cheapest method of Networking

[keat]

Hi.
I hope you someone out there will help me. I wanna connect two computers together. Quite some distance away, say around 20 feet apart. Which is a better method? Using Direct cable connection or to get a hub or network card? Thanks!

[Virtygo]

The 'better' way? Or the cheapest way? It all depends on what you want to do. What do you already have?

My assumptions:
20' unobstructive
WIN98 operating system
no current network cards
resource sharing required
no plans to expand

All that being said. Probably the most common way to connect the two computers together is to put a network card in each. If you want to save a couple of bucks, by pass the hub and connect the two through a crossover network cable. Naturally there are other ways to connect the two together, but this is prolly the most common way other than the tennis shoe network.

[krusty the klown]

Yeah, 2 net cards (you might as well spend a little more and get 10/100 -0 you're only talking about ~ $15/card vs ~$10) and a crossover patch lead will give you a 100MBPS connection and you will not need a hub.

[Richard_Cranium72]

Cheapest way ??

In Windows98 set up "Direct Cable Connection"
through "add&remove programs"

Go to Microsoft and type in those keywords for details..

Price, One serial cable. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

DrVette

[bell1]

Hey Keats
I've got two systems networked using nic's(10/100)and a cross-over cable.I tried the Direct Cable Connection method, and it really sucked(too dang slow).
Hope this helps.

[keat]

Hi. Thanks for the advice. I am using windows 98. I don't have any network card installed. So, which is better? To get a parallel cable and do the DCC or buy a network card?

How about the speed? Which method is faster?

Thanks!

[keat]

By the way, what's do you guys mean by using crossover method? I am just a beginner. Hope you can give me some ideas about this. Thanks again.

[radman3d2]

Forget the direct cable. Network cards (PCI) are only 10-15 each and if your cable is only 20 feet do a cross over. If it is much farther you might need a hub. My computers are 100 ft. and I use a BNC connector but this is only 2 Meg per second where as with the cross-over you can get 10 Mps and 100 Mps. I bought a D-Link kit (10 Mps) for work with 2 PCI cards, a hub and 40 feet of Cat 5 cable. This is the way to go for you, because you can add on to it at any time, up to 4 computers. It was $50 at CompUSA. This is cheep and you have tech support from D-Link.

[Fingers]

There are two types of Cat-5 cables for networking; patch cables and cross-over cables. If your connecting machines by way of a hub, then you need patch cables. If your connecting them without a hub, then you need a cross-over cable. You should be able to find either at the computer store, just make sure you get the right kind.


Picture of a Cross-Over Cable (http://b.postmypic.com/b.nsf/Z/crossovercableSZHK/$file/crossovercable.jpg)

Check this out for details on how to set up a home network. http://www.homepclan.com/
Just keep clicking "Next Page" and you should learn everything you need to know. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Fingers (edited 11-26-2000).]

[keat]

thanks everyone
I'll ask for more help if I do need any. Thanks again!