Home Network Setup

[Erik]

I am in the process of setting up a home network to share a cable internet connection. I have chosen to go the wired route, for a few reasons. So far I have run wire and setup boxes between two of my computers, and have run into something of an interesting problem.

So far I have:

One computer in my room, with the cable modem and a Linksys Router with 4 port switch. A second computer in my brother's room on the floor above me. I have run a CAT-5 cable between two boxes in these rooms. Then connected his computer to the box in his room with a patch cable. Another patch cable connects the box in my room to the router. I am able to connect to the internet with either computer, but not at the same time. I am using AOL, which I believe might be part of the problem. I also can't see one computer from the other, ie file sharing etc., but I don't really want that anyway as I have no need.

Basically the problem is that if I am connected on my comp, he can't connect in his room. Yes I know I can only have one SN on at a time, but I thought I should still be able to use IE, Firefox, or Outlook from either computer as long as one is connected. This is not the case though, I can only access the internet through the computer that made the connection. I have a feeling that it might just be due to an AOL standard that doesn't allow for multiple computers to share a single connection simoultaneously. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

P.S. dumping AOL really isn't an option here unfortunately.

[PrntRhd]

You could get BYOA plan for AOL, it allows multiple screen names to be online simultaneously but only one at a time on dialup, and only 5 hours per month on the dialup, or $2.90/hr charges on the dialup beyond the 5 hours.

[Erik]

I don't really care about being able to have more than one SN signed on at any one time. What I want to be able to do is have one computer signed on AOL and be able to use Firefox, IE, or Outloook on the other. Under normal networking conditions this should be no problem, but for some reason I am having a problem.

As I understand it you are able to access the internet from any computer in a network as long as the internet connection is good. So in my case I would take it to mean that one of the computers is logged on to AOL under whatever SN. The other should be able to run IE without even having to open AOL. Right?:confused:

[PrntRhd]

Right, mine is set up that way, I can open IE, Firefox, Opera, AOL at will and I have up to 4 PCs online at the same time.
Who is your cable company, & what model modem?

[Erik]

Cable Co is Time Warner, and modem is a Toshiba PCX1100U.

[PrntRhd]

The modem is USB? I hope this does not require ICS to run more than one PC on the connection..do you have a NIC card in the connected PC, and what OS is on the connected PC?

[Erik]

The modem is USB or ethernet. Currently I am running a CAT-5 from the cable modem into the router / switch. Both PC's have NIC's and are running Windows XP Pro.

[PrntRhd]

Your user manual states the cable company can control the number of PCs that can connect to that modem. See the bottom paragraph on page 14.

[PrntRhd]

You probably can get all connected on the LAN with a router, wait for comments.

[deddard]

Can I just clarify things a little?
You have one PC in your room, with the Cable modem and router/switch - is this the only pc which directly connects to the switch/router?

You have two boxes (I assume wall-sockets) for your cat 5 cable, which are directly connected to each other - is the Cat 5 cable between them a straight through (patch) or a crossover cable?

The cable company (as PrntRhd has pointed out) can limit the number of PCs you can have attached, but this is sidelined by the use of a Router - the Router is the only 'PC' that the cable modem will see, so you are only limited by the amount of switch ports you have.

I'm still a bit uncertain of the setup - does your PC have two Ethernet NICs?
I haven't used AOL, sp I can't give you any info on that side of things yet (I'll go have a quick look at their site soon) but if we can get the hardware side sorted, then things will be halfway there.

[HeadachesAbound]

AOL won't factor into this equation if our primary ISP is the cable company which it sounds like it is.

Just as a further clarification...Your setup is...

Cable Modem connected to uplink / internet port on...
The Router.

Computer A - Yours
Computer B - Your Brothers

Both A & B are connected to the router.

------------------------Questions-----------------------
What is the make/model of the router?
Are you using DHCP with the router or did you assign static ips for the machines?
The Cable company is your primary ISP?

[Erik]

The problem is that AOL is my primary ISP, if you could call them that. Time Warner is just the local cable company who owns the wires etc.

The router is a Linksys BEFSR41, and it is using DHCP dynamically obtaining IP addresses. The modem connects to the internert port on the router, and the computers to ports on the router. The cable modem isn't directly connected to any of the computers. Each computer has one NIC. I know that the router is supposed to be seen by the provider as the computer, thus eliminating the need for paying extra. I just find it real strange that I can't use Firefox while the other comp is connected.

