How to Connect More Than One Computer to a Cable Modem

Electronic companies like Linksys and Netgear offer high-speed network switches for people who want to connect multiple computers to the internet. With a network switch, you can share the internet connection from a cable modem to several computers. Users on this new local area network can also share files and printers through the network switch.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PC or Mac computers
• Cable modem
• Network switch
• Multiple Ethernet cables

1. Purchase a network switch that can handle high-speed Ethernet connections (see Resources for suggestions). The most popular network switches are Linksys and Netgear models.

2. Make sure that your cable modem is on and connected to your internet service provider.

3. Insert the network switch's power adapter into the device and then plug the other end into a standard electrical outlet.

4. Plug one Ethernet cable into the output port on your cable modem and connect the other end to any of the Ethernet ports on the network switch.

5. Plug an Ethernet cable into another of the network switch's Ethernet ports and connect the other end to one of the computers you want to share the internet connection with.

6. Repeat Step 5 for all PC or Mac computers that you want to share the cable modem connection with. Most network switches allow you to use up to five computers on the network.

Resources

• Linksys switch
• Netgear switch