Connecting two computer single Cat5 cable

[Mojonba]

I am in the process of wiring my house with Cat5e cable. The problem is that the 3/4 inch pvc pipe that carries all the cables (Phone,CATV,Data) has space left for only two more cables and I have four bedrooms I want to provide network/internet. Since ethernet only uses 2 out of 4 pairs of wires in the cable can I use the remaining two for another connection. What I was thinking was two terminate the long run of cable with jacks at each end, and to the jacks attach a connector that is crimped with two cable instead of one (keeping in mind the proper crimping for both connections) . I read somewhere that the maximum untwist length permitted for Cat5e was half and inch. That could become a problem when im crimping two cables in the same rj45 connector, but I dont think it is much of and issue. Th issue i am most concerned with is crosstalk between the two ethernet connections on the same cable. I also read somewhere (have link at home) that there is and adapter made by ATS? that does what I want but is not Cat5e rated? What do guys think?

 

[netsysadmin]

What about running one cat5e though the pipe and putting a four port (or more) switch on it to give you the four ports for the individual rooms?

John

 

[prometheusxls]

Use a Hub / Switch at the end. Much Easier.

 

[Ark]

Hub/switch will be easy, but I have this 2x4 line working for almost 2 years - I did this while I was unemployed and buying another switch was not an option.

 

[tolbyn]

Hub or Switch is the best way to go. It's easier and fairly inexpensive. And you'd most likely have extra ports for future expansion.

 

[prometheusxls]

Ark, how did you wire it? just for fun.

 

[HKSturboKID]

with wireless so cheap now a days. Why not just go with Wireless b network. With that you can go anywhere you want.

 

[Mojonba]

I prefer to avoid the switch/hub alternative due to the rooms/pipes layout. I also already have 11b wireless, but it it has too little range through my walls (concrete) and too slow. I even tried covering more area with repeaters, but the repeater i have (Dlink) is a piece of ...., bandwidth thorugh that thing is terrible, makes my dsl look like dial up.

Yeah ark, how did you wire it? and performace?

Check out the link I was telling you guys about the pre-made splitters.

 

[sep]

Cross talk will be fine. Yes, the twisted pair is funny about the length of cable that's untwisted.

I'd recommend you run one cable from downstairs to upstairs and at the point it makes the most sense I'd add a Switch or panel (both cheap) depending on your layout or end result.

It sounds like you tried to use wireless from the bottom floors to the top floors or one of the house to the other. You could set up these bedrooms or just three of them for Wireless (54mb or 108mb, signal is better). One cable could be for a wired connection and the others could be setup to be wireless on a access point. I used a 54g router, disabled the routing and just use it as a access point. It's connected to my router.

Let us know. I'll try to help as much as possible.
-JC

 

[ScottMac]

It's a Bad idea.

Just about everything that makes the cable "Category Certified" goes right out the window if you split the pair. You may as well just run phone wire.

The installation parameters are not suggestions. They are the target to hit if you want the parformance offered by that category rating.

What you are doing is saying " I want a Ferrari .... do you think it'd still work OK if I drop a Hyundi engine in it?"

You should probably run the cabling outside of the conduit anyway, if it's as crowded as you say it is. The cabling you are installing is (most likely) unshielded (which is a good thing). If you put it into a narrow conduit, it affects the physical characteristics of the cable ... sort of like a loose shielding.

There are a jillion(!) factors that affect the quality of the signal propagation. Certainly you have to do what you have to do .... just don't expect to be able to ignore the specs and standards and not suffer some performance degradation ... whether it's OK or too much is where YOU have to draw the line.

JM.02

Scott

 

[Ark]

prometheusxls
You asking "who i did this?"
I had modular outlets with 2 RJ45s in each.
Only one outlet was used on each end with 8 wires (4pairs) going about 100 ft.

2 pairs used normally: orange ang green.
So I took Blue and Brown pairs and moved them to the second connector on both ends,: blue to orange termilnals and brown to green.
And I got 2 separate lines.
They may not be rated as CAT5, but working fine for 2 years.
May not work with Gigabit Ethernet.

It all started here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=36&threadid=316902&arctab=arc
I had to make it permanent next year