Want DSL on 2 machines? Read On.
Written: Jan 11 '00
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Pros: Small, solid, and multiplies your DSL!
Cons: none.
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| DanCallaway's Full Review: NetGear SB104 Network Starter Kit Networking Hub |
Netgear makes great products with industrial construction, easy-read access lights and great dependability.
Now there's another reason to buy their hubs. If you're interested in DSL, or even if you have the service, you may have wondered if it's possible to connect multiple computers to one DSL modem. Of course there are solutions of varying complexity and functionality, but there is one quiet solution that costs nothing and works better than any software or extra hardware: the Uplink Port.
Not every Ethernet hub has an Uplink port. The idea with an Uplink port is that you can connect the entire hub as a branch to a higher-level network or device.
DSL providers usually offer several choices of modems with their service, among them USB and Ethernet. Most people are into USB - it's a cool new technology and the connectivity beats the heck out of a custom Ethernet device that monopolizes your Ethernet jack, as these modems instruct. However, these Ethernet modems often have hidden functionality that allows them to serve whole clusters of computers contiguous IP addresses - you can just sign on to the modem from multiple computers and share the bandwidth o DSL among them. I have done this with my BellAtlantic.net service, using their Ethernet modem . . . And the uplink port on my Netgear 4-port hub. I am very happy with the service I have gotten, and the hub is great too! You can't share the modem without this uplink feature, and the Netgear is the cheapest hub I've found that offers it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40
Driver Availability: Windows, Linux, & Mac
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Epinions.com ID:
DanCallaway
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Member: Daniel Callaway
Location: Baltimore, MD
Reviews written: 63
Trusted by: 76 members
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