NTL Bband Networking

[philb101]

I am trying to help a neighbour who has an NTL 1M Broadband Cable modem connection working fine direct through the Ethernet connection to a PC
Now the problem, the User has a Laptop which they want to use to get Internet access as well, they have a Netgear switch & have cabled the Modem, PC & Laptop inot the Switch, the PC still has Internet access but the Laptop gives "Aquiring IP Address" then "Limited or No Connectivity". I took the Laptop to my house and plugged it into my D-Link Router & immediately got Internet access, (I have NTL 2M connection) back next door with my ethernet cable & exactly the same problem as when started. We have checked the Network Connection properties are the same for each but cannot get Internet access from the laptop.

Any thoughts much appreciated

[MovedGoalPosts]

to Cable Forum

A switch will not work in this instance. You need to be using a router.
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The cable modem will only speak to one device at a time. It can only see one computer. The second one will be invisible. If you power off the modem and first PC, power up the modem and laptop only, then the laptop should work but not the PC.

A router knows how to communicate with the modem and the modem thinks a router is the computer - it doesn't see past the router. The router on the computer side, sets up the network protocols so that both computer and laptop can work alongside each other. A switch is just a junction box.