University Halls....

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14 Sep 2008
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Hi,

In a week I will be moving into my halls ready for my course at Nottingham Trent. I have been told that my internet will be connected by an ethernet cable.

I assume that this will be a wall connection straight to my pc.

My problem is this:

I need/want to connect my netbook and laptop to the internet at the same time as my pc, for sharing files between them and for printing.

How can I create a network in my room?

I have an old router knocking around the place, Netgear DG834GT.

Is it possible to take the connection from the wall and create a wireless network along with being able to have my desktop wired?

Thanks, Tom
 
Use an ethernet switch (basically the ethernet version of a usb hub:)). I believe you can use your DG834GT as this if you turn off all the features that make it a modem/ router - I have done the same with an Netear old router. (that doesn't have a modem).
 
If you want to set up file/printer sharing do not use just a switch as everyone in your uni halls will have access to your files/printer. You need to get a cable router, It will take the internet connection from the wall and give you your own little network in your room. I think some halls use proxy settings, if so, get a wrt54gl and stick tomato on it then you can have the router manage the proxy settings aswell.
 
@ mglover070588 - I like what your saying, sounds like a plan. So if I just log onto the router as usual then disable everything it should work?

@ Ryan111 - I would try and secure it best as possible, any ideas?

@ghost101 - I don't understand how this would work? Do you mean by cloning the MAC other pc's on the Uni network wouldn't be able to see my private stuff?

Thanks for your replies
 
Some Uni halls have a limit on the amount of computers you can have, IE, You are allowed 3 devices registered to you. To get around this, you set your router up (Must be a cable router) as your 'device' and then you have your own private network within your room. The only solution is to buy a cable router. If your uni halls use proxy, you might want to spend a little extra and get a router that supports proxy, that way you don't need to enter any proxy settings into your devices to get online.
 
Either should work.

Belkin used to have a pretty poor reputation when it comes to routers. I'm not sure if the situation ever improved.

What about a Netgear WGR614?
 
If it's the same setup as my uni was then you get it set on one mac address.

I used my airport extreme to allow me to use multiple devices from my single mac address.

Others spoofed their mac addresses but had to swap the ethernet cable around to use devices.
 
The Netgear WGR614 is good. But I love my Linksys WRT54GL, does everything I need on ym virgin 20meg :)
 
It is a WGR614.

I've no idea whether Virgin have custom firmware or not, or if it would matter in this case. It's probably possible to reflash it if necessary.
 
okay i'll give it a shot. I'll post when/if Iget it set up next week.

Fingers crossed it will work fine

Thanks for your help everyone
 
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