Solved Router cable

[denwilliam]

At the moment my router is in one room and my computer is in another room about 30 feet away so in an attempt to improve signal reception I am considering running a cable from Virgins inlet box up through the attic and then down into the room where the computer is and install the router alongside the computer.My question is what signal loss would result from adding about 50/60 feet of cable from Virgins inlet box to my router and is it a special type of cable or is it just uhf as for television signals.Would also need two of the screwed end connecters and could I obtain them at any electronics store?.

 

[marsmimar]

This is just a guess on my part because I'm not familiar with how routers are cabled in the UK and more specifically, with Virgin's equipment. But if it's anything like here in the Colonies, if your ethernet is a 10/100/1000 Mbps connection you should have a theoretical max cable length of 100 meters (about 328 feet.)

ethernet maximum cable length explained at HomeNetHelp.com

This also seems to be confirmed on a BT forum thread by Nige32.

You could use up to 100 meters off a CAT5e cable before you run into performance issues. (I would get a professional to wire the connectors for me though)

Master Socket -> Modem -> Hub/Router cabling - BTCare Community Forums

Cables can pick up electrical noise on long runs. Some cables are poorly made. The longer the cable, the more important it is for the cable to be properly shielded, and to be a good quality cable. You may want to check with your provider just to make sure the above info applies to Virgin.

 

[denwilliam]

Just had a chat with one of Virgins reps.and he suggested a better way would be to use powerline ethernet adapters.Are these any good?.

 

[marsmimar]

Yes, provided you go with a reputable company or one specifically recommended by Virgin (for compatibility purposes.) Also need to be aware of transfer speeds. If you've got a 100Mbps connection, for example, you don't want an adapter that maxes out at 54Mbps. This is what one typically looks like.

NETGEAR - Powerline Ethernet Adapter Kit - XAVB5101-100PAS

 

[Layback Bear]

denwilliam that is a great question. I can understand that a quality of cable in the house would matter but the length makes no sense to me. They run cable (wires) for miles to get it to your house why would a few feet more matter?

 

[marsmimar]

denwilliam that is a great question. I can understand that a quality of cable in the house would matter but the length makes no sense to me. They run cable (wires) for miles to get it to your house why would a few feet more matter?

Primarily has to do with the lack of shielding on typical Cat 5, 5e and 6 wiring. Unshielded wiring is much more susceptible to noise and other interference which degrades the quality of the signal.

Officially, according to the ANSI/TIA/EIA standard for category 5e copper cable (TIA/EIA 568-5-A[1]), the maximum length for a cable segment is 100 meters (328 feet). If longer runs are required, the use of active hardware such as a repeater, or a switch, is necessary.[2][3] The specifications for 10BASE-T networking specify a 100 metre length between active devices.[4]

[1] http://www.gocsc.com/UserFiles/File/Panduit/Panduit098765.pdf

[2] http://www.extron.com/download/files/whitepaper/cat5-white.pdf

[3] CAT5e Cable Wiring Schemes

[4] IEEE Std 802.3-2008, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2008, Table 13-1 ( IEEE 802.3 ETHERNET )

 

[denwilliam]

Yes, provided you go with a reputable company or one specifically recommended by Virgin (for compatibility purposes.) Also need to be aware of transfer speeds. If you've got a 100Mbps connection, for example, you don't want an adapter that maxes out at 54Mbps. This is what one typically looks like.

NETGEAR - Powerline Ethernet Adapter Kit - XAVB5101-100PAS

Thank you for your help,the one I am interested in is a Netgear and is capable of handling my download requirements.Also thanks to all others who have subscribed information to help drag me up from my ignorance.

 

[Layback Bear]

Thanks marsmimar that is a lot of great information. One would have to have a large dwelling to need extra shielded cables. The cable in my home is Proconnect High Performance High Speed Networking cable E198 134-S 24 AWG 4F 75C UTP Verified Cat 5E 350MHz to Tiazeia 568-B 821305 FEET 03424 No4.
It's about 70 foot run with just the DSL Modem. Now I'm the ignorant one. I got this and have no idea what it means.
Denwilliam thank again for your question. It brought out a lot of good information.

 

[oxymoron02]

I would personally recommend Devolo for Powerline adapters; I sell them where I work (alongside Netgear and TP Link) and the Netgear rep himself said that NG Homeplugs don't support jumping ring mains very well.
Devolo, on the other hand, do.

This only matters if you're going from one floor to another, though.

 

[denwilliam]

Thanks for that information,though mine will be on the same ground floor ring.

 

[denwilliam]

Thought I would let you all know that instead of scrabbling about drilling holes in walls and clambering about in the loft,and irritating the better half,I took the plunge and bought a devolo dLAN 200 AV Wireless N kit.As I am a bit dim it took me about half an hour to set it up and running and the increase in signal strength is amazing.Well worth the money for saving all the hassle of installing long lengths of cable and the great increase in signal improvement.

 

[marsmimar]

Thought I would let you all know that instead of scrabbling about drilling holes in walls and clambering about in the loft,and irritating the better half,I took the plunge and bought a devolo dLAN 200 AV Wireless N kit.As I am a bit dim it took me about half an hour to set it up and running and the increase in signal strength is amazing.Well worth the money for saving all the hassle of installing long lengths of cable and the great increase in signal improvement.

I'm a bit disappointed . . . thought for sure you'd enjoy the scrabbling and clambering, not to mention the assortment of cuts, bruises, and other self-inflicted wounds you would have sustained. :roflmao:

Glad you found a solution. Thanks for posting back!

 

[oxymoron02]

I can only say I approve of the Devolo decision. Admit it, it was the smoking hot lady on the front of the box wasn't it!

 

[denwilliam]

Even an 87 octogenarian like myself couldn't fail to be moved by a hot momma like that.Shows there is still some life feft in the old dog yet!!!.As a matter of interest does it make any difference as to the longevity of the adapters if left switched on permanently,as with the routers,or switched off when not using the computer?.

 

[oxymoron02]

I've heard no negative feedback with regards to leaving them switched on all the time

 

[Layback Bear]

You still have missed introducing yourself to all the little crawly things in the attic.

 

[denwilliam]

I am not greedy, that is a pleasure I willingly give to others.

 

[denwilliam]

oxymoronO2,you say that you work where they sell devolo dLAN 200 AV Wireless N so maybe you can tell me how to make sense of their internet help line.When I log into their "Search For,then enter Product,then Search Term",I always receive the reply"Your search did not result in any hits,check your spelling and try again".How in hells name do you get past that barrier.I e-mailed them days ago but still waiting for a reply.

 

[oxymoron02]

The Devolo online technical help is triggered by certain key words for each specific model, so it is entirely possible you're searching for a term which is not linked to the 200 AV Wireless.

If you select dLAN 200 AV Wireless N and press 'Find Help' without typing in any search terms, you get a list of just a handful of questions to do with that product, which also seem to apply to most of the Devolo range. It is actually a very generic set of FAQs.

What're you trying to find out on there?

 

[denwilliam]

From what I have seen on their online setup it would appear that unless your question fits into certain parameters that meet their rigid set of answers then you could be going around in circles for evermore.When I downloaded their manual it mentioned a "Troubleshooting Guide"and as there was no trace of that in the manual I have looked to find it on their internet line but with no success.