Can only get 1 online at a time

Chong Warrior

Chong Warrior

Chong Warrior

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
12,050
Location
Manchester
Ntl cable connection using standalone modem.
1 main PC,
1 Xbox 360
1 2nd PC
1 5-port Switch (Edimax 10/100)

Haven't even started with the 2nd PC yet because at the moment I have it working online through my main PC using Bluetooth so that can stay as is for now.

The Xbox 360 will connect to Live! as long as my main PC isn't turned on. If I turn on 360 first then my PC can't get online. If I turn PC on first then Xbox 360 can't get online.

What am I doing wrong? There's loads of help with microsoft if using a router or wireless but I can't find anything to help me with this problem. According to their site it should just work.
 
How do you have it set up? If you're plugging the cable modem, the PCs and the 360 into the switch then that's why it won't work - you'll need a router.

Otherwise you can use ICS but you'll need two NICs in your PC; one for the cable modem and the other to plug into the switch. Obviously with this method the PC needs to be on for the Internet connection to work.
 
Yes I've got the modem plugged into slot 1, PC in 2 and xbox in 3.

So what's the point in a switch? I thought that they allowed you to plug more than 1 unit into 1 internet connection?

What does it do just allow them to talk to each other but not share the internet?
 
Yes, a switch is just literally just for connecting devices together. Forget the Internet connection for a moment - let's say you've got 4 PCs and you just want to share files or printers between them - you'd use a switch for that.

A router is a device that connects two networks together. In the case of a home router, it connects the Internet to your local network. They generally tend to have a built in switch too, hence why they often have 4 ports.

Basically, NTL give home users one Internet IP address. When your cable modem is plugged into a device, say, your Xbox 360, the IP address is handed over to that and then nothing else can use the modem. Your single IP address is good for only one device at a time as you've found out. To overcome this you use a router which then gets assigned your Internet IP. Routers use NAT, which in short means that multiple devices can share a single IP address which will then get all of your devices working at the same time.

You could also plug a switch into a router/another switch to get more ports.

So, in short, a switch on its own isn't going to share your Internet connection; you need to either get a router or use ICS (software) - personally I'd suggest getting a router.
 
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