[medusa9]

To share cable internet access, does the host computer have to be powered on for the client to browse? I'm sorry for the idiot question, but can't find a direct answer to this anywhere! Not even in all the tutorials. I've never had to network before.

I'll soon be taking care of my mom with a terminal illness and will need constant internet access. The only cable access is in her bedroom and the computer has to be powered off while she's resting (which is most of the time). The cable provider charges $310 to install another cable line in the house. (There are lots of problems as the house is very old - no crawl space nor an attic.)

Since I'll only be there temporarily (sadly), I can't invest that much money setting up the additional cable or installing roof-top satellite. But I'd be happy to invest it in things I can bring back and put to use at home, such as a wireless laptop, router, etc.

How would you go about getting around these problems? Any suggestions... please??? anybody...???

-Medusa

[Neil Jones]

Use a router. This will provide internet access 24/7 regardless of which PCs are on or not.

[medusa9]

Thank you.

[Fenor]

One thing I want to add. When you set up the router to the cable modem and the router to the computers, you will need to do what is referred to as Power-cycling the Cable modem. How to do that is as follows:

• Turn off all computers connected to the router
  
• Unplug the power cord from the back of the Cable modem and the Router
  
• Wait at least 5 minutes
  
• Plug in the power cord into the Cable modem and wait at least one minute for it to initialize
  
• Plug in the power cord into the Router and again wait at least one minute for it to initialize.
  
• Power on one computer and try to connect to the Internet with it.
  
• If the one computer can connect to the Internet, then you can start turning on the other computers one-by-one and checking their Internet connection.

You only have to do this if you can't get Internet access with all the computers once you have the router in place and the cables connected properly.

Fenor