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Carron

Dec 15, 2008, 8:12 AM

Post #1 of 6 (4118 views)

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2 Computers/1 Phone Line

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My husband and I have 2 laptops. He connects to the Internet via Telmex Infinitum and stays on-line virtually 24/7. I spend most of my time at the ranch where I work off-line.

Last week while I was in town he found an extra cable and plugged my computer into his. Voila! We both had Internet. Several days later, however, we tried again and I only got an Error Message that I was not connected. Tried again yesterday, with a different cable, and I had no problems for about 3 hours, then I again got the Error Message. Hubby's computer continued to work just fine.

He thought perhaps I should turn mine off and re-boot. It continued the "Shutting Down" process for several minutes but would not turn off until he finally removed the battery. I certainly don't want to damage my computer but it is difficult to get him off line long enough for me to get on!

Anyway, I know the obvious solution is a second phone line into the house, but that is too pricey for my monthly budget. Any suggestions for hooking our two computers to the line we already have would really be welcome.

Rolly

Dec 15, 2008, 8:33 AM

Post #2 of 6 (4109 views)

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Re: [Carron] 2 Computers/1 Phone Line

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You need a router, sometimes called a switch. It plugs onto the modem and your computers plug into it. The one I have has jacks for four computers and a WiFi. I use the WiFi for my main computer and one of the jacks for my old computer. My neighbor has a long line to his house that plugs into the router.

There are modems than have jacks and built-in WiFi.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Dec 15, 2008, 10:35 AM)

Oscar2

Dec 15, 2008, 2:29 PM

Post #3 of 6 (4090 views)

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Re: [Carron] 2 Computers/1 Phone Line

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Carron, this may or may not work, but no harm in trying. When you get kicked-off or you can’t log on too your browser try the following and see if it reconnects.

Go to your Control Panel, click on Network Connections, when there you will see a “Check Mark” on the default connection normally used to connect you to the internet. If the one with check mark says/indicates as disconnected, right click directly on it and choose/click “connect.”

If it doesn’t connect after several tries, a router, as Rolly recommended, will probably resolve the issue.

Beuna Suerte

Carron

Dec 16, 2008, 6:34 AM

Post #4 of 6 (4070 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] 2 Computers/1 Phone Line

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Thanks, guys. We are going to Del Rio Wal Mart this morning to buy a router. Following your helpful suggestions, Hubby found some additional info which said the router works best when set up like Rolly's: one on an ethernet cable, the other on WiFi. Even better then that if we want to, one of us can pile up in bed to compute instead of having to sit up at the desk in the livingroom. Oh how lazy we have become in our old age!

sioux4noff

Dec 16, 2008, 9:30 PM

Post #5 of 6 (4048 views)

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Re: [Carron] 2 Computers/1 Phone Line

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Our Telmex infinitum modem has places to plug in several devices (maybe 4), and it has wireless capability.

Carron

Dec 20, 2008, 12:22 PM

Post #6 of 6 (4016 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] 2 Computers/1 Phone Line

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Yes, and that is exactly what we finally did. Hubby bought an ethernet cable to replace the USB one, realized he didn't need the WalMart router after all, and returned it for a full refund.We are happy as clams. Thanks.