The Handyguys are two avid DIYers sharing their experiences working around the house. Our weekly video and audio podcasts feature answers to your questions, head-to-head tool tests and other DIY and home improvement topics. If you have a question regarding your home, let us know using the contact tab on our site or call us at (818) 804-8665. We respond to all questions and may use your question on-the-air in a future broadcast. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you around the home!
Wired networking has been around a long time and has progressed through many topologies and technologies. The Handyguys discuss the advantages of wired networking, when to use wired networking and what the pieces of a complete solution look like.
Components of a wired networking solution
Hub or switch
The hub or switch is the central component of a wired networking solution. It acts a traffic cop for all networking in a home. Typically a switch is used. Get one with enough ports for your needs plus a few for future use. An 8 port switch is relatively inexpensive. You do not need a super fast switch if your only use is for your device to access the Internet. For example, if you have a 5 MB internet connection then a 10MB, 100MB and 1000MB switch will give you the same performance for internet browsing because the bottle neck is your Internet connection. If you are moving files or streaming video between devices inside your home network then you can benefit from 100MB or 1000MB (1GB) networking.
Plates and jacks
By using plates and jacks you make for a much more streamlined and professional install. If you are wiring up a house put a plate and jack in each home office location as well as any areas where you have multimedia (behind the TV).
Punchdown block
A punchdown block is used where all the wires run from the plates and jacks connect. From the punch down block you run a short cable to your switch.
Cable
You will likely use cat-5 ethernet cable. There is also cat-5e, cat-6 and someday cat-4783 (kidding). Use a cable that is rated for the switch you have. Match that to the jacks you use. If you have cat-5e jacks, use cat-5e cable.
Standards
When you hard wire things in your house, you have many standards to consider. Pick one and stay consistent. For example, jacks can be wired up in different ways. A common configuration is called T568B another is called T568A. Read up on it if you want. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIA/EIA-568 When buying jacks and punchdown blocks just make sue you are consistent, pick one and stick with it. The Handyguys both have wired networking with the T568B standard.
Tools
You will want a few tools for your wired networking project:
Punchdown tool for making connections to the punchdown block and the jacks.
You speak about hubs and switches above for where your wiring begins, but these are also very useful, for example, behind your entertainment centre. If you have multiple devices in that one area, you only need to run one cat5 cable there from your router, then put a switch to give you multiple ports for the tv, Appletv, Wii, Playstation, PVR, etc. Switches are also completely set-up free; you use them just like a power bar.
Great job guys…good to see back…I almost deleted my podcast subscription…
Yes, indeed. Handyguy Brian has switches behind both of his TVs. This allows for only one network cable to run to that area and then shared with his Roku, MythTV, Internet connected TV and a PS3.
Hi, do you have video tutorials of networking from start to finish. I’m talking from cabling to configuring the hub/switch and computer systems. I don’t mind paying to have them.
Hello,
Need some help.
In my new home thee are Ethernet jack in each room wall.
In the closet the other end of the Ethernet cables come together in a box.
I get broadband ISP service to my home thru one of the wall plate.
Question, how do i make all other LAN Ethernet port in other rooms live.
The hub
A punchdown block
You speak about hubs and switches above for where your wiring begins, but these are also very useful, for example, behind your entertainment centre. If you have multiple devices in that one area, you only need to run one cat5 cable there from your router, then put a switch to give you multiple ports for the tv, Appletv, Wii, Playstation, PVR, etc. Switches are also completely set-up free; you use them just like a power bar.
Great job guys…good to see back…I almost deleted my podcast subscription…
Yes, indeed. Handyguy Brian has switches behind both of his TVs. This allows for only one network cable to run to that area and then shared with his Roku, MythTV, Internet connected TV and a PS3.
Hi, do you have video tutorials of networking from start to finish. I’m talking from cabling to configuring the hub/switch and computer systems. I don’t mind paying to have them.
No, we will add that to our list of vids to produce. What specific questions do you have?
Hello,
Need some help.
In my new home thee are Ethernet jack in each room wall.
In the closet the other end of the Ethernet cables come together in a box.
I get broadband ISP service to my home thru one of the wall plate.
Question, how do i make all other LAN Ethernet port in other rooms live.