FS on two PC's in close proximity.

**Erich65** · 02-18-2005, 01:03 AM

Hello,
When two computers are in close proximity--say 6 to 10' apart-- can they be connected together simply, ie without modems, dial up etc., so that one may do anything from formation flight to dog fights--a sort of a simple multiplayer set up, with each able to see the other's aircraft.
Most grateful for your expertise and advice.
Regards,
Erich.

**tommchowat** · 02-18-2005, 03:26 AM

All you need to do is get a network cable (I think they're called patch cables aswell) and put it in the ethernet port of each computer. I'm not going to go into how you network them as Windows XP can explain that for you ;)

**heyer** · 02-18-2005, 03:30 AM

>When two computers are in close proximity--say 6 to
>10' apart-- can they be connected together simply, ie
>without modems, dial up etc., so that one may do anything
>from formation flight to dog fights--a sort of a simple
>multiplayer set up, with each able to see the other's
>aircraft.

Yes they can. You either build up a little home network provided that both computers have an ethernet adapter/port and are connected by a crossover ethernet cable or you just connect their serial ports using a so called "0-modem" cable

**Aarinu** · 02-18-2005, 09:06 AM

The best bet is to use a Crossover Cable (assuming no internet on either machines). Null modem cables (I think that's what heyer was saying) are generally much slower than doing Ethernet :)

**heyer** · 02-18-2005, 01:14 PM

>Null modem cables (I think
>that's what heyer was saying) are generally much slower than
>doing Ethernet

You are right but by using a null modem cable you don't need to configure anything at all. You don't need to know anything about networking or all the incompatibility issues of all the different versions of "MS Windows" for instance. And the speed (up to 115,200 bit/s) actually is fully sufficient for an MSFS multiplayer session of two "players".

**capn_sonic** · 02-18-2005, 06:20 PM

Crossover cable ( Can buy one already made up at your local store or you can make one up your self. )

Run the network wizard on both machines (Providing both running XP)

Done!

All a cross over cable does is eleviate the need to have a hub when connecting only 2 machines together.

You can actually purchase an ethernet card that acts as a hub with more than one port (Usually 4) In that case a normal straight through cable could be used.

**Wichita** · 02-19-2005, 08:04 AM

>Hello,
> When two computers are in close proximity--say 6 to
>10' apart-- can they be connected together simply, ie
>without modems, dial up etc., so that one may do anything
>from formation flight to dog fights--a sort of a simple
>multiplayer set up, with each able to see the other's
>aircraft.
> Most grateful for your expertise and advice.
>Regards,
>Erich.

Read all these posts and you'll get the idea of all the variations but...DON'T get ripped off on a patch cable or crossover cable at local stores like CompUSA and Best Buy. I can't belive how bad they rip people on those cables. You can get a 25' from Newegg for about $9.00 delivered--at CompUSA oh...about $25-35.00 plus sales tax. A 14 foot is about $8.00 delivered.

Another unlikly source thats at least in the ball park is a store like Home Depot or Lowes. Yep,they carry Cat5e cables and also cable in bulk. Their 25'is about $14.00.

If you going computer to computer you'll need a crossover cable--which simply means the 4 pairs of twisted wires "flip over" or cross over so the wires on the right side of the connector match the right side on the other end. If using a hub just use patch cables which are straight through and don't crossover.

David