wiring ethernet to my home

[Rwalker]

the thing is, we dont have a phone jack in my upper living room. it is located in the kitchen, so since i have DSL, i have this phone cord running across my floor for now just to have internet. i guess i could go get a wireless router, a wireless card, and the stuff i need and just have the router and modem in the kitchen, but i just hate the huge expense. also, i dont have a huge bit of bandwidth, i have a 1.5 meg connection, and as i understand, i will go down to a 1 meg connection going wireless.

[bockhold]

Wired is a lot faster than wireless. Go wired if you are file sharing or gaming. Wireless will work fine just for internet.

If you want wireless, I recommend the Linksys brand. G speed will be fine unless you want range and speed, go with N speed.

If you are worried about the bandwidth, go with N.

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Last edited by bockhold : 09-05-2008 at 06:29 PM.

[Evil Eye]

Wireless (802.11n) is good for up to 108 Mb/sec, while 802.11g is good for up to 54Mb/sec. You won't lose anything going wireless. It is a small expenditure, considering the time and hassle factor of fishing Cat 5 cables through an existing wall, through the header, into the attic, down the other wall... It's something of a PITA if you have never done it before. We could coach you through it, but wireless would be a much better option in my opinion.

[bockhold]

Put a wireless router at the phone jack and buy the card adapter for the computer.

Router will prob cost around $90 and a card for it might be around $60-70.

[Evil Eye]

Originally Posted by bockhold

Wired is a lot faster than wireless. Go wired if you are file sharing or gaming. Wireless will work fine just for internet.

In this case, the Internet circuit will ALWAYS be the bottle neck. I won't bore you with the details of the significance of routing and switching.

[anaconda33]

I would recommend getting a Linksys WRT54-GS wireless router (802.11g w/ speedboost). For the computer you need a USB Wireless "dongle" (Linksys and D-Link both make good USB Wireless dongles) if you have a desktop computer or a PCMCIA Wireless card or a USB Wireless dongle if you have a laptop. Most laptops don't have an abundance of USB ports so that's why I suggest a PCMCIA card. If you have a newer laptop (past few years) it should have wireless built in.

For the Xbox, Walmart sells a cheap USB Wireless dongle ($20 I think).

Here's a fast price breakdown.

Wireless:
Router - $50
USB Dongle $50 (max)
Xbox Dongle $50 (max)
Total cost = $150 (max)

Wired:

3 wall jacks = $30 ($10 each) conservative
500' Cat5e cable = $50
Network Switch (5 port) = $20
Punchdown tool = $10
Drill & Fishtape = Cost unknown/variable
Time spent fishing wires through walls = pain in the A$$

As you can see, wireless may be more expensive (I doubt it though if you looked for good deals), but you are free to move furniture around without having to string cables. If you hardwire network cable in and then decide to move your TV and Xbox, then you'll have to string new cable or move the jack.

The main concern with wireless is security, but like I said, there are simple tutorials out there that will guide you through setting up security. In fact the Linksys WRT54-GS is really simple to setup the security.

[bockhold]

Originally Posted by Evil Eye

Wireless (802.11n) is good for up to 108 Mb/sec, while 802.11g is good for up to 54Mb/sec. You won't lose anything going wireless. It is a small expenditure, considering the time and hassle factor of fishing Cat 5 cables through an existing wall, through the header, into the attic, down the other wall... It's something of a PITA if you have never done it before. We could coach you through it, but wireless would be a much better option in my opinion.

True for the speeds. However the throughput is not what the box says it does.

Like my g speed router, its rated for a 54mps connection. I havent been able to get any thing faster than 3 to 5 mbs wirelss through it. Havent tested the n speed yet.

[Rwalker]

hmmmm, guess ill have to look around for some wireless stuff to set it up with.

[Rwalker]

So, could i use my wired modem, with a wierless router?? it would be connected to the phone part in the kitchen, then get the wireless card and adapters i need for my computer and xboxes?? or do i still ned a wireless modem?

[Harohunter]

I use wireless and a netgear wireless to ethernet converter. I am not sure but i don't think Xbox will accept just any USB receiver.

Im on wireless and play live all the time.
GT: DUI Powerstroke