quick networking question...

[firewolf]

i have dsl and two good computers, one only running internet. i would like to know if i network the two for internet if it will slow it down noticeably. under the conditions of both downloading at the same time, and both surfing the internet at the same time. is buying the equipment to network the two worth degrading my internet service?

[muno]

Theoretically it will halve the throughput. This is, in case both decide to download eg. 100mb file at the same time, if you have eg. 1mbs line, both computers will theoretically get half of that.

Normal surfing usually doesn't load the connection with too much data (if it's bb), so surfing should work fine with both computers.

I don't quite understand your question.
-M

[firewolf]

which part?

well see my parents want to use my spare computer and add the internet to it. but i think dsl is slow enough as it is and don't want it to become slower. I play online games such as Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory and i have sort of high ping. I don't want it to become higher, the game just becomes less fun when you're always dying.

Also if im downloading files I don't like to wait longer just because someone on the other side is looking up something or playing an internet game.

[muno]

Then don't share the connection, slowdown is inevitable if the other computer is being used.
It shouldn't affect your pings though, only if the streams reach the limits it will slow down noticeable.
Eg. I can use 80% of my connection before the pings will go up.
-M

[Mickwish]

Realistically, how much bandwidth will your parents use on the other computer? Are they going to play online games as well? Download very large files? If not, then you will notice no real difference in your connection speeds and pings, IMO. A router will share the bandwidth, no just halve it. So when they are not using their connection you will still have full bandwidth.

You could try it and see. All you would need is a cheap router and a couple of NICS and some cat5 cables. Pretty cheap compared to a second phone line or even worse, second DSL connection!

So I suggest you try it. If they do so much stuff on the net that it annoys you, you can always turn them off, I suppose.

Or only allow them on the net when you aren't. That sort of behaviour.

Or, you could share your toys like you should. IMO, anyway.

Cheers
Mick

[muno]

Yes, it will share the bandwith, but I was speaking of a situation where both of them will download a 100mb file. Of course there are other things that will affect how much bandwith either of the computers get, eg. the remote server limits it, but you get the idea
-M

[DallasDon]

I share bandwith with the old ball and chain through a router, play 2 internet poker sites at one time, and she MIGHT cause a 10% increase in ping time when she is on Ebay and uploading pics.

Definitely recommend sharing through a router, yeah, share the connection...

[firewolf]

All right thanks for everyone's help and advice! I will be sharing the connection afterall

To answer Mickwish's question.... I didn't really think about it, but I should've known that they wouldn't be playing online games and downloading large files, I'll disable that optionLoL! JK.

-FireWolf