broadband connections with a hub

[orlou]

I've got AT&T broadband, 3 computers. 2 run win98, one runs XP. I've had all 3 computers provisioned by ATT. they all can get onto broadband network individually. (I use the net cable from behind cable modem and plug them into each computer(one at a time) and they work ok).

I have a Netgear 4 port HUB, and when I plug the cable modem to the hub and plug all 3 PC's into the hub-- NO good. What am I doing wrong?

ATT claims this is how it should be, however, they do not support home networking, nor do they install them.


Any Ideas or resources? Thanks for your time.

Lou

[Total]

I had a Netgear 4 port hub that would not connect to my cable modem at all. Everyone who looked at it chould not figure out why either. I even asked for a newer model cable modem from my internet provider (COX) and the new one still did not work with the hub. Then years later I brought it to a local school and tried to plug it into their network with no luck again so I ended up getting a cheep Netgear switch and it worked fine. The hub works fine with my router and computers though. I'm going to assume it's not as simple as using a crossover cable or the uplink port properly.

You might need to get an inexpencive hub, switch or router to solve your probolem if you have the same hub I do. Mine is about 5 or 6 years old.

http://www.netgear.com/product_view.asp?xrp=2&yrp=6&zrp=18

Im not sure if my hub is the same model listed above (can't find it right now) but it looks the same.

[BipolarBill]

You can't use a passive hub to dole out internet access. If you try, you get one connection. You need a router w/NAT (network address translation) in order to share an internet connection.

All major network hardware makers offer Cable/DSL routers. They range from $50.00US to $500.00US and up. The $50 ones are fine. You connect your modem to the WAN port on a router and the PCs to the router directly. Easy.

[Total]

You can use a switch connecting two computer to a cable modem as long as you have leased multiple IP's. I have that as part of my set up..... you can't do that same set up with a hub? Any hub?

[BipolarBill]

You can use a hub after a router or switch, but not before it (between the modem and the router/switch).

[Tor]

Bills right.
Hub no worky with broadband connection. I can suggest the Netgear RP114 router. This is nice, because the RP114 also acts as a hardware firewall. It should be pretty simple plug in the cable modem to the WAN port, then the remaining 3 comps into the LAN ports, you'll even have one left over. Then you should be good to go. I'm not sure, but you may need to "spoof" the router with a new MAC address. I think ATT will only allow one computer per connection, but you can trick your router into sending out it's own MAC address so ATT thinks you have just one computer connected. Hope this helps.