Help with PC Networking

Computer builds

Reputable
Aug 22, 2014
163
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4,710
Hey guys I finally built a PC!!! Unfortunately I don't have Ethernet in my room or throughout the house, so I'm still using my laptop, and I've done some research and was wondering what you guys would recommend? I have a lot of coaxial cable running throughout my house, and I have some in the room that I would like to set the PC up in. The problem is that there already is a modem and another PC in a different room, so I don't think I can set this PC up like that one. Thanks for the help!
 
Solution
It depends on what length you need. I would buy it from a local store the shipping on a single cable tends to wash out any saving. You can get them even at walmart but stores like home depot tend have better selection.

If you want a link to look at cable try
http://www.deepsurplus.com/Network-Structured-Wiring/Cat5E-Cables-Standard-Boots

This site is really cheap if you need a quantity of cable but the shipping is not worth it for just a couple of cables.

Computer builds

Reputable
Aug 22, 2014
163
0
4,710


Yeah I've definitely heard of that, but if possible I was going to try and go wired as I currently experience about half the download speed on my laptop compared to the PC connected to the router which is connected to the modem. You ever hear of MoCA? I was thinking maybe something like that, or I could always try to run an Ethernet wire from the router to the new PC. A 2nd modem would cost double right? Thanks!
 

BuddhaSkoota

Admirable


An Ethernet cable should be your first choice if you can possibly manage it. It just takes some planning (and maybe a bit of ingenuity) to find a good route from room-to-room. If it's difficult to bring the cable down inside a wall, you could consider bringing it through a small hole in a closet ceiling to help keep it somewhat hidden.

MoCA is also a good choice, but you'll want to be sure the coax is in good condition. It should run on the same cable as TV, but if you have extra cable in each room, you might try to keep it on a separate run.

There are also powerline network adapters, but they tend to be hit-and-miss in terms of performance.
 

Computer builds

Reputable
Aug 22, 2014
163
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4,710


Thanks for the answer I figured that these power line adapters were a bit too good to be true, and MoCA is quite pricey, so I might try and drill some holes and hide the wire in the molding by the ceiling. Regardless I don't think that the coax in my room is in good condition it appears bent. Also what do you mane by a separate run? Lastly would a 2nd modem would cost more right, But also deliver better performance then Ethernet from the router?
 

BuddhaSkoota

Admirable


Just meant that if your room happens to have more than one coax line feeding to it, you could use it as a line dedicated for MoCA to keep it separate from TV. If you didn't have an extra coax in the room, MoCA should be fine to run on the same cable as TV since it is in a different frequency band.

Having a second modem would require having a second Internet account from your ISP, which would likely double the cost of service each month. If you really need your own modem and can afford it, that would be even more ideal than the other solutions.
 
Pretty much any cat5e cable will be fine. Be very careful of some of the crap being sold on amazon on other web sites. You want pure copper cable no CCA cable. You also want to avoid any of the flat or thin cable. The wires must be between 22-24 awg. Even though the vendors try to say their cables meet the EIA/TIA specs they can not, the spec explicitly says the wire must be copper between 22-24.

 

Computer builds

Reputable
Aug 22, 2014
163
0
4,710


Thank you, but I was wondering if you could provide a link,so that I don't accidentally purchase the wrong thing. Once again thanks for the help!
 
It depends on what length you need. I would buy it from a local store the shipping on a single cable tends to wash out any saving. You can get them even at walmart but stores like home depot tend have better selection.

If you want a link to look at cable try
http://www.deepsurplus.com/Network-Structured-Wiring/Cat5E-Cables-Standard-Boots

This site is really cheap if you need a quantity of cable but the shipping is not worth it for just a couple of cables.
 
Solution

AlphaClient

Prominent
May 24, 2017
4
0
510
A few solutions:
First and best for speed is a second dedicated modem, but this will be the most costly to have added to your account and provisioned. If there is already coax in the room you wish to have internet connection in, it is as simple as connecting it to the wall plate via coax and then a cat5 network cable to the pc. Your ISP will want to charge you more for having two modems because you need separate IP addresses for each device. Bandwidth is also an issue.

Second is using a separate router and setting it up as a bridge. This means it forwards dedicated network traffic from the other modem into the bridged router but leaves the modem's normal traffic alone. This is sometimes called an access point and is an extra piece of equipment that can be far cheaper than adding a second modem to your bill. The drawback is a cat5 cable will need to be run from the modem to the bridged router. That can be done through the walls or attic crawl space and is the best looking install. It can either be hard wired via cat5 or wireless (wifi speeds will increase the closer you are to the access point so put it above the room in the attic if you go the wifi way). Or place the router in the room and connect it to the cat5/pc. Your ISP will help you bridge a router for free by calling customer service and telling them what your set up is.

Third is the cheap, fast and dirty way. It was already suggested... and will share all the bandwidth. Run cat5 on the floor through the home. This is usually an ugly alternative because the network cable is routed along the baseboard of rooms and hallways and uses clips to hold it in place. It "can" then be a trip hazard and has a high probability of getting damaged by kids, pets, door frames, etc. Home Depot has 100 and 200ft packages for sale and work fine for about 50$ US.

Forth is the line adapters. As a network tech and previous cable service tech, I DO NOT Recommend going this route. They are a pain in the arse and often only last about​ a year before they start having problems.

Last and already suggested is a wifi usb dongle. But it is the slowest alternative, also probably the cheapest.

MOCA means Multimedia Over Coax Adapter and is only good for streaming video from one cable box to another cable box. It does not work like line adapters, nor does it feed internet signal through coax like was being discussed here in previous postings. Internet signal is already present on the coax when you pay for the service, it just needs a modem to modulate/demodulate the internet signal. MOCA has splitters and filters involved- Both of those cause signal loss. Loss is a bad thing for internet speeds so do your best to keep internet and moca separate in your system.

Just being honest with you, most cable guys know how to do this stuff and will only ask for $50 to make it happen. If you live in a nice house and drive a nice car...$100. And they will supply the cat5. You just need a router.