Picked up Netgear FS105. Now What?????

[FFactory0x]

Ok, just got back from staples with my new Maxtor HD, Netgear FA311 Nics,and Netgear Fs105 switch.
Now that i have everthing, i think its time that i get help setting up my network.

Basically, we have a cable modem in our household but it is downstairs. I just got back from college and want to hook my computer up to it. My computer is upstairs though. Now, how would i go about hooking up switch to my dowstairs computer, so i can use both modem, computer files, and play games with my brother downstairs. Since the window is diagnolly above my cable modem computer, i might run it out side and up the siding into my window. What cable should i do this with? I would need an all weather cable.

Any other info would help

 

[stash]

I do not recommend running CAT5 out a window. Not only will it look terrible, but it will not stand up to mother nature.

If you can afford it, you can set up a wireless network. Go back to staples, return the switch and nics. Instead, get a Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless router with built in switch. Also pick up a Linksys WUSB11 wireless usb adapter for your machine upstairs.

Plug the cat5 that currently goes from the cable modem to the computer downstairs into the WAN port on the wireless router. Run a short cat5 cable from a port on the wireless router to the downstairs computer. Plug the usb adapter into your machine upstairs, and you should be all set. I set up basically the same setup at my place (except I just got a plain wireless access point, since I already had a router), and it works great.

Really, the only other option is to somehow string the cables through the walls up to your room. Even then you will need return the switch and get a gateway/router (non-wireless). Unless you want to pay for a second IP, you will need a device that will perform NAT to hide your home network from the Internet.

Edit: One question...why did you buy NICs at all? The machine downstairs should have one already for the cable modem, and you say you just got back from college...did you live off campus and have to use dial up?

 

[JackMDS]

LOL.

>>> One question...why did you buy NICs at all? <<<

Because the Switch, and the two NIC is only $19.95 after rebate.

=================

FFactory0x, read the content of the following links:

Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.
anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=48">Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?</a>

 

[FFactory0x]

theres got to be some kind of all weather cables i could use that i could hide under the siding all the way to my room. Also, i am getting a second ip for $5.95

Do i even need the two nics since each computer has one or should i sell them?

 

[stash]

Because the Switch, and the two NIC is only $19.95 after rebate.

LOL...nice

 

[stash]

theres got to be some kind of all weather cables i could use that i could hide under the siding all the way to my room. Also, i am getting a second ip for $5.95

Even if you did manage to get a cable that will work outside, how are you going to get it into your room? Are you going to drill a hole in the wall, or are you just going to put it through the window sill and close the window on top of it?

I guess 5.95 isnt a bad price for an additional IP, but I would still get a router. You can have a ton of computers hooked up to the modem for free, plus they will be protected by a firewall.

Do i even need the two nics since each computer has one or should i sell them?

I would return the whole package: nics and switch

My .02

 

[FFactory0x]

How would this wire be for running the wire outside and up into my room? Is this a good price?
Home Depot Cat5 wire

 

[GigaCluster]

Network cable from Home Depot or Lowe's is unterminated -- it's a 1000-foot single strand of cable, without those jacks on both sides. This kind of deal is good for people who are building a new house and want to wire the whole house -- they can cut off the necessary lengths, terminate it, and use it.
I would not recommend buying it unless you need a lot of cable and unless you're willing to crimp it yourself.

 

[rw120555]

I don't know how it works when you have 2 ips, but is there any chance the cable company could be bribed into installing a 2nd jack and giving you another modem for a reasonable price? Anybody know if this would work?

Incidentally, that $5.95 a month will add up, so I'm not sure that you wouldn't have been better off with a router or wireless or homepna setup. If you've got the phone jacks in the right places and you can leave one of the PCs on all the time as an internet server, a 2 card HPNA setup could cost as little as $50. A wireless or HPNA setup using a router could probably be configured for $150-$250 and then you wouldn't have to mess with the cabling issues or need an always-on pc. If you are going to use ethernet cable, then, as Stash says, a router is better than a switch, and Circuit City has a deal this week where you can get a router for only $20 after rebates.

I think you or somebody else asked about this in a separate thread, and this outside cabling idea still isn't getting much support. If you're determined to do it, then good luck, but I think you are taking a chance and overlooking some better alternatives that wouldn't cost that much more, in fact some options would even be cheaper.

