There was a really good thread a while back about wiring your home for a computer network. Alas...Casa bnb is undergoing a fairly major reno and I figured I would wire two to three computer stations...but I don't know where to begin. I don't much care for wireless networks. Would like to be able to share an internet connection, and have access to the hard drives on 3 machines. Where should I start? (Or if one of the chosen ones -- those with search access -- could reference the original thread, I would be very grateful).
BNB, You can do it fairly easily and cheaply. Basically, start with a wireless hub and router your broadband into it (i.e. DSL or Cable). I have a Linksys 4 port wireless hub. About $75 at Fry's (they have some of the best prices in town and you can find everything you need there). Then, just buy some wireless network adapters for your computers and laptops (PCI style). All thats left after that is configuring your WEP (be sure to do this) and all the other little stuff. All in all, you can get what you need for $300, if not cheaper. R2K is sure to chime in with better, and more technical advice than I just gave you though. Listen to what he says. How many computers do you have and what type of broadband connection????
Thanks Codell. I tend to stay away from wireless as my neighbourhood is pretty high density so I'm worried about static. We'll have cable connection to the internet, and would like 4 computers max. Our walls are all open right now, and I thought it might be an opportunity to wire before we re-drywall.
Wiring wouldn't be very hard at all. What you need: a spool/box of Cat5 cable some punchdown jacks (RJ45) some RJ45 connectors some faceplates one of those dsl routers and another switch or hub depending on how many cables you want to run (or not . . . ) a punchdown tool for the terminals a crimper for the RJ45 connectors a plan The fist thing you need to do is figure out to where you want to run the cable -- first figure out where your central location is going to be -- where all the wire will end up (by your DSL connection). Then figure out where you want to run the cables TO. Run the cables. There's lots of places on the net that can detail this whole process better than I can here: http://www.homenethelp.com/ http://www.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm http://www.practicallynetworked.com/ http://www.tomshardware.com/network/20030630/index.html -- good walkthrough, but they didn't run their own cable. After you've done the cabling, you'll need to put ends on the cable (I'd put an RJ45 connector on the end by the DSL Router, and punch the other side into a wall-jack, then put it into a faceplate). Then connect and go. Now, sharing files, etc. is pretty easy too, but it may take a few minutes. Those links above have some great info. One bit of advice is to run two cables everywhere -- Cat5 is so cheap, and you've got the opportunity, you should run two cables in case one is bad immediately, or one goes bad. You can easily crimp the other one and go from there. Otherwise, it'll sit there as a spare, doing nothing . . . That's just my opinion . . . <i>edit</i>: forgot to note -- you can get a lot of this stuff at Fry's or Home Depot or something like that. I don't like the quality of Home Depot's cable though . . . just my personal opinion . . .
I wish I could, but I couldnt say any more than Vengeance said already. Really BNB, follow the links that he provided, and if you have any questions...post em here or mail me thru the board. Ill be glad to help.
Thanks all. The links look good. Just what I was looking for. There's really no substitute for a Houston Basketball website when looking to wire a computer network.
One of the tools you are going to have to get is a crimping tool to put the RJ45 connecters on the Cat 5 (like Vengeance said). Don't be suprised at the price of them. They are expensive. I picked up mine at Altex for about $45. You can get pretty much everything you need for this project at Fry's or go to www.altex.com . They have a store off of 290.
You don't need to spend a lot on a crimper . . . EPO -- 15 or 19 bucks. Or <a href="http://www.directron.com/clamp.html">here at Directron</a> -- $9.99 Don't buy one of those expensive ones when you don't have to . . . They're usually made by "Ideal" if you buy them at a big-retail chain. Those ARE expensive. I don't like them much at all, however. I find those "Ideal" ones more difficult to use than the cheapies.
