which cable to i need?

[FrontlineWarrior]

I have a laptop with a pcmcia LAN thingy and I want to connect it to the school network and sometimes between computers. I have a pretty thick ethernet cable (like cable TV wire thick), but I don't think that would work because it said I needed an RJ45 which is thinner. I know I need a crossover for comp to comp, but will it work also for just plugging it into the network? I'm pretty confused about this stuff, can anyone straighten it up for me?

 

[Damaged]

RJ-45 describes the type of jack needed. Given that, you need ethernet cable, or CAT-5 with RJ-45 ends. Straight through for hooking into regular networks (i.e. your school's) cross over for going to NIC to NIC (i.e. comp to comp).

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

Ahhh ok so RJ-45 just means it has those jacks that are bigger than the phone jacks. My manual said I needed a Cat5 so I guess that answer that. Thanks. BTW, what's the difference between the ethernet cable and the cat5? Cuz I used the ethernet cable for the school network on my desktop but that cable didn't work with my DSL modem which required the thinner one (I'm assuming it was the cat5). One more question: by straight through you mean Patch cables right?

 

[Damaged]

No difference really. The differences are not important enough in this case for me to take the time here to explain the subtle technical differences involved. I should've chosen my wording of that sentence a little better is all.

Probably CAT-3 for the DSL. Actually CAT-5 should work as well. Probably a cross over for your DSL though. Just hold the connector ends tab side down and see if the wires go in the same order on both connectors. What does the cable look like? Is it coax? CAT-5 is fairly thick, but certainly not quite that thick, and it looks much different.

Patch cable is a pretty loosely used term, but I think, from how you're using it, yes.