jimmybob479
join:2004-12-10
Edinburg, TX
| never installed ethernet...what to buy
I want to install an ethernet connection from one side of my house to another..probably 150ft cable i'm assuming. I'm doing this so I can stream hdtv from my media center pc to my xbox 360 (media extender). Exactly how hard would it be to do this? I have experience with computers and am tech-savvy, but I've never installed ethernet or anything. Would it be difficult for a networking-n00b to do, or are there kits that could with the cable, two faceplates? I've seen pre-wired faceplates and 150ft cat5 cable on newegg.com. BTW, I've also found cat3, not sure what the difference is between cat3, but I think what i'm looking for is Cat5e...
any help appreciated thx. |
|
Spensergig
Threadkiller Supreme
Premium,MVM
join:2000-03-26
Bradenton, FL
| You'll probably want Cat5 or Cat5e, since it handles much higher speeds.
You'll need the raw cable, a couple of "old work" low voltage outlet mounting brackets, wallplates (I like the 2 or 3-port Leviton quickports), and some Cat5e jacks (again, I like the Leviton multi-use units.)
If you buy a multi-pack, it should include wiring guides and a simple tool. The hardest part is running the cable through the walls.
Use pre-made patch cords to connect the equipment to the jacks - you do NOT want the hassle of attaching cable ends. (That's an art, not a science.) |
|
Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs: | reply to jimmybob479
Are you planning at running this underneath the house? I think the hardest think might be just running the cable through the wall. If you've never crimped you might want to buy the basics and do some practice. |
|
Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
 ·Site5.com
 ·AT&T Midwest
 ·Comcast
| reply to jimmybob479
Go with Cat5e.
As for cableing, its only one run but a run through the walls can be tricky. You have to have the tools available to do it. I don't know what your house is laid out like or what the best way to do it would be. I know when I ran wire in my house, I ran my network from the basement to the upstairs. Since my basement was unfinished at the time, it was easy to just run cable through the floor and up to the various rooms. Just have to have the right tools.
If you have never crimped before, do what Max says and practice.
Another thing you can do is invite a friend over to help you out. Someone who knows cabling. After you are done, take him out to dinner somewhere. Thats what I did when I wired my whole house. Easier to do it with someone else than on your own. It took myself and a friend the better part of a day to run 14 upstairs cable runs and make it look nice and professional. 
--
My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal |
|
kherr
Premium
join:2000-09-04
Collinsville, IL
clubs: | reply to jimmybob479
Everything you ever wanted to know, plus a lot more .. »www.swhowto.com/ . This was posted some time ago by someone else. |
|
Cyber2lz
join:2001-11-15
Odessa, FL
| reply to jimmybob479
Just get two Netgear XE102's. Plug them and use your house electrical system to extend the enet. I get about 5.5 MBPS over mine. Retail $149, on sale at Compusa from time to time, $99.
Sure, there are other ways, but this is, by far, the simplest.
Just a thought,
--
The Light Pipe is the Right Pipe !!! |
|
Leathal
Premium
join:2002-02-09
Toronto, ON
| reply to jimmybob479
said by jimmybob479  :I want to install an ethernet connection from one side of my house to another..probably 150ft cable i'm assuming. I'm doing this so I can stream hdtv from my media center pc to my xbox 360 (media extender). Exactly how hard would it be to do this? I have experience with computers and am tech-savvy, but I've never installed ethernet or anything. Would it be difficult for a networking-n00b to do, or are there kits that could with the cable, two faceplates? I've seen pre-wired faceplates and 150ft cat5 cable on newegg.com. BTW, I've also found cat3, not sure what the difference is between cat3, but I think what i'm looking for is Cat5e... any help appreciated thx. Hi Jimmy,
Just use CAT5e STP the shield stuff and either run it cross the floor, under it, our drill out hole outside your house and run it that way. You are not going to need the media extender for your X360 as you'll just be using the RJ45 style jack and not your wireless.
Leathal
|
|
Kilroy
Premium,MVM
join:2002-11-21
Ann Arbor, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| reply to jimmybob479
You could purchase a 150ft cross over cable.
