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Networking question -computers

post #1 of 19
7/28/09 at 2:48pm
Thread Starter 
I am moving into a new place, and when I did my walk today I noticed that some of the rooms have data plugs. I looked in the basement and saw a bundle of cat5, which I assume is for those rooms. My question is, that it looked like all of those individual runs were spliced together to terminate in a single punched down cable - if that is the case, will that work? I thought you couldnt share wiring in a 10/100 enviroment because of all the cross talk? I really only want it in a couple of rooms, so I might just terminate all of the cables individually (or just cut my loses and run loose cat6 everywhere).
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post #2 of 19
7/28/09 at 2:54pm
Is there a router somewhere in between? Why bother rewiring, just do a wireless setup and save yourself the hassle?
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post #3 of 19
7/28/09 at 2:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgold47 View Post
I am moving into a new place, and when I did my walk today I noticed that some of the rooms have data plugs. I looked in the basement and saw a bundle of cat5, which I assume is for those rooms. My question is, that it looked like all of those individual runs were spliced together to terminate in a single punched down cable - if that is the case, will that work? I thought you couldnt share wiring in a 10/100 enviroment because of all the cross talk? I really only want it in a couple of rooms, so I might just terminate all of the cables individually (or just cut my loses and run loose cat6 everywhere).
Not sure I understand what you mean by spliced together... That they have merged several cables and there is only one termination? Makes no sense to me... If that's the case it won't work. You need to make sure the cables are terminated properly and plug the end of each individual cable into a switch. Here's a wiring diagram. If you need a crimper to re-terminate you can get one for like 15 bucks at a computer store or online. http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.aspx For a few runs it would take you less than an hour. It's well worth it to avoid the hassles of wireless.
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post #4 of 19
7/28/09 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
Is there a router somewhere in between?

Why bother rewiring, just do a wireless setup and save yourself the hassle?

If he's already set up for wired, both would be the way to go then. Wireless is great for moving around the house with your laptop, not so great when you are transferring large files between computers on your network.
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post #5 of 19
7/28/09 at 3:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
Is there a router somewhere in between?

Why bother rewiring, just do a wireless setup and save yourself the hassle?

Its also going to be for my U-Verse which is IPTV, as well as I move a lot of data.

Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
Not sure I understand what you mean by spliced together... That they have merged several cables and there is only one termination? Makes no sense to me... If that's the case it won't work.

You need to make sure the cables are terminated properly and plug the end of each individual cable into a switch.

Here's a wiring diagram. If you need a crimper to re-terminate you can get one for like 15 bucks at a computer store or online.
http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.aspx

For a few runs it would take you less than an hour. It's well worth it to avoid the hassles of wireless.

it is spliced into a single run.

The whole thing is kind of screwy, here is what I need:

2 uverse boxes, one upstairs one down
1 upstairs laptop
1 vonage box - needs a direct connection to uverse router (basement)
1 work laptop (Basement)
1 desktop (Basement)
1 AIO networked printer (basement


I have a hub for my office stuff sans vonage

what I was going to do, was mount the uverse box at the main tv, then run two wires through the vents into the basement, one for the vonage, and one to the hub which will run the office stuff.

Then I was going to run a line directly from the uverse to the upstairs office, where it would hit a hub, and then into the laptop and the other uverse box.

What I am now thinking is to have the uverse go into the basement and into a hub (a bigger one with 16 ports), and then terminate the ends of the existing cat into jacks and have them all go into the hub. then upstairs in the master bedroom, use that jack for the uverse, and there is a jack in the upstairs office too, so I wouldnt have to run line all the way upstairs. I just have to hope that there is nothing wrong with the lines in the wall. that way, everything will be activated, and I really only have to run two lines into the basement and use the in-wall for everything else. And if I didnt need to ensure I had great throughput on the network, I could even potentially use the existing in-wall jack in the living room to get the uverse into the basement (there is a vent right where the TV will go, or I might put the whole thing in the closet.

I think ideally, I would like to put the uverse router in the basement, but its also the wireless, so I want to make sure it reaches the whole house before I commit to that (or else I have to stick an access point somewhere).

Christ, I feel like a network admin now....
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post #6 of 19
7/28/09 at 4:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgold47 View Post
Its also going to be for my U-Verse which is IPTV, as well as I move a lot of data. it is spliced into a single run. The whole thing is kind of screwy, here is what I need: 2 uverse boxes, one upstairs one down 1 upstairs laptop 1 vonage box - needs a direct connection to uverse router (basement) 1 work laptop (Basement) 1 desktop (Basement) 1 AIO networked printer (basement I have a hub for my office stuff sans vonage what I was going to do, was mount the uverse box at the main tv, then run two wires through the vents into the basement, one for the vonage, and one to the hub which will run the office stuff. Then I was going to run a line directly from the uverse to the upstairs office, where it would hit a hub, and then into the laptop and the other uverse box. What I am now thinking is to have the uverse go into the basement and into a hub (a bigger one with 16 ports), and then terminate the ends of the existing cat into jacks and have them all go into the hub. then upstairs in the master bedroom, use that jack for the uverse, and there is a jack in the upstairs office too, so I wouldnt have to run line all the way upstairs. I just have to hope that there is nothing wrong with the lines in the wall. that way, everything will be activated, and I really only have to run two lines into the basement and use the in-wall for everything else. And if I didnt need to ensure I had great throughput on the network, I could even potentially use the existing in-wall jack in the living room to get the uverse into the basement (there is a vent right where the TV will go, or I might put the whole thing in the closet. I think ideally, I would like to put the uverse router in the basement, but its also the wireless, so I want to make sure it reaches the whole house before I commit to that (or else I have to stick an access point somewhere). Christ, I feel like a network admin now....
Post pics. I still don't understand how you can physically splice several cables into one. Normally when there is a lot of cable it is punched down on the back of a patch panel, and then you use short patch cables to go from the panel to the switch. You don't really need a patch panel in your case. you could just re-terminate the cable coming from the individual jacks and you can use a laptop to test connectivity. Do one and test it before you do the rest in case you use the wrong wiring scheme. The bottom line is that each jack that you will plug a device into should have it's own switch port. I don't know if you are using the terms hub/switch interchangeably, but you want a switch and not a hub. They are significantly higher performance. If the cabling is already there, I'd definitely recommend getting a 16 port switch and putting it in your basement and having direct cable runs to the switch instead of branching off from individual devices. It's just a cleaner setup and it'll make it easier for you if a port ever dies. Oh and if you run new cable, don't forget to mark both ends of the cable, so that you know where it goes if you have any problems.
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post #7 of 19
7/28/09 at 4:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
Post pics. I still don't understand how you can physically splice several cables into one. Normally when there is a lot of cable it is punched down on the back of a patch panel, and then you use short patch cables to go from the panel to the switch. You don't really need a patch panel in your case. you could just re-terminate the cable coming from the individual jacks and you can use a laptop to test connectivity. Do one and test it before you do the rest in case you use the wrong wiring scheme.

Its using scotch locks. Basically like how you would do a rj11 telephone set up, which is also what it might be, in which case I am screwed.
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post #8 of 19
7/28/09 at 5:10pm
You need 2 pairs (4 wires) per connection to support ethernet networking.


You're not completely screwed. You might be able to use those wires as guide cables to pull Cat 5e wire through the walls. Tape the cat 5 to the existing cable and pull on the other end.
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post #9 of 19
7/28/09 at 8:11pm
Thread Starter 
yeah - the other problem is that I will only have a week to make sure everything works, and if I need to order new cables it will take a while. I have to have everything all ready to go the following monday when they come to install everything or I wont be able to do any work.
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post #10 of 19
7/28/09 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgold47 View Post
yeah - the other problem is that I will only have a week to make sure everything works, and if I need to order new cables it will take a while. I have to have everything all ready to go the following monday when they come to install everything or I wont be able to do any work.
You can order a box of cat5e from monoprice.com for 50 bucks or you can go to a computer store and buy 1000ft. for a bit over 100 bucks. Btw, if you bought this place and do have to rewire, I'd go with Cat6. Get your house ready to support gigabit ethernet, even though you probably won't want to spend on a gigabit switch at this point. 100mbps sucks. cat5e does support gigabit, but over shorter distances iirc. There's no downside to just using cat6 from the start though, even if there's no performance benefit.
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post #11 of 19
7/29/09 at 9:18am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
You can order a box of cat5e from monoprice.com for 50 bucks or you can go to a computer store and buy 1000ft. for a bit over 100 bucks. Btw, if you bought this place and do have to rewire, I'd go with Cat6. Get your house ready to support gigabit ethernet, even though you probably won't want to spend on a gigabit switch at this point. 100mbps sucks. cat5e does support gigabit, but over shorter distances iirc. There's no downside to just using cat6 from the start though, even if there's no performance benefit.

Renting it - and I ususally buy from mono price. what wicked prices!
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post #12 of 19
7/30/09 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgold47 View Post
Its using scotch locks. Basically like how you would do a rj11 telephone set up, which is also what it might be, in which case I am screwed.
Now I really want to see pics.

Maybe someone scotch taped-up a poor man's hub? But most likely it sounds like this is not going to work out for you.

You could just plug in your desktop to one end and the laptop to the other end. Look for a green LED near the jack. If that goes on when you plug them both in you might be in luck.
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post #13 of 19
7/30/09 at 3:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jc138 View Post
Now I really want to see pics.

Maybe someone scotch taped-up a poor man's hub? But most likely it sounds like this is not going to work out for you.

You could just plug in your desktop to one end and the laptop to the other end. Look for a green LED near the jack. If that goes on when you plug them both in you might be in luck.

He'd need a crossover cable for that to work. He can plug the downstairs end into a switch and then test the jacks with a laptop, however.
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post #14 of 19
7/30/09 at 3:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jc138 View Post
Now I really want to see pics.

Maybe someone scotch taped-up a poor man's hub? But most likely it sounds like this is not going to work out for you.

You could just plug in your desktop to one end and the laptop to the other end. Look for a green LED near the jack. If that goes on when you plug them both in you might be in luck.

not scotch tape, scotch locks.

http://www.provisionsmod.com/c-107-scotch-locks.aspx


actually, what I am going to do is go buy a crimp kit and and some ends. If it turns out there are 4 pairs still on each cable I am going to put 45's on the ends, then connect one to my laptop, and have someone go to each jack with a crossover cable and the other laptop and see if it works. (I knew keeping that crossover cable from 10 years ago would be worth something). If its good, then I can just make ends for everything, hook it to a hub, and away I go. If not, and/or they were using cat5 for rj11, I might be able to change out the keystone jacks in the rooms, and salvage the cat5 in the wall (but then I am almost positive I saw data written on the jack). I assume if I have a full connection and the led's light up with an x-over cable, I should be good to go?
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post #15 of 19
7/30/09 at 4:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgold47 View Post
not scotch tape, scotch locks.

http://www.provisionsmod.com/c-107-scotch-locks.aspx


actually, what I am going to do is go buy a crimp kit and and some ends. If it turns out there are 4 pairs still on each cable I am going to put 45's on the ends, then connect one to my laptop, and have someone go to each jack with a crossover cable and the other laptop and see if it works. (I knew keeping that crossover cable from 10 years ago would be worth something). If its good, then I can just make ends for everything, hook it to a hub, and away I go. If not, and/or they were using cat5 for rj11, I might be able to change out the keystone jacks in the rooms, and salvage the cat5 in the wall (but then I am almost positive I saw data written on the jack). I assume if I have a full connection and the led's light up with an x-over cable, I should be good to go?

ya. fyi if you ever do gigabit you need all 4 pairs.
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