How do you hook up 3 computers to the same internet connection?
Posted
November 2, 2008 
Comments(6)
Comments(6)
Melissa asked:
I have been trying to look for some information about it on google but offered no help. So I thought I would ask here. But I have 3 computers that i want to hook up to the same internet connection via DSL the confusing part is 2 of them are regular desktops and one is a laptop that can have wireless. Two of the computers are upstairs so i don’t see how it is possible without wires going everywhere. PLEASE HELP! Any Information is well Appreciated.
You can get a wireless hub or router and put wireless cards in the other two computers that aren’t wireless.
You will need a router. Then cables to connect each computer to a port in the back of the router.
Put a wireless card in the 2 desktops and hook them up to the router.
try power line – it uses your electrial wiring to link up all your pcs. There are wired and wireless models available. Im using it myself. I use Netgear but I’m sure there are other brands you may choose.
What brand/model DSL modem? If your DSL modem only has a single port, it might only support 1 computer by itself even if it is a modem/router that handles the PPPoE.
The simple way if you had a phone line upstairs would be to put the modem and added broadband wireless router near the 2 PC’s. If you cannot do that, you might need both a wireless router and something to wirelessly bridge that to the 2 PC’s.
Many ISP’s have an option to get a DSL modem that is a wireless router all in one unit. I have one of those, so I use a Zyxel P-330W router (which has 4 ethernet ports) in wireless client bridge mode to remotely connect my wired desktop and old laptop to that. Not all routers can act as a wireless client or bridge (most Linksys routers need 3rd party dd-wrt firmware to do that).
Another option is to get a wireless USB device for each desktop.
A regular wireless bridge is probably more expensive and only has 1 port, which would also require a switch for 2 PC’s
To do this you need a wireless router (I recommend Linksys) that is compatible with the laptop and 2 PCI cards that receive wifi that supports the same type of wifi as the laptop (a,b,g or n). Then set up the router preferably in the middle of the house and connect the PCI cards to the desktops. Choose your host computer (the one that will manage connections between computers) and set up LELA. This stands for Linksys EasyLink Advisor and takes a snapshot of your network. This allows you to click and block an unauthorised computer (like your neighbour’s who’s using your wifi). You now have wifi set up in your house.