what type of ethernet cable should I use?

[Chess007]

I'm wondering what type of ethernet cable I should use for a connection between a router and a hub.

Should I use cat5e patch cable? Or should I use cat5e solid cable?


Which one offers the best performance? It only needs to be 1 foot long.

[MorphiusFaydal]

cat 5e cable of any sort should work w/out any real difference

i myself would just go w/ whats the cheapest.

[bwkaz]

Originally posted by MorphiusFaydal
cat 5e cable of any sort should work w/out any real difference Err... apart from the fact that you might need a crossover cable rather than a patch cable, this is true. ;)

Patch cables are basically straight through. They're for connecting a normal switch or hub port to an Ethernet card's port (these two ports have different types -- the transmit and receive pairs are switched).

Crossover cables switch the transmit and receive pairs within the cable, so you can use them to hook an Ethernet card directly up to another Ethernet card, or you can use them to hook one switch or hub up to another switch or hub, if you use the "normal" ports on both.

Some switches and hubs also have a special "uplink" port, which is wired the same way as an Ethernet card. The idea is that you use a normal (straight-through) patch cable to hook the uplink port to a "normal" port on another switch or hub.

Apart from cable type, I found this (http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.asp) page, which claims that stranded vs. solid core wire doesn't really matter much for performance (stranded core cable will flex more easily, but solid core cable is supposedly more "stable", whatever that means). Scroll down to the "controversies and caveats" section, it's in there. I would quote the whole section, except that there's a license statement a little way below that section that says I can't copy any of it...

[Chess007]

My router has an uplink port (at port 4) that can be an "uplink" port or a "normal" port. Should
I

a) turn on the switch so its an uplink port and use cat5e cable?

or

b) leave the switch off and use cat5e crossover cable?

the connection is currently like this....

(cable modem)--------> router ------> pc's

I want to set it up so it's....

(cable modem) ---> router ---> pc's
\
hub --> more pc's

\ represents the ethernet cable between the router and hub.

[Choozo]

Does it really matter? Find out what type of cable you can get, and then decide.

[soulestream]

you need a straight through cable. a patch cable is a straight through cable. the router and hub will internally switch for you. use port 1(or whatever) to hook up to the hub. This slightly messes up the router's routing table, but it will work fine. i do it in pinches all the time. i dont think the uplink port will work, but i can't remember right this second why. if i remember i will repost.


soule

[oilyfish]

The patch cable is preferable if you anticipate moving it about very much. It is made of fine stranded wires which are more flexible and much less prone to breaking due to metal fatigue - where the cable gets repeatedly bent in the same place.

O.F.

[Chess007]

Port 4 on the router has a button. If the button is pushed in it turns into an "uplink" port.

Here's how its set up now. The uplink button is off, so I just used normal cat5 cable. That cat5 cable goes into the hub and it works fine. 42ft of cable (its on a little roll thing) but that doesn't seem to have slowed the connection down at all. Its working though and that's what counts. :)

Thanks to everyone who helped. :)

Another question: Do hubs have settings? Is there a way to access them through a web browser? I'm courious.
I know its possible to access the router and mess with settings (experimenting is fun hehe) . The "manual" that came with the hub is more like a 4 page leaflet. There isn't much information.

Its an 8 port NWay ethernet switch.

[soulestream]

is it a hub or a switch?

there are some programmable hubs. but i really doubt you have one. generally the are 24/48 port non-SOHO hubs. even most large hubs have no user interface.

if it is a swtich you should be able to log in through console,telnet, or web interface to set it up




soule

[MorphiusFaydal]

Originally posted by bwkaz
Err... apart from the fact that you might need a crossover cable rather than a patch cable, this is true. ;)

i submit to thy superior knowledge :)