I use two computers. One is a desktop (HP Pavilion) and the other a laptop (Compaq Presario 900). I have two separate BT lines, one of which supplies freeserve broadband to my desktop.
My friendly 'techie' contact at PC World came to see me the other day to increase the size of my RAM (not the woolly one with horns out in the field - that one's big enough!) I asked him how I could run two computers off one broadband line thus saving £27.99 if I were to switch the other BT line to broadband for the laptop.
He tried to fix both computers to run off the one broadband line via a wireless system but we found that Windows 98 on the desktop and Windows XP on the laptop flatly refused to communicate except to swear at each other. So, back to square one.
"BT Home Network" has just been launched. It is a method of connecting-up computers in the same home using one broadband line via a sophisticated attachment I believe to the existing phone line. In this way, all the members of the household with access to a computer can access the internet at the same time using the one broadband line. They offer a wireless facility too - at a price!!
There are two points I want to make for the benefit of traders, and prospective traders like me.
a) Be aware that if more than one computer is downloading data from the same broadband connection there will be a reduction in download speed for both. This is an important consideration for traders.
b) Before you invest in the necessary wireless gadgets, make sure that the two operating systems can communicate!
So what now? Well, I still think that for the investment of a further £27.99 per month I could subscribe to another broadband connection for the laptop. AOL are running a current promotion which includes free modem and connection. There is the added security too of subscribing to two different ISPs rather than placing all the web eggs in the Freeserve basket. If the Freeserve connection crashes, at least the AOL one can take over.
Any views anyone?
Sean
Seancass
My friendly 'techie' contact at PC World came to see me the other day to increase the size of my RAM (not the woolly one with horns out in the field - that one's big enough!) I asked him how I could run two computers off one broadband line thus saving £27.99 if I were to switch the other BT line to broadband for the laptop.
He tried to fix both computers to run off the one broadband line via a wireless system but we found that Windows 98 on the desktop and Windows XP on the laptop flatly refused to communicate except to swear at each other. So, back to square one.
"BT Home Network" has just been launched. It is a method of connecting-up computers in the same home using one broadband line via a sophisticated attachment I believe to the existing phone line. In this way, all the members of the household with access to a computer can access the internet at the same time using the one broadband line. They offer a wireless facility too - at a price!!
There are two points I want to make for the benefit of traders, and prospective traders like me.
a) Be aware that if more than one computer is downloading data from the same broadband connection there will be a reduction in download speed for both. This is an important consideration for traders.
b) Before you invest in the necessary wireless gadgets, make sure that the two operating systems can communicate!
So what now? Well, I still think that for the investment of a further £27.99 per month I could subscribe to another broadband connection for the laptop. AOL are running a current promotion which includes free modem and connection. There is the added security too of subscribing to two different ISPs rather than placing all the web eggs in the Freeserve basket. If the Freeserve connection crashes, at least the AOL one can take over.
Any views anyone?
Sean
Seancass
If you go the ICS route, make the WIN XP machine the "internet" master and slave the other machine off it. A combined router modem should cost NO more than £60. Bandwidth will only suffer if BOTH machines are downloading large files. For normal trading, it's not an issue at all. Final bonus, the router option will provide an automatic firewall. I have found setting up firewalls far from enjoyable and always another problem just around the corner.
