LESSONS LEARNEDSTEP 3: TERMINATE THE CABLE You’ll need to terminate the Cat5e cable
at each end. When you prepare the cable for termination, strip as little of
the twisted-pair cable jacket away from the twisted pairs of wires as pos-
sible. Untwist the wire pairs and drape them over the snap-in jack (four on
each side), following the color-coded T568A wiring diagram on the jack.
It’s crucial that no more than a half-inch of the wire is untwisted—less
is better. Use a punch-down tool to press each wire into place and trim off
the excess. (Repeat this step at the home run, terminating the cable into a
patch bay.) Maneuver the cable through the channel in the jack and lock
it in place with the cover. Snap the jack into the back of the wall plate and
mount the plate to the mud ring.Install a Router
and a Switch
A router is essential for sharing one
broadband Internet connection
among computers, and a switch joins
multiple computers (or other devices,
such as a media-streaming box or a
gaming console) within a local area
network. All modern routers have
built-in switches, but they typically
have only four ports. You can deploy
multiple switches to expand your
network as needed. If you have only
one Ethernet jack in a room and need
to connect two or more devices to the
network from there, plug a multiport
switch into that jack and instantly
expand your network.
To set up your router, plug one
end of a Cat5e cable into your broad-
band modem and the other end into
the WAN port on your router. If you
need more than the four ports on
your router’s switch, simply install a
second switch by plugging it into one
of the router’s switch ports.Extend Your
Network’s Range
It’s not always desirable—or even
possible—to string Cat5e cable
throughout your house, which is
why Wi-Fi routers were invented.
But distance and physical barriers
(concrete walls, multiple fl oors, etc.)
can prevent a remote client from
connecting to your Wi-Fi network.
One easy solution is to install a
power-line network adapter.
As the name implies, a power-
line network carries data on your
home’s existing electrical wiring.
Plug one module into a power out-
let near your router or switch and
connect the two using Cat5e cable.
Plug the second module into an
electrical receptacle in the room
where you need network access.
In some kits, the second module
functions as a wireless access
point, but if you need to stream
high-def video, you’ll want a kit
that hard-wires the second module
to the streaming box.
You should be aware, however,
that two standards bodies (the
HomePlug Powerline Alliance and
the Universal Powerline Asso-
ciation) are promoting diff erent—
and incompatible—power-line
networking technologies. We’ve
found products based on the latter
technology—specifi cally, Netgear’s
HDXB101—to be faster for stream-
ing media, but it looks as though the
IEEE is about to adopt HomePlug.Hints from Hands-
On Experience
Use Cat5e cable: It costs about the
same as Cat5 and will enable your
network to achieve gigabit speeds. When you drape the untwisted
wires over the RJ45 block, twist the
ends of the excess wire together.
When you punch down and trim the
wire, you’ll need to pick up only two
strands of waste instead of eight. If you buy a power-over-Ether-
net power splitter, make sure it
supports multiple voltages so it
will work with a variety of devices.
Trendnet’s TPE-102S splitter, for
example, can output 5, 7.5, 9, and
12 volts. If you place your networking
gear in a closet, make sure there’s
adequate ventilation—especially if
you’re locating a server there. Make sure there’s power close
to your home run; you’ll need it for
your router and switch. Install a surge suppressor and
consider an uninterruptible power
supply if you’re deploying a server. Industrial-quality switches and
models with PoE typically have loud
cooling fans; take this into account
when locating your home run.Netgear’s GS116 switch delivers 16 gigabit
Ethernet ports in a burly but silent enclosure.THE^
DIGITAL
DOMICILE
42 | MAXIMUMPC | JUN 08 | http://www.maximumpc.com