Need help setting up a *wired* network for a new home - equipment suggestions, etc.

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
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My mom and dad are moving into a new house soon, and I'm going to help them set up internet access. The house was a display/demo, and the basement was used as office space, so the entire house is wired with CAT5 :thumbsup:

That said, the wires and wall jacks are the only thing left. We need to have cable or DSL run in for internet access, and they'll need something (router only, or a router and a switch) to recieve and direct that traffic. I haven't taken an exact count, but I figure there are at least a dozen outlets throughout the house, and probably that many wire-ends at the spot where they all come together in the basement, too. Suggestions?

Nathan
 

CalvinHobbes

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2004
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Router and switch unless you want to find a 12 or 16 port router which isn't too common for home use.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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1) But gigabit switch, 16 port.
2) Attach all cables to this.

From there you can do anything you want. Your "router" will serve as a demarcation point, the difference between your internet service and your LAN.

I----router----LAN

Given your cabling you can add access points if you wish for wireless.
 

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
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Thanks for the help so far, guys. Any recomendations on specific brands or models? Any specific features I should be looking for? (besides what's already been listed, of course).

Nathan
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
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Just use the Switch after the DSL or Cable Modem / Router combo which
most ISP's provide when you get their service. You may need to electrically
verify that all the jacks you think are for Internet are actually wired and
coming down to the basement for the router / switch hookup .. And if you
do want Wireless, then you would need to install a Wireless Access Point
at a central spot in the home for best coverage.
As to brands, most major makes are good for a medium or large size switch.
Almost any other brand is ok for smaller 4-6 port models.
Remember, you lose 1 output from the Router & 1 at the Switch Input

So if you start with a 4 Port Router and connect to a 6 Port Switch, you end up with 8 Ports

Check here: 24 port DLink Switch for $49.99 (after $20 mail in rebate)
This is a 10/100MBS Switch .. not Gigabit speed

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...tId=16&name=Networking

If you want Gigabit speed capable switch a 24 port model would be about $340 or more depending on features and make

http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...tId=16&name=Networking
 

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
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After looking around some, , I've noticed that (at least for gigabit models), 8-port switches are considerably cheaper than their 16-port counterparts. If I need more ports than what the router and an 8-port switch would give me, I should be able to either run a 2nd switch from the router or "piggyback" one switch from the other, correct? Or would this cause problems?

Nathan
 

robmurphy

Senior member
Feb 16, 2007
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I would check yoyr cabling first. Cat5 is only good for 100 Meg ethernet. You need Cat5E or above for gigabit.

If you have 2 machines with gigabit NICs you could use those to check if the cabling will take gigabit. Just connect the 2 machines together via the cabling you want to test, set the IP addresses staticaly, and then check what speed the 2 machines have connected at. You do not need a crossover cable for gigabit. Make sure the patch leads you use are Cat5E or better.

If the machines will not connect at gigabit then just get a 100 Meg switch.

Rob.