I find that using the ActionTec
Action Link to share internet access is incredibly useful. At the same time, you have access to shared files from either system. (You select what drives you want to share during the installation process.) One advantage of this is the ability to download a program onto one computer and then ?drag and drop? it to the other system. This allows you to install a program (for instance, a multiplayer demo game) on both PCs after downloading it to just one of them.
The ?DynaNat Manager? has a neat activity monitoring feature that will show graphs in real time of the server?s internet activity, as well as client RX and TX speed. This can be helpful in diagnosing where a slowdown or problem is occurring.
?DynaNat? is designed to select the most internet worthy computer and use it as a gateway to access the internet. If that computer is to be turned off, then ?DynaNat? determines the next best computer and dials in with it. While this is an efficient, unique approach in theory, there are a few problems in practice. If you have a fast ?alternative? access, such as a cable modem or ADSL line, you obviously would not want to have every computer in the house with its own costly modem. So, one computer would need to be selected as the ?Server,? and the clients could come and go as they please. If you want to use this dynamic selection feature with computers with normal modems, all of the modems have to be on the same phone line.
I attempted to have two computers with their own modem lines hooked up to the network, both being designated as server capable. When I did this, both PCs dialed up my ISP (the same account). This will get you in trouble with your ISP. From their side, it looks like you are sharing your access with another person -- and, for all intents and purposes, you would be. I find the best setup is to designate one computer as ?Server Capable?, and the others as ?Client Only?. You can dial out normally on the client computer if the ?Server? is not on. If the ?Server? is on, then you dial out with it and share the access.
The Action Link allows you to share the internet access that you already have. This is great... if you have adequate access to begin with. Think of it as two cars sharing a gas tank. If you have enough gas, that?s great -- you only have to fill one tank. If you don?t have enough gas for the first car, however, when a second car shares the gas you DO have, both of them have less than they need.
If you just want to play multiplayer games locally, you will get the best results if you close all other programs except for the ?DynaNat? and the game itself. This may be obvious, but unless you are planning to play a game online, the internet will only slow down your computer and increase your ping times. I found that pings were as low as around 36 when playing across a LAN using the Action Link. This makes for very fluid gameplay. Ping times and gameplay on the internet will, of course, be dependent on your connection rate and how many PCs are playing.
