which home networking method should I use?

[Alysia]

I moved a computer downstairs and I am having a little dilemma in networking it to the one upstairs so I can get cable internet access on both. There are phone/cable/electrical outlets in both areas.

There is a firewall (the physical kind) in my attic so it is hard to run wires through the house.

I had a guy look at it and he said they could climb into the top story attic and throw the wires OVER the firewall then, go into the downstairs attic and grap them from there.

I am going to have them put CAT5 in. Should I have them put RG6 in for any reason?
The guy said something about that ? what is it? Is that the cable they use for DSL? If it is, maybe I will have them throw that in there too so I will be set for anything?

Now I will have to decide which method to go with ? hub, router, or software with hub (if i do this one, I will need a second NIC and as my PC is fickle about me adding anymore PCI cards, I will have to use a USB NIC - would that be ok)?.

http://www.cablesense.com/sharing/methods.html

If for some reason I still can?t do the attic thing, I have two options, Wireless or using the existing phoneline to network.
I am not sure how either of those work and which one is better.

So I guess my questions are:
1. Since all of the options are open to me, which one is best. My main reason for networking is to have internet access (I use cable- road runner) on all the computers not to play games or share files/printers between them.

2. If can't do the attic thing, what do you know about wireless and/or phoneline networking?

3. What is RG6 used for?

Thanks! Alysia

 

[Workin']

Here are my opinions, for what they are worth......

1. Your best option would be to run Cat5e (gigabit) cable, instead of plain Cat5. Shouldn't cost much more, and then you are a little more "future proof".

2. Phoneline networking works pretty well and is inexpensive, especially the newer "10 megabit" setups. Wireless can be quite expensive and not as fast unless you spend a LOT.

3. RG6 is usually used for video distribution and cable and satellite TV connections.

 

[Alysia]

Great, thanks!

 

[RGN]

I just installed the Lucent wireless product for a customer. It was a 3 story 100 year old house with plaster and brick walls. I was sure it wasn't going to work across all the levels, and it did. It was perfectly trouble free. No problems!! It was fast at 11Mbs and at 5.5 at the farthest point from the WAP it was ok.

It was a tad expensive though... It cost the guys ~$2000 for the install.

 

[Alysia]

just a "tad"! eek.
I need to compare network options speed.
Anyone know offhand or know a site that does a comparison?
Thanks!

 

[Eug]

CAT-5 would be great of course, but it would cost about US$120 with 30 minutes installation if you went with a phone line setup.

If you use a USB NIC with a home phoneline bridge, I betcha the cost would be around US$200, and the installation would be about 15 minutes. It took LITERALLY 5 minutes with my PCMCIA home phoneline NIC and bridge to network my laptop.

But I of course would still prefer CAT-5 if I had the option - much faster for big file transfers.