(im talking about the network cards in the computers)

[unlovedwarrior]

oh i forgot you might want get crossover cables if you want to do anykind of networking. but lets wait for some ones thoughts

[gypsybrie]

Ok thanks  

[Rob Pomeroy]

the cat5e is just upgrade cat5 but wont give you anything more and same with cat6 they just give faster data transfer rates

>Not quite...<

[unlovedwarrior]

thanks for clearing that for me

[howardcna]

Hello,
A few comments/suggestions for you,
1- if you are both on at the same time, then you are sharing the download or upload speed of your connection.
2- if your router VONTAGE supports multiple cables then you can plug him in.
if the cable is too long and watch the price of cables versus getting a wireless card and wireless access point to plug into your router if the router is not already wireless capable.
3- hooking/setting up your son's computer for either cable or wireless may require you to seek help from a knowledgable friend or service person.
4- I suggest you try to learn the ins/outs of setting it up yourself - you both will learn a little about computers and networking

5- don't be in a rush - it will take some time for you to learn the needed information.
Good Luck

[mcf747]

post back if you still need help