Best module to wire two network cables together

chris6273

chris6273

chris6273

Associate
Joined
7 Jan 2009
Posts
78
Hi guys,

I run a CAT6a Gigabit network at home and I will be hitting a bit of a snag when we buy a new LED TV which will probably have an Ethernet port on the back of it for things.etc.

Problem: At the current moment in time, there are two ethernet ports located behind the old TV spot which is a CRT. It has a PS3 using one and has one spare. Because it is a CRT, it goes quite easily into the corner of our lounge.

When we buy our new TV (Next year or the year after probably) we will be placing it in our music room, directly attached to our lounge but it will be on a completely different side of the room. See the diagram below for the current network layout for the lounge and music room (Sorry for the poor drawing - Paint is rubbish):

tvquestion.png


The network wiring is mostly handled in the attic where I have my servers and switches housed.

I have a couple of options but I'm not sure which one would work the best and be the most professional with the things I want:

I could just lay some new cables out to the new TV spot but I would not feel very good wasting the existing CAT6a cable which is behind the CRT (And will not be used once the new LED TV is purchased because our PS3 and Wii.etc will only be played on the new TV).

1. The best option I thought of is: What is the Best module to wire two network cables together?
If I pull the existing CAT6a cables back up from behind the TV and stretched them across the attic as far as possible to the new location and then used a connector of some sort to connect it to a new length of cable to complete the stretch, I think it would work.
The only way I can think of doing that at the moment is getting a switch module and wiring the existing cable to the back of it and wiring the new cable to the back of it aswell. Is there a dedicated module specifically designed for this (Bonding two copper CAT6a cables together)?
This option would be completely free apart from having to buy 2 new specific modules (If they exist). I have plenty of CAT5 and CAT6a cable left for future improvements to the network.

2. The other option is to take one of the cables out of the bedroom, terminate it near to the new TV location (Running it through conduit over the door) and stick a switch on the end of it. Apart from having to drill a hole in the wall to put a cable through from the switch to the bedroom (Both ports in the bedroom are normally utilised so they will still need to be active) it will not be very future-proof for the network and it will cost money for the new (Gigabit) switch.

So basically the reason why I am asking is because the old ports (and cables therefore) at the old location of the TV will become redundant when we get this new TV so I am not sure what i'm going to do when there is going to be two perfectly good (working) ports left sitting there behind the old TV.

Any ideas?
 
The join in your cable will always be your Achilles' heel, however if you would prefer to join it than run a new cable, the simplest way would be to punch the extension to the cable into the RJ45 module you are running the existing cable to, and blank it off.

Edit: didn't read that you were going to pull the cable back out and run it a different way, then couple it just to save wasting the existing cable. Would it really be worth the effort? Again you could couple with a rj45 module if you have a spare there, if you want to couple it you can get RJ45 couplers (these really aren't very good! - terminate each cable to RJ45 and plug it in) otherwise you can pick up a coupler you just unscrew and punch - the only difference between this and a spare module being that you are punching each cable independently with a circuit board joining them rather than punching both together.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your reply 1337_KR3W,

When I said using an RJ45 module to connect the cables I mean:

Punching each identical pair from the cables into each corresponding slot on the back of the module.

Putting it into simple words: Imagine if you wanted 2 CAT6a cables feeding one RJ45 module from the back - in the White/Orange slot you would have the White/Orange core from the old cable and the White/Orange core from the new cable terminated into the same punch hole.

Obviously I wouldn't plug anything into the actual port of the module.

Would punching the cables to join them in that way affect performance?
It will just be the tiny strip of metal in each punch hole slot which could possibly cause any problem.
 
I used an RJ45 Cat5e coupler I bought off eBay to join my Gigabit network upstairs to one room and saw no performance degradation at all either local or WAN based. The coupler I bought was a couple of £ but was of good quality, robust rubberised cashing and strong female connectors on each end.

Don't know if something like that is quick and easy enough or you? Obviously mine is Cat5e as that's what all my cabling consists of but I get the full Gigabit speeds out of it.

Seems Cat6 ones exist too: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RJ45-Cat6-STP...uting_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item27b4a15998

I don't know how much performance punching them together that way would be affected though, I'd choose the coupler route because at least then you know the terminations are proper.
 
Last edited:
mrk said:
I used an RJ45 Cat5e coupler I bought off eBay to join my Gigabit network upstairs to one room and saw no performance degradation at all either local or WAN based. The coupler I bought was a couple of £ but was of good quality, robust rubberised cashing and strong female connectors on each end.

Don't know if something like that is quick and easy enough or you? Obviously mine is Cat5e as that's what all my cabling consists of but I get the full Gigabit speeds out of it.

Seems Cat6 ones exist too: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RJ45-Cat6-STP...uting_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item27b4a15998

I don't know how much performance punching them together that way would be affected though, I'd choose the coupler route because at least then you know the terminations are proper.
Click to expand...

+1 Couplers work ok.
 
If you don't feel confident in punching both into the same module, why not use two and patch between them as an alternative assuming you have all the hardware there anyway.
Otherwise http://cpc.farnell.com/_/4004/rj45-cat5-wiring-box/dp/CN04645 is what I had in mind as your better solution. The RJ45-RJ45 couplers are great for quickly joining and testing cables or for a temporary run, I recently removed 30 of them and moved a cabinet 2 feet because of the problems they were causing about 24 months from installation (not my installation I hasten to add!). If the join in your cable isn't easily accessible then I wouldn't consider them, if it is then you can change it in the future should you need to.

BTW sorry for following your thread slowly, I don't often find the time to pop on and check forums any more.
 
Thanks for your reply guys. 1337_KR3W hit the nail on the head with the module I would need.

From what I have seen from other posts around other forums, It would be better if I just lay new cables to the new location so that is what I'm going to do :)

Thanks for your replies, I will bookmark that module for the future.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom