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Re: Just Got a Cable Modem

To: Rush <jdrush@enter.net>, Shop Talk <shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Just Got a Cable Modem
From: Doug Braun <doug@dougbraun.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:14:39 -0700 (PDT)
--- Rush <jdrush@enter.net> wrote:

> 
> I need to connect computers in two different rooms
> to the cable modem 
> and I have lots of questions. I already have an
> ethernet in each room 
> connecting all the computers in it. I figure I can
> use wireless, 
> powerline or wired ethernet to link them up.
> 
> 1. I can't find a simple wireless link. I just want
> a wireless link 
> between the two nets. Everything I've found is
> designed so that each 
> computer in the other room needs to have it's own
> wireless card. That's 
> expensive and unnecessary in my setup. Does anyone
> make a simple, 
> inexpensive wireless link that will connect two
> ethernets a short 
> distance apart? It would be even better if one end
> was a router to 
> distribute the cable modem signal since I also need
> to buy a router.

These are made, they are usually called a "wireless
bridge".  For example, go look up "Linksys WET54G".

The only problem is that these are sort of specialty
items and cost more than a common router or wireless
adapter.  You might find it cheaper to get several
ordinary wireless adapters on sale, for all the
computers.

> 
> 2. Powerline. Both rooms share a common wiring, so
> I'm looking at a the 
> powerline ethernet option. Anyone want to share
> their findings on using 
> the powerlines as ethernet? There isn't a whole lot
> of practical advice 
> on the net that I can find.

Yuk.

> 
> 3. Phone. Both rooms are also wired for phone with
> 6-pair wiring. How do 
> I tell if it is the right kind of phone wire to
> support ethernet?

If you have two twisted-pairs running between the two
rooms, you could probably extend the ethernet.
Standard CAT5 ethernet cable has 4 pairs, but only
two of them do anything.  I have worked on a couple
of setups where two pairs had ethernet and the other
two pairs had phone lines.  If you haven't already, 
you should invest in a crimping tool for those
RJ-whatever 8-pin plugs.

> 
> Sorry for all the newb questions. My knowledge of
> ethernet ends with 
> shielded cabling.

It's generally not shielded any more.

Doug




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