Moving the PC

[Theodoric]

I'm not sure if this the right forum, but here goes. The bedroom where our PC is located is threatened with re-decoration and it's likely that the PC will have to be moved permanently to another bedroom. I've got ntl broadband via an Ethernet card. We're talking about an extra 30 - 40 ft from the ntl socket. I see 3 alternatives.

A) Can I simply replace the present cable (about 6 ft) by a much longer one (about 30 - 40 ft) or is there a limit on the length of the cable?

B): How much would ntl charge to move the cable around the house and install it in the new bedroom?

C) Are there any poblems in a DIY job, namely disconnecting the cable from the socket box, moving the socket box to the new bedroom, shortening the cable and reconnecting it to the socket box?

[danielf]

A. There should be no problem (there is a limit, I think, but 40 ft should not be a problem.)
B. Don't know.
C. Sounds like a lot of hassle. Have you considered getting a wireless router? A bit of an investment, but you can then move the pc around as much as you like, without having to worry about the location of the socket box, and add additional PCs later on if you want. (Or get a laptop so you can surf in the garden)

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by danielf

A. There should be no problem (there is a limit, I think, but 40 ft should not be a problem.)

I'm on a 40 ft cable to the router

B. Don't know.

Don't bother

C. Sounds like a lot of hassle. Have you considered getting a wireless router? A bit of an investment, but you can then move the pc around as much as you like, without having to worry about the location of the socket box, and add additional PCs later on if you want. (Or get a laptop so you can surf in the garden)

Like I do

[Stuartbe]

You could allways leave the cable modem in the old bedroom and just run the network cable into the new bedroom, It will be cheaper than decent coax and f connectors.

Or you could get a wireless router

Originally Posted by Theodoric

A) Can I simply replace the present cable (about 6 ft) by a much longer one (about 30 - 40 ft) or is there a limit on the length of the cable?

If youre talking about ethernet cable (Cat5e UTP) the limit is 100m (properly fitted). If your talking about catv then dont touch it, you break AUP and if you send a spike down the line you might end up paying for more than paint!

Originally Posted by Theodoric

B): How much would ntl charge to move the cable around the house and install it in the new bedroom?

Prob about £50-£75, depends on how they feel at the time.

Originally Posted by Theodoric

C) Are there any poblems in a DIY job, namely disconnecting the cable from the socket box, moving the socket box to the new bedroom, shortening the cable and reconnecting it to the socket box?

Only contract law, the possibility of a big bill if you balls it up, £50-£75 when it doesnt work...


Just leave the modem were it is, buy some more enet cable £<0.75-£1.50 per metre depending on where you go.

[Scarlett]

C) Are there any poblems in a DIY job, namely disconnecting the cable from the socket box, moving the socket box to the new bedroom, shortening the cable and reconnecting it to the socket box?

Well I went Wireless some time back and as I don't do the online game thing, there isn't a problem. The BIG advantage is that if you move the computer and/or house then you don't have to re-lay any cable. I was going to have my new house CAT-5'd all the way until I saw the price of the wall plates... (£10 cos I wanted phone sockets as well!)

Scarlett

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Theodoric

I'm not sure if this the right forum, but here goes. The bedroom where our PC is located is threatened with re-decoration and it's likely that the PC will have to be moved permanently to another bedroom. I've got ntl broadband via an Ethernet card. We're talking about an extra 30 - 40 ft from the ntl socket. I see 3 alternatives.

A) Can I simply replace the present cable (about 6 ft) by a much longer one (about 30 - 40 ft) or is there a limit on the length of the cable?

Quickest cheapest and easiest route. As others have said 100M of CAT5 should not cause problems. 10M is highly unlikely to. CAT5 is also flexible easy to run along walls around corners etc.

Originally Posted by Theodoric

B): How much would ntl charge to move the cable around the house and install it in the new bedroom?

£50 - standard call out charge. Apart from the AUP issues of moving the box yourself (and the hole in the outside wall) Any move changing the coax cable by 10M (shorter or longer) will cause the signal strength to change and cause potential problems with your connection. When NTL come round to do this the installer will probably leave what is there as is and install a second outlet box connected to the small grey termination box on the front of your house.

Originally Posted by Theodoric

C) Are there any poblems in a DIY job, namely disconnecting the cable from the socket box, moving the socket box to the new bedroom, shortening the cable and reconnecting it to the socket box?

Hmm, seem to have answered both above in the above.

As others have suggested, consider wireless. You can get some fantastic specced hardware for not much more than the cost of the NTL call out.

[Theodoric]

Thanks for all the replies. Having taken on board that if I use a longer cable I need cat5 (and having done the obligatory Internet searching) is this what I need?



It is described as a "CAT5e RJ45 - RJ45 (Moulded) Patch cable, length 20Metres", Price (inc VAT) £7.17 + P&P.

Re the wireless route, can anyone supply any useful links so that I can start finding out what it's all about?

PS I'm glad I found out that changing the length of the co-ax cable might cause problems before I actually tried it!

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Theodoric

Thanks for all the replies. Having taken on board that if I use a longer cable I need cat5 (and having done the obligatory Internet searching) is this what I need?
<snip>
It is described as a "CAT5e RJ45 - RJ45 (Moulded) Patch cable, length 20Metres", Price (inc VAT) £7.17 + P&P.
<snip>
PS I'm glad I found out that changing the length of the co-ax cable might cause problems before I actually tried it!

Thats the stuff.

Originally Posted by Theodoric

<snip>
Re the wireless route, can anyone supply any useful links so that I can start finding out what it's all about?
<snip>

http://forum.nthellworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5638

Debsys been asking already today.

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Thats the stuff.



http://forum.nthellworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5638

Debsys been asking already today.

Thanks. If my last ditch efforts to prevent moving the PC fail, I'd probably buy some.

[johnh glasgow]

im sorry if im reasking same questions as others when you mean the CAT5 cable that is the one in mine which connects the modem to ethernet

I want to move pc and modem to another room so increase the length between the small white box on the wall and into the modem
is this possible and what cable is this?
it looks like coax but im sure its not thanks for your help

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by johnh glasgow

im sorry if im reasking same questions as others when you mean the CAT5 cable that is the one in mine which connects the modem to ethernet

I want to move pc and modem to another room so increase the length between the small white box on the wall and into the modem
is this possible and what cable is this?
it looks like coax but im sure its not thanks for your help

It's COAX, but not the stuff you get from Homebase, it is better screened and better quality. You can possibly add about 10 metres of coax, after that your Cable Modem (SACM) may stop working properly.

The Cat5 from the SACM to the PC you can add up to 100m

[UK1Liam]

I had the same problem, when they came round to fit mine.. I wanted it in one room... so they fitted it for me. Now, i've changed the rooms, and luckily because they didnt tidy up the 20ft of cable with the wall box stuck on the end, it was very easy to move, you hardly notice the cable running under my bed, rug, behind my wardrobe etc .