Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Modem

Aug 24, 2004 1:01AM PDT

I have a simple DSL router that can connect to a pc via a Ethernet port or a USB port, obviously for machines that cannot support Ethernet. Just looking through the manual it repeatedly says you should not use both at the same time, but I have been using both so I can get two machines on the net, i.e 1 has the ethernet cable and the other has the USB, why is this not supposed to be allowed, both connections wor fine or will it cause a strain on the hardware?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 1:21AM PDT

It's simpler than you suspect. The design doesn't include a NAT ROUTER that would be required to use more than one such interface.

In closing, I'm sure you could plug it in, but it will not work. Let me share I will not detail why.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 2:37AM PDT

No they both work, Simultaneousley too?

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 2:51AM PDT

"No they both work, Simultaneousley too?"

I know it must be Greek, but unless said modem has a NAT router in it, how could it work?

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 3:05AM PDT

I don't know but it works, perhaps someone can shed light on this?

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 3:10AM PDT

Google.com would be your next stop with simple questions to begin with.

Try:

What is a router?
What is NAT?

Your DSL Modem does not have such a feature. If you want to share the internet connection, you learn about ICS at various web sites like www.wown.com or just go get a router.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 3:58AM PDT

"If you want to share the internet connection, you learn about ICS at various web sites like www.wown.com or just go get a router."

I don't mean this to sound rude but you arn't listening to me, I AM SHARING AN INTERNET CONNECTION

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 4:22AM PDT

Then I have to ask.

What issue are you trying to solve?

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 9:06PM PDT

If you read the 1st post you wouldhave found out that when I stumbled across the Manual it repeatedly says not to use both the ethernet and USB Simultaneously, I wanted to know why?

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 24, 2004 9:42PM PDT

From an electrical standpoint the modem maker can't warrant the device because they can't control proper grounding of both PCs. If the electrical design isn't done to plug both in at the same time, then and if the PCs are not on the same ground then the modem will be damaged. This is unlikely, but when I write manuals I have to error on the side of caution.

Is that what you needed to know?

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Modem
Aug 25, 2004 12:12AM PDT

Cheers bob! That's just what I was getting at, I presumed some sort of electrical problem!