Networking without Ethernet

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:28 pm

I got a laptop and have another that should be on the way, but I'm too cheap to buy network cards for them. So I want to know if networking them together and to my desktop would be best with dailup or USB and how to do so. Both laptops are PII ~300mhz, 128MB RAM and have a modem and USB port.
If neither of those are worth it, I suppose I could get network cards for them, but I'd much rather do it without spending so much.

Post by **bicostp** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:34 pm

They make USB cables (with some circuitry I imagine) that let you hook two computers to each other directly. They're the modern equivelant of null modem cables. It will be much faster than dial-up.

You could also get a USB hard drive (or a seperate HD and an enclosure) and use that to copy files. After you finish you can use it for archives or backups.

Dark Savant0 · Post by **Dark Savant0** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:50 pm

If both computers have it, IR might be the way to go. I know Windows XP auto-connects to any IR computer within range. IR is dog-slow sometimes though.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:02 pm

bicostp wrote:They make USB cables (with some circuitry I imagine) that let you hook two computers to each other directly. They're the modern equivelant of null modem cables. It will be much faster than dial-up.

You could also get a USB hard drive (or a seperate HD and an enclosure) and use that to copy files. After you finish you can use it for archives or backups.

Anyone know how much/where I can get the USB things? I do have a couple 4GB USB drives, but I'd rather get online and download stuff directly.
I was thinking of the IR, I think it said something about being 4mbps. I couldn't connect to the desktop, but I could maybe use it for something else between the laptops.

Post by **gannon** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:32 pm

Not sure, would you just need a standard straight-through USB cable and a program, or would you need one with the data lines crossed over?

Dark Savant0 · Post by **Dark Savant0** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:47 pm

Normal USB cables do not work. They have to be specialized for the process.

bgnome · Post by **bgnome** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:29 pm

those usb data-transfer cables have specialized chipsets in them. i don't think they were meant to do anything other than file transfer. they generally cost anywhere from $30 to $50, but resourceful folks can find them for about $10.

project_failure · Post by **project_failure** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:32 pm

if you can find the cable or make one you could use the serial ports. (barely faster than null modem.)

can you use parallel?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:02 pm

If you want to I would suggest going with the phoneline network. That is if you have a 56k modem and the cabling for the job.

This shows how it works. You may have to check out google for more info on setting up a network.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:13 pm

for the price of a fancy USB cable you could just get two network cards, they are dirt cheap. (ie. less than $10 each. Dont let bestbuy rip you off)

here, see?
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... &CatId=200

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:54 pm

timmeh87 wrote:for the price of a fancy USB cable you could just get two network cards, they are dirt cheap. (ie. less than $10 each. Dont let bestbuy rip you off)

here, see?
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... &CatId=200

After seeing how difficult some of the other options are, I think it will be cheaper and easier to just get the cards and do it the right way.

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 4:18 am

Umm... wait... did I miss something? Those are PCI cards he linked to... you... can't put those in a laptop. You said you had laptops, didn't you?

I would think you'd be better off with something like this or this if you don't have Type II PCMCIA slots in your laptops.

Edit: Oh, and of course one of these... unless you're plugging into a router (then you'd need a straight-through cable), but I don't get that feeling from you based on your original request.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:51 am

Electric Rain wrote:Umm... wait... did I miss something? Those are PCI cards he linked to... you... can't put those in a laptop. You said you had laptops, didn't you?

I would think you'd be better off with something like this or this if you don't have Type II PCMCIA slots in your laptops.

Edit: Oh, and of course one of these... unless you're plugging into a router (then you'd need a straight-through cable), but I don't get that feeling from you based on your original request.

Yeah, I know. I meant the PCMCIA cards, I didn't see what his link was. I have a crossover, and a hub and some straight throughs if I want to connect more than two together.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:32 pm

woah i totally missed the laptop part. lol. sorry. pc cards are a little more expensive : \