dear members:, does any one know where i can buy a 3 way ethernet coupler for DSL modem WEstell 327w. its a device that connects 3 ethernet cables at the same time , just like a 3 way splitter for a phone. i checked in bestbuy, radioshack, circuit city, staples, home depot, and they didn't have it. please let me know if any one has one. your help is greatly appreaciated, thank you!
What you need is something of a router/hub sort. Can't just connect 3 cables to one modem, it's more than just cables. 3-port isn't made, but 4-port is very common. Circuit City would be good, just get a brandname router preferably with a hardware firewall for security. I've noticed that Netgear's are easy to setup. Just connect the modem to the router, then from the router to the 3 devices.
Friend01, what you're looking for is specifically a router with an integrated switch. Usually they come in even numbers, e.g. 4-port, 8-port, etc. Like Fetus mentioned, Netgear is a good brand: solid, inexpensive and easy to use. Basically you would connect the DSL modem to the "WAN" port of the router, and connect the PCs to the other ports (marked "LAN"). It's really easy, and will increase your security quite a bit. Check out our Networking & Security FAQ and our DSL Sharing HowTo for more in-depth information. Feel free to post a follow-up if you need additional help. All the best, -AT
