Tips on How to Share Internet Connection

Like a dial-up connection, you can share a broadband connection via Internet connection-sharing software. However, this creates a bottleneck when WLAN clients try to access the Internet through the host computer. It's more efficient to share a connection through a broadband router connected to an AP or through an AP that had built-in broadband router functionality.

The type of broadband modem that you have also affects how you share your Internet connection. The best type of modem is one that connects to your computer via a standard Cat5 Ethernet cable. With this type of modem, it's easy to share your connection simply by plugging the Ethernet cable into a router or AP/router.

Some cable and DSL ISPs have started providing their customers with modems that connect to a PC via a USB port. This is in their interest because a USB modem makes sharing your Internet connection more difficult. If you have a USB modem, you have to share your connection through Internet connection-sharing software or find a router that accepts a USB connection from the modem. There aren't many routers that work with USB modems, but manufacturers are beginning to catch on to the trend, and more should start appearing on the market shortly.

The newest hardware that is starting to appear on shelves combines the functions of a cable modem, router, and wireless AP all in one device. Obviously, if you have a WLAN and subscribe to a cable ISP, this would be a perfect piece of hardware for you.