I am receiving conflicting info from my local computer shops so would like to ask some of the computer gurus that hang around here a question or two.
My daughter has a laptop computer that she would like to use in her bedroom and wants to connect it to the DSL connection I am using in my office. Her computer has the appropriate plug for the cable. I presently run two computers from the one DSL ethernet connection and connect them via a Belkin 4 port router.
I am guessing that I will need a cable run of around 150 feet to go from here to her computer. The question that I am receiving conflicting answers to is:
Will that long a cable cause problems at her end?
Can I use a cat 5 cable or must I use something else?

Thanks in advance for your help. Any suggestions for this job will be appreciated.

 

If it were me, I'd spring for a wireless access port and put a wireless card in her laptop. It would give her (and perhaps you later) a lot of flexibility. This would let her use the laptop anywhere on the property. If you shop around, you may find that replacing your wired router would be cheaper and still give you wired ports.

 

Wireless may be an option, however my house is built from bricks and poured concrete. There is a lot of embedded rebar in this. There is no wood whatsoever, and I have found that this can cause loss of RF signal in places. For instance, I have some wireless speakers and I have to be careful where I place them or else I cannot receive the signal, even when they are close to the transmitter. For line of sight these same speakers work at about 300 feet.
From my office to my daughters bedroom there are at least three concrete walls for the signal to pass thru. If the signal goes up then there is two very thick concrete roofs to pass thru with lots of steel inside.
Could this cause a problem to a wireless access port?

 

Stan, do you live in a house or a fort?

Try the wireless with a money back guarantee.

 

Mexstan- a you describe it I don't see tha wireless working ... sorry.
On the cable: Cat5 is ok for up to 100 meters. As long as you put the cable in right (no sharp bends etc) you won't notice any difference between a 2m cable and a 100m cable in Cat5

Hint- if you are pulling one cable- better take two for future ideas you may have.

AlpineRAM

 

Heh, heh. I went back and read what I posted and can see why you asked that question. No I don't. This is standard construction in this part of the world. I was trying to emphasize that this method of construction can inhibit the transmission/reception of RF.

Wood is expensive down here (as are many things, like computer components) and in some places there is also a termite problem, so concrete and bricks is the preferred construction medium. Also, it is relatively cheap. All the structural parts of a house here is poured concrete over rebar. The spaces in between (where you may possibly use wallboard/drywall) are filled with bricks. Everything is then plastered over with concrete. On second thought, maybe this IS a fort.
All electrical runs are cut into the bricks etc and plastic tubes installed. This is then plastered over. The wires are pulled thru later. When I built this place I had a 1" ID pipe run from my office to the roof for antennas so it is easy for me to run the cat 5 cable to almost my daughters room. Then all I have to do is cut a hole for the cable to drop down into her room. Not that bad a job. Hmmm, wonder if I need to protect the cat 5 cable from rain and sun?

Wish I could go wireless but have my doubts that it will work properly. Will see if I can find a company that is willing to let me have a unit on trial. That may be hard to do down here.

 

i'm a dsl technician (among other things) for bellsouth, and i can almost guarantee you that the wireless will work (depending on the router)!! i installed a wireless router in the local courthouse, and i can sit outside in my truck, pick up the signal and surf all day long on my "laptop". if you choose not to go that route, cat 3 wire is sufficient for spans up to 300 ft. if you are going over that use cat 5.
later, dustin

 

I have cat5 pulled to almost every room in my house.
I did this several years ago when wireless was still fairly new and expensive.
I was also concerned about the online security.
If I had it to do over (with todays technology) I would definitely go wireless.