The two boxes(wall sockets), are connected straight through, did all the wiring myself.

[Mark Miller]

Aol has plan that will let you have 2 different screen names up on different computers that are on a network. I forget what it's called but their tech people will be able to get you to the right place. You must call them to have this done, cannot do this yourself. we did it here and worked fine. sometimes they have a promo for a better price. Once this is done you will both be able to log on and then thru aol use any browser you want.
Mark

[HeadachesAbound]

The problem is that AOL is my primary ISP, if you could call them that. Time Warner is just the local cable company who owns the wires etc.

Just to make sure we aren't having a communication error...Your ISP is AOL, you do not purchase internet services from Time Warner, correct?

If so, then you could be out of luck.

Do you have to be signed on to AOL to use your internet connection? If so, then it's almost a guarantee that you could be out of luck. Of course, it also depends on what changes AOL has made since I went to another ISP.

The old rule of thumb with AOL is that they use a proprietary form of what I believe is PPPOE but don't quote me on the exact technology. If you have to been signed on to AOL to use your intenet connection then AOL may not allow 2 people to be signed on under the same general account (not the same screen name) and using the High Speed Services. I know that they frowned on this when I had the service which is why I dropped it.

You might try signing on to AOL at the same time from both machines over the high speed line and see what happens. If it fails then it's almost a guarantee that you are out of luck.

There is, however, a slim (very slim) chance that you might be able to store your AOL Login information in the modem itself. You could try connecting to either 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.0, 192.168.1.100, 192.168.100.1, or something along those lines and see if you get anything resembling modem setup or settings.

I would recommend going straight to cable or dsl and bypassing AOL entirely if you can.

[Erik]

Originally posted by HeadachesAbound


Just to make sure we aren't having a communication error...Your ISP is AOL, you do not purchase internet services from Time Warner, correct?



Correct, my ISP is AOL and I need to be signed on to AOL to use the internet.

But I still think it is weird that if I connect on computer A to AOL I can't use Firefox on computer B. My thinking is that using a normal ISP this would be no problem, but maybe AOL is using something to prevent this. Like maybe only the actual computer that made the connection can use it??

I will try accessing the modem settings, and also trying to trick AOL. I am thinking of signing on with one account using the regular cable modem sign on. Then sign on with the next one over TCP/IP? Worth a shot anyway.

[Erik]

I am begining to think that I am just out of luck on this one. Tried the modem setting access thing and no dice. Same goes for trying to connect second computer via TCP/IP while the first is already connected to the service. Trying to connect on different screen names under the same account isn't possible either.

I am guessing that AOL must do something such as encrypt or tunnel the data it is sending via TCP/IP for internet connections. That is the only reason I can think of why I can't access the internet on both computers at the same time. As I said before I know under normal conditions as long as one computer is connected to the internet via DSL/Cable all computers on the network have access just by running IE, Outlook, Firefox, etc.

I guess I can live with it his way though, at least all computers can access the internet via the cable modem, only one at a time. Maybe I can try and convince the parents its time to move over to Time Warner as an ISP. Shouldn't be a big problem as they are already providing the wire into my house anyway, just pay them the money. Thanks again.

[Mark Miller]

Again if aol is you isp, contact them and you will be able to do what you want. Yes thru aol, but you can minimise them and use any browxser you want.
Mark

[Erik]

I can try calling AOL tomorrow, but would really rather not have to pay anything at all. I would say 90% of the time only one computer is ever online. I am using the internet mostly when nobody is home, or after everyone goes to sleep. Seems like a waste to pay extra for the small number of times we might conflict.

[Mark Miller]

It won't cost any more money. they understand that lot's of people are on networks. If anything it might cost less if they have some kind of promo running.
works very well, call them.
Mark

[Erik]

Mark,

Thanks for the tip. I did some snooping around on AOL and it seems as if it should be included in my pricing plan, but needs to be activated. I will give tech support a call in the morning and see whats up.

[Erik]

I just called AOL, and they told me that they couldn't release that information to me!!:mad: How could they possibly have the nerve to not release information to me about why my acoount isn't providing me all of the features I am paying for?

[HeadachesAbound]

It depends on who pays for the account. They are really strict (or at least try to be) about who they can talk to.

[Mark Miller]

True, true, if it's not your credit card paying every month they won't tell you anything. Have your parents do it.
Mark