8887 Internet Connectivity

I tried searching the forums first, like any good forum goer should, but i wasn't able to find the solution to my problem. Maybe I didn't look hard enough but...

I can't seem to be able to connect to the internet. Now, on the computer that I'm using to post this thread is connect through our phone line on dsl. There is a different computer in my household that has a portal connected to it, a hub. I"m not sure on the lingo. Anyways. there is a main large cord that has a larger phone jack than a normal one connecting the computer to the hub/portal. Then there is a usb wire too. Lastly there is a normal phone cord connecting the hub to a phone jack on the wall. On MY computer I take a phone cord and connect it to my computer and phone jack on the wall, in a different room. The phone jack doesn't go to a modem on my computer but rather an ethernet card I believe. Has a small green light lit when I have connectivity. I remember setting up a network so that I can send and receive files to and from the main computer with the hub. But I believe i had internet before I set that up.

I used the wire that i used to connect the phone jack to my computer on the laptop. but I didn't seem to get any response. There are two ports on my 8887, small one that looks like a normal modem jack (which I think it is) and a larger phone jack. I switched them back and forth and tried to run numerous network/internet connections but to no avail.

I then took my laptop and connected the larger phone jack that is connected to the main computer and I was able to get connectivity. I even played CS. I was amazed that I got 71fps on chateau with NO choke. On my old one I got like 5 fps (really) and 100 choke. Ping was the same, but that didn't bother me much, as long as I had smooth gameplay.

Any suggestions on how I can fix this? Besides going out and buying a hub and portal for my laptop, because I believe that means setting up an new account, and I think I should be able to get the internet like I do on This computer.

Thanks,
Brendan

its says

Local Area Connection
A network cable is unplugged.

I've tried connecting a cord to my old(internet friendly computer) and my laptop together, but it doesn't recognize a signal.

Yes, I knew I wasn't too clear.

Here's what i've done to fix the problem.

First, lets assign the computers in my house specific and differentiated names

MAINCOMP - The computer that has the portal hooked up to it with the ethernet cable. the portal is a 2wire. www.2wire.com
THe portal is connected to this computer using a ethernet cable and a usb cable. The Portal is also connected to a phone jack in the wall. This computer only has a singular ethernet jack.

OLDCOMP - The computer that gets DSL internet access through a phone line. It gets its internet from the portal through the wall, I believe. This computer has too small phone jacks to get internet.

LAPTOP - this beauty has a modem jack and an ethernet cable jack.


What I did was take the portal that was originally connected to MAINCOMP and connected it to LAPTOP. I installed the neccesary drivers so that the 2wire portal would be recognized and properly working. Now, MAINCOMP has no internet, for it only has a single ethernet jack. I plan to take the ethernet card from MAINCOMP and OLDCOMP and switch them (but I would not like to do this just yet)this way...MAINCOMP gets internet, and OLDCOMP does not. So now we have MAINCOMP and LAPTOP w/ PORTAL connected to the internet, and OLDCOMP without an internet connection.

My question now is, can I take a serial cable and connect LAPTOP and OLDCOMP together so that OLDCOMP gets internet? I would like to have MAINCOMP have the PORTAL but have all computers with internet access. THEN I'll try to get a network going after all are connected. I also think that if I do connect OLDCOMP and LAPTOP together using a direct cable (parallel port, serial port)

MAINCOMP is connected by ethernet and usb to a 2wire Home Portal. www.2wire.com its called HomePortal, made by 2wire. I use it to get internet. My dad bought it and I had to settle with it, seems to work fine by me, I just need the right nic


OLDCOMP is connected to a NIC by normal phone wires. It does have DSL tho. I wasn't sure if this was a rare setup or not.

I believe the MAINCOMP needs to be connected by both ethernet and usb so that it can create a connection to my ISP.

Maybe this demonstration might solve things. But maybe not, it took me awhile to find out myself:

Lets say we have MAINCOMP and the 2WIRE turned off. I turn the MAINCOMP on but not 2wire. No internet. I turn 2WIRE on, and let it have its lights stop flashing until all three are green(meaning successful connection). I get Internet. Now I can turn off MAINCOMP and still have internet connection on OLDCOMP which is connected to the internet via walljack. 2WIRE is connected to a wall jack aswell, but in another room, on the other side of the house. So there we have 2wire ON, OLDCOMP on, MAINCOMP off (ONLY after it was able to connect to the 2wire before it was turned off). I get internet. Now, if we turn everything OFF again. and turn on 2wire. then turn on OLDCOMP we do not get a connection to the Internet.

That was the original setup untill I moved the portal onto my LAPTOP. But the connection terms still stand.

Wow, got a lot of new info there, thanks. keep posting if you have any other thoughts

I have thought of another solution, but not one that compliments having the MAINCOMP connected to the 2WIRE. My idea is to put a new nic (one that can have PNA as I understand it) in the MAINCOMP. That way I can have my OLDCOMP and MAINCOMP connected to the internet via walljack/ PNA.

Also, I believe I ordered integrated wireless on this laptop, 802.1b. I've looked at the wireless connection and it says "wireless connection unavailable". Which I assume means that there is no service from where I am. I will try to find a Hot Spot and see if I can get service, but I don't believe I have an account with a service that provides wireless internet just yet. I'll be fine with my DSL through 2wire. Just as long as I can have all computers in my household connected.

Please post any ideas that you have to have All computers connected to the internet, and have the 2WIRE connected to MAINCOMP. I have few more ideas I will work out.

yes, I probably could have the usb connected to the MAINCOMP and the ethernet on the LAPTOP, however that means that I have to have the MAINCOMP and LAPTOP near each other so the wires could reach, and I don't want to do that because the MAINCOMP is not in my room, its in a friends room. Also, if I had the ethernet connected to the LAPTOP and not the MAINCOMP that would mean MAINCOMP doesn't get internet. Which it does need.