Cables

[Ann]

My computer is about 12 metres from the phone socket, that's 12 metres in cable length so up over the doorframe and so on.  Am I right in thinking that it's better to have the router by the phone socket on a short cable with a longer ethernet cable?  At the moment I've got it the other way around.  If that's right, I'd like to buy the best ethernet cable and connectors that I can get so what would anyone recommend?  I'm also thinking that this monster router would be better situated on the phone table in the hall rather than waiting to be knocked over just here. 

[Simon]

Have you thought about going wireless, Ann?

[scook94]

I think the longer LAN cable would be the preferred choice. Would a 10 metre cable be long enough? I'd go for a CAT6 cable.

[Ann]

I always thought that you lost some speed with wireless.  I could though I suppose.  Not sure I can be doing with another learning curve just yet though. and reading about the problems some are having I'm not sure it's stable enough.

I'd probably need 15m.. I keep looking at the room trying to think how I could reorganise it to get closer but I don't think that's going to be possible.

[Rik]

Another vote for the longer LAN cable, Ann. Cat5e or Cat6, Maplin (and others) can supply in a variety of lengths. Ethernet segments can be up to 100m, so don't worry about the sort of lengths you are thinking of.

[scook94]

Ann, I've seen 10 and 20m CAT6 cables on eBay, you may get 15m though.

if you go for a wireless router that is 802.11n ready then you'll get speeds of approx 300Mbit/s between you PC and router. Mine seems fast enough that I don't notice any difference over my wired connection.

[Sebby]

Ann, you are correct that sighting the router as close to the telephone socket as possible is advisable (preferably with a short, twisted-pair cable to minimise noise pickup before the router). Then use Cat5e or Cat6 to run to the PC. If this isn't really something you'd want to do, just ensure that the cable you currently have going from the socket to the router is high quality, such as these.

Or, as Simon say, go wireless. I'm not a great fan of wireless myself; when it works it can be nice, but I much prefer being hard-wired to the router.

[Simon]

I have to say, by choice I would always be wired, but in circumstances such as Ann's, I think wireless is worth considering, against having miles of cable running round the doors. 

[Rik]

I'd still run the cable, given the choice.

[Inactive]

I like to be different, so why not a mains HomePlug Adapter/s?..no learning curve, plug and play, no wireless problems either.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/109683

[Rik]

A very good alternative, In, though a bit slower than cables.

[Ann]

Thanks for your views guys, I think I'll stick with the cable rather than go wireless.  I've always had the cable running over one door so I'm not bothered about it.  I chopped, or hacked might be a better work, a groove in the doorframe for the cable to run in so that the door shuts okay.  I might even use cable grips eventually!.. ever the procrastinating DIYer me.  But this is just a matter of swapping the sorts of cable round.  Have ordered it.. now got to wait..

Oh here's another thing.  How do you disconnect the 2Wire neatly to move it about?  The Netgear had a button to hit to disconnect but I can't find such a thing with this one.

I see now In's posted about an adapter.. will look at that.. Edit:  Oh I see what RIk says.. I don't want slow!

[Rik]

Just unplug the 2700 from the mains, Ann, and let the connection die away, that way the exchange doesn't see it as instability.

[Ann]

 

[Inactive]

I see now In's posted about an adapter.. will look at that.. Edit:  Oh I see what RIk says.. I don't want slow!

Not slow Ann, still quite fast, and there are faster ones available at a price.

[Sebby]

Oh here's another thing.  How do you disconnect the 2Wire neatly to move it about?  The Netgear had a button to hit to disconnect but I can't find such a thing with this one.

You don't have to worry, Ann. It's only if you were doing this constantly that it might cause your target SNRM to increase. One disconnect won't have any impact.

[Lance]

I love wireless - but only because I mainly use my laptop rather than desktop, and I use it all over the house and even in the garden on summer days! It is only slower if you are transfering files between different machines on the network. From what it sounds like younonly have the one machine and therefore the speed is irrelevant.

To disconnect the 2wire, just pull the plug first. That way the router sends a final signal to the exchange.

[Simon]

Might sound an odd question, but is pulling the plug direct from the back of the router, the same as pulling the mains plug from the socket?

[Rik]

No, that causes an abrupt power down and is similar to unplugging the phone line. Pulling the mains plug allows the voltage to decay and during that time the router sends a 'last gasp' signal to the DSLAM saying that it's disconnecting.

[Simon]

Oh right.  I'll have to remember that.  Trouble is, to get to the mains plug means pulling the computer desk out, as these things have huge transformers that won't fit on a normal two or three way adapter.

[Rik]

I always make sure I've got it on a trailing lead somewhere reachable. 

[Simon]

Well, hopefully, I won't have to disconnect it too often. 

[Rik]

Well, hopefully, I won't have to disconnect it too often. 

Don't forget about thunderstorms.

I've lost count of the number of sockets in this room now...

[Inactive]

I still cannot believe that the 2700 doesn't have an on / off switch TBH.

[Rik]

The Netgear doesn't either...