Dear Gina,

The faster I go, the behinder I get, too.  It's all the new SETI users and
their danged, newfangled, hyperthreading computers.  In difficult cases such
as this, it may be necessary to increase your WU output by adding another
computer (or more!) to your SETI farm.

This type of project requires psychological preperation.  For help, see
http://www.carolynsclinic.f2s.com/

When SETI opens on either/both computers, you can enter your email address
on both of 'em, and they will both contribute to your statistics.  That
should improve your mood.

No problem sharing a single broadband connection with additional computers.
With DSL or cable modem service, a "router" would be connected directly to
the modem.  If the computers are right next to each other, adding a wired
router will do.  Any router will have a handful of connectors in the back,
to which both computers would be connected, so they can share the broadband
connection.  It would be an opportunity to learn a little about networking,
too.  A router also provides firewalling benefits.

If the computers are scattered around the house (not much more than about 40
foot distance), a "wireless router" might fit the bill (for an additional
$25 over a wired router).  The computer that's next to the wireless router
can still be connected by wire, but the computer that's far from the router
can have access to the broadband connection by using the wireless link.

The "client" computer would need a "wireless adaptor" to communicate with
the wireless router.  I recommend a "Wireless USB Adapter" for the client
computer.  It has a cable that plugs into the USB jack, and the little
radio-transceiver (and antenna) is on the other end of the cable, and can be
placed on top of a bookcase so its antenna is high-and-in-the-clear for
maximum range.  The other choice is a wireless PCI card that plugs inside
the computer, with its little antenna sticking out the back.  With the
computer on the floor, and the antenna snuggled up against the metal back of
the computer, the range is much less compared to the USB adaptor with its
antenna up on top of the bookcase.

For even more maximum range, you could put a 75 foot ethernet cable on the
USB adaptor, and put the transceiver on your roof.  Maybe you'll be able to
reach New Jersey.

There's a tradeoff.  With wireless equipment for connecting the distant
client computer to the router, you don't have to drill holes in walls and
floors to make a wired connection.  But by putting your network on the
airwaves, there are security issues, since people can drive by your house
and get into your network.  Maybe it's not so bad if they get the weather
report and do their email through your broadband modem.  But without proper
computer and router settings, they will also be able to get into your
computer and play with it.

In my limited experience, I only used the wireless router to share the
broadband connection.  Although it was also an opportunity to activate "File
Sharing" between computers, I turned off this function completely to
eliminate the security risk to the computers on the wireless network.  That
leaves the modem available, but another security setting, and I was able to
make it difficult, though not impossible to have access to my broadband
modem.  However, that is my ISP's problem, not mine (yuk yuk).

I don't know what to do if you have a telephone connection.  I only had one
for a few days before I bailed and got broadband.  Perhaps it's as simple as
putting a $2 splitter on the phone jack, and letting each computer run
independently.

In the case of a telephone connection, I foresee trouble with SETI making
telephone calls sporadically throughout the day, interrupting the human
beings.  There are a bunch of after-market SETI utilities, one of which may
provide an answer.  Does anyone know if there is a utility that will save
WUs, and then wait until 3 AM to open a 'phone connection to refresh the
cache(s)?

Also, in the case of adding additional computers primarily for catching up
with your SETI statistics, it may be difficult to justify monetarily.
Therefore, you might consider building a computer.  I recommend Newegg.com
for parts at good prices and fine service, or computer shows for lowest
prices and no service.  An economical computer especially for crunching SETI
WUs might be built with a fast processor, but minimum memory and software,
and few bells and whistles.  This would be a difficult setup to buy off the
shelf.  On the other hand, an off-the-shelf computer - as minimal as you can
find - with 2 GHz Athalon processor and operating system included might cost
only a slim dollar more than building it yourself, so it's hard to say that
home-built will save you much.

Not sure; I don't think I went off topic.

Best luck,
                 -Neil-



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