Questions tagged [wiring]
87 questions
60
votes
8 answers
What is the difference between various cable types like Cat 5, Cat 5e and Cat 6?
I'm just about to move house, so I'm going to have to disconnect and re-wire my network. Pretty much all the devices I have support Gigabit Ethernet. Should I go out and buy some decent network cables (and if so what type) or should I continue using…
David Hayes
- 1,495
23
votes
14 answers
Running CAT 5 cable outdoors
I'm trying to extend my network to an unconnected garage that's about 20 yards away from my house. What's the best way to do this?
Is there special outdoor-rated CAT5e/CAT6 I should use?
If put it in a dug trench, do I need to put it in…
yoyoyoyosef
- 333
15
votes
6 answers
Convert home phone wiring to Ethernet
Can I convert phone wiring in walls to act as only Ethernet network because the phone wiring is not in use and not connected to the phone company so there is no voltage in the wires
I remove the wall plate and I find 6 wires…
aaa
14
votes
10 answers
"Modern" Ethernet over coax
So, I've just bought a house. It's reasonably new - built in the early '00s. One of the features that got built in was a cable TV drop in every room. The cabling is gorgeous - there's even a wiring cabinet of sorts in a closet where the cables…
Electrons_Ahoy
- 2,611
13
votes
5 answers
How do I pre-wire my home right?
This seems like a good place to ask this. I'm sure many of you have done this in the past.
I am getting a home built and will soon be making decisions on all the pre-wiring.
I know I want to run CAT5 for the phone lines and CAT6 for Ethernet…
Jab
- 241
13
votes
3 answers
Home CAT6 wiring: CMR vs CMP?
I'm planning on wiring my house with CAT6 cable. I'm finding a large jump in price between CMR and CMP cabling, and I'm confused by what counts as a 'plenum' and what does not.
As I'm wiring my house, I'm planning on going through interior (hollow)…
Eddie Parker
- 3,054
7
votes
2 answers
Cat 5e cable is dead?
I just moved into a house with extensive structured wiring cat 5e and RG6 in each room. The Leviton structured media cabinet only had telephone punchdown bridges, so I got a bunch of Leviton Cat5e data/phone boards and started to identify, label and…
Omar Shahine
- 2,597
7
votes
2 answers
Is it possible to interchange these two sockets since the cables in the wall look the same?
My Ethernet socket isn't working and I'm convinced it has to do with either the socket itself or the cable behind the wall. This picture of my wall sockets (the left the Ethernet socket, the right a phone socket) shows that both seem to be wired to…
J. Schmidt
- 240
6
votes
5 answers
What is the right gauge wire for the incoming DSL phone line to my router?
Last year I built my house and I have lots of conduit and wiring throughout. Everything works great except for one nagging issue.
My DSL router's connection seems to degrade over time. It gets to the point (after several months) where it can't even…
Bryant
- 495
6
votes
2 answers
How do you test for noise on a CAT5 cable run?
I've been having some issues with my DSL line and when AT&T did a line test they found a lot of noise.
The technician came out and tested the line up to the house and said it was clean. This means that the wire in my house is probably bad or has…
Bryant
- 495
6
votes
9 answers
Can CAT5 stand outside weather?
I have a very good network ethernet in my basement, so I was thinking of extending a CAT5 cable from the DSL router to the second floor where my office is. I can only pass that cable from the outside of the house, but I'm a little concerned about…
Stella Peristeraki
6
votes
8 answers
Home Networking Questions
I'm looking to wire my home with CAT-X (where X is probably going to be CAT-6, unless someone can convince me differently. ;) ).
I'm seeking advice on what equipment I'll need for the job, and any things I should watch out for.
It's a two story…
Eddie Parker
- 3,054
6
votes
2 answers
Gaming headset 3.5mm TRS mic plug pinout
It seems many PC gaming wired analog headsets have two separate 3.5mm "TRS" (3-conductor Tip, Ring, Sleeve) phono plugs:
One for stereo audio output from the PC to the headphones.
One for microphone audio input from the mic to the PC.
What is the…
Spiff
- 110,156
5
votes
3 answers
Can I switch my modem over to any other coaxial entry point in the house?
Can I switch my modem over to any other coaxial entry point in the house? Or does each jack have to be set up by an engineer sent over by my ISP.
I'm a bit afraid to just try it, in case connecting to an "unknown" coaxial jack could alter or reset…
Andrew Cheong
- 1,818
4
votes
3 answers
Best way to patch (8) RJ45 ports from one room to another
I have a 48 port patch panel in my basement, which I've wired almost all of them to various rooms around the house. Many are not actually being used at the moment, but pretty much all of them are wired to somewhere.
As of recent, I've put in an…
zimmer62
- 1,731