Gigabit switches and cables

[jam3]

Looking to enter the world of gigabit home networks! Is this a reality yet? Does someone have a link to some affordable devices? Just wondering since I am getting new machines with CSA and gigabit on-board cards. In a 5 minute search I am not having much luck finding such appliances. Also what cabling do you need, I am assuming CAT 6 but also wondering if my old CAT 5 would do the job.

Thanks

 

[Fencer128]

Originally posted by: jam3
Looking to enter the world of gigabit home networks! Is this a reality yet? Does someone have a link to some affordable devices? Just wondering since I am getting new machines with CSA and gigabit on-board cards. In a 5 minute search I am not having much luck finding such appliances. Also what cabling do you need, I am assuming CAT 6 but also wondering if my old CAT 5 would do the job.

Thanks

Hi,

Gigabit switches (brand name) are still quite expensive. I think a netgear 4 port unmanaged switch will set you back ~$450. As cabling goes. CAT 5/5e/6 are all specced to handle gigabit. If you're buying new then buy 5e. 5 will probably do if you already have it. 6 is overkill and if you do any of the crimping yourself (or bend the cable too much either) then you basically screw the spec anyway.

As far as you're concerned, the differences are just in the bit error rates expected for gigabit operation (in reality the bandwidth also increases from 5e to 6, which allows for future ethernet standards to be adopted).

Still quite expensive then.

Cheers,

Andy