FF.. honestly. I use a router and cable (quicknet from multikabel) and I have no probs with the connection speed. nor do I know how you can check the affore mentioned.

I need to rephrase that. I didn't mean to ask if anyone detects performance drop recently, or did something happen that could result in that. I meant - comparing the speed of one PC on one connection and perhaps 2,3,4 PCs on one connection. The reason I'm asking is that I just bought a router to share the net connection. The 3 of us (my 2 roommates and I) used to share only one PC. After the sharing, the guy whose pc we used to share complained speed drop. This is not supposed to happen with broadband routers, right? even if it is, I believe that the influence is minuscule. Does downloading stuff from Kazaa worsen the speed for the 3 of us?

Yes. Assuming all three (or however many you said you have) computers are trying to download files, the router should divide the available bandwidth between them. If only two are trying to download, then they each get half. Little things like web browsing shouldn't really affect the speed of the others much. My connection is split between two (and soon three) computers, and web browsing is exactly the same speed, as well as gaming. Now if one of the computers is downloading a file, the other is slowed a bit. I hope this is what you were asking, anyway.

Exactly. Thanks, Tach.

Little sidetracking....when using a router, the router will divert all available bandwidth to the computer that needs it right? While a hub effectively cuts bandwidth in half between 2 connected computers.....?

If you need to check your connection speed, then go to Numion.

A router divides the connection in max. number of packages (incoming and outcoming) per computer, depending on the number of computers. A hub can be either switcher or a router hub, switchers are usually better (faster), but that's not always the case.


Careful what you wish... You might just get it.