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Cat5

Discussion in 'Community Broadband & Computers' started by designerRob, Apr 23, 2008.

  1. designerRob

    designerRob New Member

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    The townhome I just purchased has cat5 run through the house by the previous owner. Can someone please tell me what this is used for? And is it necessary if I use a wireless router for my 2 laptops?

    By the way, we don't use a home phone line. I don't know if cat5 is used for that.
     
  2. jjenkins

    jjenkins New Member

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    depends on what type of townhouse you have. In southern walk area they were pre-wired with the fiber coming in from the street which gives you the network connection for your wireless router. If your not using openband then I wouldn't know the need for it.
     
  3. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    It's good to have wired infrastructure... =) wired is much more secure/faster than wireless. but since you have 2 laptops, the only real reason to use your cat5 is to place your router(s) in a different location if necessary.
     
  4. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    wow, if you want to head down the path (and a long one at that) for what cat5 can be used for.... but for example, it can be used for audio and video distribution, it can be used for home automation. Given the fact that you are in a townhome, I am guessing there are 3 floors. Your wireless signal may get a little weak between floors but maybe locate the router on the second floor. I had good luck in my townhouse years ago with 802.11b

    And if you go the route of wanting to hook up home theatre equipment to the internet, you need cat5 for that.

    And Rob, what do you design?
     
  5. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    I think I know your house :) We're down the street (as well as two of the other tech committee members). Wired network will give you faster connections and more reliable connections - but you can certainly use wireless if you want. The channel space is already pretty crowded on our street. You should be able to see 15+ APs without much trouble.

    When these houses were built, wireless wasn't as commodity as it is now and many homeowners ran extra data wiring through the house when they were built. Your previous owner was a network engineer, so he was interesting in keeping that in his house (and why you have a huge telco cabinet on the back of your house).

    You can actually use the wiring for telephones if you want, they are compatible, but unlike standard telephone cabling, its not daisy-chained together. Each cable run will come back to a single point. Your best off to leave the wiring for data runs to things where wireless may not be convenient, like a Tivo box, xbox360, etc etc. I prefer using the wired jacks in my house, and only using wireless when mobile.

    Will trade networking advice for packing boxes! ;)

    Welcome to the neighborhood
     
  6. designerRob

    designerRob New Member

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    I'm an aerospace designer, formerly an automotive designer from MI.
     
  7. designerRob

    designerRob New Member

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    Thanks for the info. I will definitely trade networking advice for boxes. Feel free to stop by and say hi.
     
  8. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    kinda scary that flynnibus knows all that... do you also know what color socks he wore today to work? ;)
     
  9. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Black socks with pants, white socks when wearing shorts. ;)
     
  10. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    My previous neighbor or you??? :devil2:

    The OG owners on my block were all close.. we rock :)
     
  11. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Yep, we're a tight bunch of folks on our street/square. Most folks know each other on a first name basis, we hang out together, our kids play together, we look out for each other, etc.

    So when you ask what kind of socks one of us wears on a particular day, chances are someone knows ;)

    DesignerRob, welcome to the neighborhood. I'm pretty easy to spot, just look for my license plates :happygrin:
     
  12. pamD

    pamD New Member

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    Oh, so that IS you on the toll road! Guess I should be more careful....
     
  13. designerRob

    designerRob New Member

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    Thanks for the welcome Eric.
     

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