 

[FFactory0x]

I would really like a wireless setup but they are exspensive. What exactly would i need for a wireless, or other easy setup. I dont want to spend over $100 right now.
Hot Deal What is this?


Also, if you can list a deal that wouldnt be to expensive, im all ears

 

[rw120555]

Cheapest setup I can think of is to go to Netgear and buy 2 of their PA301 HPNA PCI cards for $20 apiece + maybe $10 shipping. Put one in both machines and configure your machines as client and server. The machine hooked up to the cable modem will have to be always on and you will need phone jacks that are both on the same line (although you could try your outside cabling bit using phonewire to connect the machines). If it doesn't work, you can return the stuff, though I suppose you'll be out shipping.

Or, an even better option is to go to Staples (either online or in store) and get a price match for the Netgear (even if they won't price match for some reason, they have the same card for only $30). Then if it doesn't work, you can return it to the store and hopefully not be out shipping.

You can also check out Ebay for deals, but I swear some of these people are crazy when they bid. I've seen a lot of used items go for almost as much, and sometimes even more, for what they can be bought new.

 

[rw120555]

Incidentally, I think wireless is great when you have a laptop and want to roam around, but otherwise I'm not sure what its advantage is relative to HPNA (provided you are somewhere where either will work, e.g. you've got the phone jacks in the right places). You can get a super-cheap HPNA setup for $40-$50. If you splurge a little, for either wireless or hpna, you can buy a router for around $150, and hpna cards are now cheaper than wireless cards. Perhaps somebody else with more experience can comment on the merits of the 2. I have both wireless and hpna in my home network, but if I had to choose one or the other I would go with hpna because it seems more reliable.

 

[Caveman2001]

FFactory 0x said:

What cable should i do this with?

I don't know what the big deal is, but at Home Depot you can buy cat 5e indoor/outdoor cable (sku on my receipt: 079407361199) for $16.95 @100'.

drill 2 holes in your house with a 1/2" bit use some coaxial cable staples (sku on my receipt: 032076047030), then paint the cable and staples to match the color of your house paint and run that cable right up to your room.

The cat 5e can handle direct sunlight on short runs. Your application consitutes a short run.

I'm about to install some extra phone jacks in my house so that's why I know the cable works for outdoor apps.

Oh, you'll need to buy a crimper and some RJ-45 plugs to complete the cable.

 

[FFactory0x]

Thanx. I was about to go over and pick up a spool of the .13$/ft. stuff. I would need connectors to crimp on the ends as well.

PS : The run is about 50-75ft ans i was going to run it under the gutter up into my room.

 

[rw120555]

Sounds like a lot of trouble to save maybe a few bucks (if that). But, what the heck, it might be a fun project and could work out ok. I'd still recommend a router over the switch. It'll save you the 2nd ip charges, probably be easier to configure, and offer other advantages like NAT.

 

[FFactory0x]

I know it seems hard, but the cat5 wire at Homedepot says for use with both indoor and outdoor applications. I just got in from out side and say that i could stuff the wire under the siding and run it into the whole that my cable goes in. It didnt seem to hard.

The real problem that i come accross is that i dont want to spend a lot of money.
The 2 options i have are
1) I could take back the 3 items(2 nics) and (switch) and wait for a wireless deal

2) Hook it up and sell the 2 nics since i already have 2 installed (i hope the 2 are compatible). This doesnt seem bad cause i would sell the nics for $30 shipped and after the rebate, end up making $10 which will almost take care of the wire expense. Also have rebate on Maxtor drive.

One more thing. Is it possible to go back to staples with my original reciept, and have them pm the prices and get moeny back? Ill keep the rebate reciepts and send them in untouched.
The only thing i not sure of, is if they will pm me since i used a coupon yesterday and also if the rebates will still work since im only getting the original reciept altered

 

[rw120555]

What would Staples be price-matching? Did you find a better price somewhere else? Their web page has their price match policy. Their page explicitly states "Available coupons and rebates will be deducted from the Staples price to come up with a net Staples price when calculating the price match." So, I guess you can hope they get confused, but if they do give you money back it is probably because of a breakdown in their system.

I would think your existing NICS would be fine. If in doubt, don't sell the new ones until all is working well.

If your budget is $20 + Cabling costs, then check out this router + NIC deal from Circuit City. If you're really sure you can sell these NICs, then you could have the Staples Switch and the Circuit City Router for basically free. Better hope you can find somebody who isn't checking deals very carefully though.