CAT3 is phone wire.
CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6 are all data wire.
The main issue is since you are running device to device you need a cross over somewhere. A cross over moves the send wires to the receive wires and vice versa, on one end.
The big question is how comfortable are you with getting the cable into the wall?
--
How hard does DRM have to bite before business abandon it? |
|
Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
| said by Kilroy :You could purchase a 150ft cross over cable. CAT3 is phone wire. CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6 are all data wire. The main issue is since you are running device to device you need a cross over somewhere. A cross over moves the send wires to the receive wires and vice versa, on one end. The big question is how comfortable are you with getting the cable into the wall? If they are getting broadband, there really is no need for a crossover cable. Thats a if though.
--
My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal |
|
cpayne5
join:2004-01-06
1 edit | The x360 can handle both a regular ethernet cable and a crossover. It can autosense what it is hooked up to.
--
Hail To The Redskins |
|
Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
| said by cpayne5 :The x360 can handle both a regular ethernet cable and a crossover. It can autosense what it is hooked up to. Yea, but thats not the point. If he wants to be playing Xbox 360 online, a crossover cable won't help matters. As I said though, thats if he has broadband.
--
My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal |
|
jyc76
join:2006-10-18
Beverly Hills, CA | reply to Cyber2lz
I`m not sure 5.5MBPS is fast enough for video (and definitely not HDTV), even wireless 802.11g54mbpgs might have trouble streaming that |
|
jimmybob479
join:2004-12-10
Edinburg, TX
| It seems my reply didn't show up that I posted yesterday =(.
Anyway, yes, the powerline networking isn't fast enough at 5.5Mbps.
I don't have a basement but I do have a small attic which is where we have a large tv antenna at. I've seen wires running along the edges too, like the antenna cable going into my parent's bedroom which is next to mine, so i'm assuming i could run wires through there too on the side.
Spenserging, what's this multi-pack you're talking about, and could you provide a link to it?
It seems what I need to buy is the 100ft cat5e cable (generic) like this »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···12117707, some voltage outlet mounting brackets, and wallplates, and some jacks. I've seen links to wallplates which are pre-wired or something to make it easier. But this multi-pack with directions and tools seems to be really what I need. I don't need any complicated setup, I basically want an ethernet cable running in my wall, up to the attic, across the attic, and down my bedroom wall. I just want the brackets and stuff so it isn't like a hole in the wall  . |
|
janderso1
Jim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-15
Saint Petersburg, FL
| reply to jimmybob479
Unless they have changed the packaging, the single Leviton jacks the Home Depot sells include instructions and a plastic punch down tool. You would also need diagonal cutting pliers. Most Home Depots also sell CAT5E by the foot. Make sure you buy enough in one piece so you don’t have to splice it. Home Depot also has the wall plate and the bracket the goes into the wall.
--
Jim Anderson |
|
jimmybob479
join:2004-12-10
Edinburg, TX
| said by janderso1 :Unless they have changed the packaging, the single Leviton jacks the Home Depot sells include instructions and a plastic punch down tool. You would also need diagonal cutting pliers. Most Home Depots also sell CAT5E by the foot. Make sure you buy enough in one piece so you don’t have to splice it. Home Depot also has the wall plate and the bracket the goes into the wall. Ok, so home depot seems to be the place to go. Sowhat I need are leviton rj45 ethernet jacks (the little end pieces for the cable?), wall plates + brackets, and the cat5cable. |
|
LLigetfa
join:2006-05-15
Fort Frances, ON
| said by jimmybob479 :Sowhat I need are leviton rj45 ethernet jacks (the little end pieces for the cable?), wall plates + brackets, and the cat5cable. A little SEX101... The "Jacks" go onto the ends of the building wire behind the wallplates. They are the "innies" so they should be called "Jill", not Jack. 
RJ45 "Plugs" go onto the ends of wire "jumpers" and are the "outies". Jumpers are not worth the effort to make if you can use factory jumpers. |
|
