Can I use my modem's ethernet and USB simultaneously, to connect two computers?

Question

I have a Netgear broadband modem. I use a desktop and a laptop.

I have connected the modem to the desktop by using their ethernet connectors. But I need internet on my laptop too.

There is another connector on the modem, which uses a USB cable. Can I connect the laptop and modem with a USB cable, and then simultaneously use the internet on both the desktop and laptop?

Solution 1

Whether or not you can use both ethernet and USB simultaneously totally depends on the exact type of modem you have. Like for an old SpeedTouch 530 I once used:

Depending on the SpeedTouch variant you have, various solutions are available to connect your computer(s) to the device:

• Ethernet connectivity [..]

• USB connectivity [..]

In case of a SpeedTouch with USB connectivity you can use both local networking solutions simultaneously to form a single local network.

Also, even if there's only a single ethernet connector, your modem might in fact also have a built-in router, which then gives you a home network that knows how to handle internet traffic for multiple computers. If so, then simply hooking up a switch (or even a old hub, if you can still find one) will do.

On some devices, the USB connector is not even meant for internet access, but only for maintenance, or to hook up a printer or external hard disk.

Note that you cannot damage your modem or computer by simply trying / experimenting. But then I suggest to first try both methods separately, just to make troubleshooting a bit easier. (I assume you will need to install some specific USB drivers to get the USB working.)

(For an exact answer we need to know the exact type of Netgear equipment you're using.)

Solution 2

Yes you can use both, provided that your ISP provides your modem with more than 2 IP addresses. But if you have one, try MAC spoofing.

Solution 3

Unfortunately for you, Nick is right.

You can however connect your desktop and laptop. If both desktop has two network cards, you can connect laptop to the other port and make desktop act as router. Another option would be to use bluetooth to set up network or firewire cable. You didn't tell us what OS you are using and that may be relevant. It's easier to set up Internet connection sharing on windows than GNU/Linux in my experience. Also, it would be easier to network computers via bluetooth on GNU/Linux. Windows Vista and later don't support networking over firewire, so that could be problematic.

There are also other ways to connect your laptop computer and desktop, like for example using IrDA compliant infra-red transmitters or using serial or parallel ports, but I believe that they are more trouble than they are worth. And they would probably be too slow for modern Internet connections too.

You could also try researching use of USB A to USB A cables. They, with appropriate software, can be used to connect two computers together, but I don't know if they can be used to share Internet connection.

In the end, the cheapest options are to buy a router or to buy a second network card for desktop and use it to share Internet connection. I think that if you have to buy a second network card for desktop, purchasing router instead would be better option because in order for laptop to use desktop's Internet connection, desktop would have to be on all the time.

Comments

[Arjan]

For a more exact answer, please edit your question (note the "edit" link underneath the tags) and specify the exact type of the Netgear modem, with a link to its documentation.

[Mark]

Nick's answer is correct except if you hook two PCs into a router, you don't need two public IP addresses. You can use two private IP addresses which share the same public IP address. No need to purchase a second public IP address from your ISP.

[Arjan]

Without any details on the type of Netgear modem: that modem might actually be a router too. In that case, a simple switch might do (and keep one from running into all kinds of routing issues).

[harrymc]

Mark is right: You get two internal IP addresses on two different network adapters. The problem is rather Microsoft's inability to use more than one for Internet access.

[quack quixote]

i just found an old hub while cleaning out my basement yesterday...

[Andrew Coleson]

Based on context, I think Nick meant to say "if you were to hook two PCs into the modem".

[goblinbox]

It depends on the hardware. The vast majority allow only one connection to be used. The IP wouldn't come from the ISP unless the device was in bridged mode.