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Thread ID: 46520 2004-06-26 20:48:00 What cable to buy for connecting my notebook... Mcpisik (4924) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
247830 2004-06-26 20:48:00 Hi,
Can someone tell me the name of the cable I need to buy to do the following?....
I have my home pc connected to a dynalink rta300.
I would like to connect my toshiba notebook to the back of the router as well. (I have it working if I want to use only one at a time)
Just don't know what cable to order ( I want about 5metres)
I think it might be a rj45 that I need but am unsure. And I don't know what the catergory 5, 6 etc is.
Both pcs run xp. and have 10/100 lan if that means something...
Many thanks!
Kris
Mcpisik (4924)
247831 2004-06-26 21:44:00 my Cat.6 cable was used to connect my XP and Linux computers, so you'll need a Cat 5 cable to cojnnect to a switch Megaman (344)
247832 2004-06-26 21:52:00 It's called cat5 cable, with two rj45 ends. Be sure to get a straight through cable, not a crossover.
It's easiest to go to DSE or similar and buy the pre made length, instead of making your own.
I think it works out to about $1 to $1.50 per meter.
Cat 6 cable will also work, but you wont notice any difference unless you have a giganet connection
Curious George (3535)
247833 2004-06-26 21:57:00 > Cat 6 cable will also work, but you wont notice any
> difference unless you have a giganet connection

I thought it only worked for direct computer-computer connections, not for computer-switch-computer ones?
Megaman (344)
247834 2004-06-26 22:58:00 The only real difference between Cat 5 and Cat 6 is the ability to carry significantly higher speed data on Cat 6. They are otherwise fully interchangeable.

Cat 5E (E = enhanced) is slightly better than Cat 5.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
247835 2004-06-27 01:52:00 Great. Many thanks for your input guys!
Cheers for helping :-)
Mcpisik (4924)
247836 2004-06-27 03:32:00 > It's called cat5 cable, with two rj45 ends. Be sure
> to get a straight through cable, not a crossover.

Funny, all my computers work fine with crossover cables on the same model router. ;-)
Fire-and-Ice (3910)
247837 2004-06-27 04:07:00 so what is a crossover cable? :-) Mcpisik (4924)
247838 2004-06-27 04:12:00 megaman: the difference is in the pin connections, not in the cable type.

There are two sorts of connection used for this" twisted pair" Ethernet: "straight", and "crossover". The straight is the normal one: used between devices (such as computers) and hubs, switches or routers. Crossover cables are used only to connect two computers without a hub (etc). Most commercial crossovers have red covers on the plugs as a warning. :D

Cat5 and Cat6 are different standards for the physical cable. Cat 6 is rated for higher frequency use than Cat 5. Either is fine for 100 MHz, but most sold retail will be Cat 6.

Connecting a computer to a router requires a"straight" cable (which will have RJ45 connectors).
Graham L (2)
247839 2004-06-27 04:28:00 > Connecting a computer to a router requires
> a"straight" cable (which will have RJ45 connectors).

Would damage be done using crossover cable to connect to a router or is it supposed to just not work? ?:|
Fire-and-Ice (3910)
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