There are several ways to share an internet connection. Most common used is requesting additional IP's from your Internet Service Provider and then hook up the NIC's from your PC's to a HUB or Switch. A hub works basically as a repeater device; it will get a data packet from a computer and sends it towards all the other computers, A switch is a somewhat more sophisticated and efficient device. The downside is the fact that you'll need to configure the PC in a way most people find difficult. Besides that you'll have to pay additional costs per month for the extra IP numbers.

A second and popular method for sharing internet connectivity is the usage of proxy software (Internet Connection Sharing, Sygate). Basically One PC will function as a server while the other clients gather the information from the server through a network. While this is the cheapest solution the downside is that software configuration can very difficult and your ISP can sniff your PC whether a network is shared. Most ISP's do not allow the sharing of multiple PC's on one broadband connection. It would mean more bandwidth and thus more costs for the ISP.

Another solution would be the usage of a dedicated router. However, this is for the pro's and companies and furthermore way too expensive.

So what you need is a device that is:

1. relatively cheap
2. does not allow ISP sniffing/network detection
3. relatively easy to setup

And this is exactly where a BroadBand router and in this case the Compex NetPassage 15-B comes in. With a nice pricetag of about 120 USD you can share your BroadBand connection with up-to 253 PC's without your ISP sniffing your PC's at a relatively cheap price. Let's look at some specs from this nifty gadget:

Features and Benefits:
- Share your Cable, DSL or Direct Ethernet Internet connection with up to 253 users
- Integrated 4-port 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Switch provides an immediate solution for 4 users
- Built-in DHCP server dynamically assigns IP addresses to the computers
- “Parallel Broadband” enables Infinite Scalable Internet Bandwidth as your business grows
- NAT Firewall protects your network from the intruders
- IP-Forwarding and Port-Forwarding Virtual Server
- IP Packet Filtering provides administrative functions for your Internet access
- Support VoIP pass-through, VPN Client (PPTP) pass-through and Microsoft NetMeeting
- Upgradeable firmware