Home network cableing?

[Steve]

Due to a lightning strike, I'm gonna be replacin' all the wireing in my house. The electricians will be startin' tomorrow. I'm wonderin' if it would be practical to wire the house for a home network while I'm at it.

I would like internet connection in each room, sharing the internet connection, and the ability to network 3 maybe 4 computers for file sharing.

My question is...what will I need to do this? Cat5 cable? Phone cable? Both? Something else?

The electrician says they have to pull new romex anyway so he'll pull what ever else I want, as long as I buy it.

They're startin' tomorrow mornin' so I have to get goin' on this.

Suggestions?

[Paleo Pete]

I think CAT5 is what you'll need, phone cables only if you want phones in the rooms too. One phone cable for the main internet connection, if it's dial up, and a hub will probably be necessary. The electricians won't have to worry about the hub though...Just make sure the cable ends that will connect to the hub are where you want them. Once the wire is pulled it's not easy to move it...



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[bassvax]

They gang at www.techtv.com/screensavers (http://www.techtv.com/screensavers) have a lot of ideas about this...run a search on their site for "home networking" but here is one to get you started http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/products/story/0,23008,2456464,00.html

Good thinking on your part... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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savoire faire ist everywhere...

[Steve]

Thanks Pete. Thanks Bassvax.

I picked up a box of cat5 cable for $60 this mornin'. A friend gave me about 200ft. of regular phone line. Gonna run both. Each outlet will have an AC, phone and computer connection. Kinda slick. I hope.

[Rick]

Steve.
Check the Building code in your area Before you begin.

The Power (AC) and the network/phone MUST be in separate out lets in my area.
I had to remove all the four out let boxes [_] from the wall and replace them with separate boxes Hooked together.. [][] What a Pain..

[Steve]

Wow. Thanks Rick. Didn't occur to me that there would be that problem. I'll check it out.

[Steve]

Sorry. Double post.

[This message has been edited by Steve (edited 05-30-2001).]

[skhips]

If you want 100mbp over CAT 5 each run must be no more than 90m this allows you max 5m drop lead at each end, may as well pay the liitle more for 100mbp NIC's (and HUB) as the cable will do it if installed correctly.

You cannot just terminate the wires onto any connections you must terminate onto certain terminations due to X-talk etc and remove the minimum of twists before connecting the wires for the same reason or you will not get the 100mbps. You can search under CAT5 or TIB865 or ISO 11801 for more details.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[bmpkns2]

Does the running of electrical and data cables together cause interference between the two? I am not sure, but i just thought this would be a good question to ask. I have mine ran completely separate from the electrical cabling, because i was not sure.

And yeah, it will be real nice to have all that cabling ran behind the wall, I ran it my self along with the phone lines, kinda headache, i tell ya, but no cables to look at now.

Good luck http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Steve]

I ran my cables about 4in. apart. When we opened up the wall, there was a series of holes drilled in the studs. I used different holes to run everything, just in case.

Of course, as they approach the outlet, everything comes to within a couple of inches of each other. I don't know if this will cause a problem but I doubt it. I've seen this work in commercial buildings.

I don't have it finished yet, but when I do I'll report on any problems.

[skhips]

Minimum distance is 50mm, if you can get 150mm then better if less than 50mm then you should use STP (shielded twisted pair) as opposed to UTP (Unshielded twisted pair) CAT 5

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

[mjc]

For those of us in the US that don't do metric, I'll translate....50mm is a bout 2 inches...so Steve your 4 inches should be ok, and a foot or so at the end shouldn't matter much. Like are you really going to notice it that much if you are say 90 instead of the full 100M.

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mjc
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[bassman]

May I translate a little further?
A Meter is a few inches longer then a yard.
36"x100=3600
40"x90=3600
Unless your wiring a football field or large wharehouse, this should not be an issue.
Also, if you are running this wiring next to radio transmission lines, or you have your hub next to your generator, I would highly recommend STP. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Sorry Pete http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/redface.gif

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It's nice to know if we helped you out. Please let us know IF and WHAT fixed the problem.

[Steve]

Thanks... skhips, mjc and bassman.

As luck would have it, I did buy cat5, shielded twisted pair. It's more expensive but not to much so.

The electricians finished the ac yesterday and I finished the telephone wiring today. Cat5 will be done in the next few days...and on it goes.