setting up a home network

[mr2fan]

Okay I have one cable modem connection, and i was wondering what i would need to install to split the connection, possibly the printer as well. Will this require a hub, router, or switch? I was also wondering about setting up the conmputers once the hardware is in place. thanks a lot. I usually dont ask questions without doing a ton of research, but any help would be greatly appreciared
thanks
-mr2fan

[xsiled2]

a router is what you are looking for, linksys and netgear seem to be the best...

[MazaNaza]

Belkin has come out with a bunch of networking eqipment lately that, suprisingly, is of very high quality. Their routers come in either 4 or 8 port varieties and can be connected via a port on the side to identically shaped hubs for added ports, up to like 130 or something like that (no messy cable between uplink ports required). They're [the routers] also some of the most affordable I've seen, and they of course have build in firewalls.

I used them to set up my parents' home network and it couldn;t have been much easier than it was. Check 'em out.

--> Norm

[Windsor]

There's another option that involves 3 network interface cards (NICS) and a crossover network cable. Its quite cheap, but less elegant than the router. Its only for the cheap people, basically. practicallynetworked has thing on it, I believe.

[ChrisMG187]

Actually, with a hub going for less than 30 bucks, I'd highly doubt it's much cheaper.

[Windsor]

Originally posted by ChrisMG187
Actually, with a hub going for less than 30 bucks, I'd highly doubt it's much cheaper.

Well, NICS for...FREE:D and crossover cable going for 10 or so, its still 20 bucks.