What to Purchase for a Wired Ethernet Network

• Sufficient amount of Category 5 or 5e cable to wire your house.
  
  

  Note: Non-plenum cable should be fine, unless you have cable runs that come in close proximity to any type of heat source such as hot water pipes, heating duct work, etc. It is preferable to avoid being near any heat source, if at all possible. However, if it is unavoidable then plenum cable should be used.

  
  
• Sufficient number of RJ45 Jack Modules, wall plates and electrical boxes.
  
  

  Note: You will need one wall plate and one electrical box for each, remote client location, plus one wall plate and electrical box close to the host computer and switch. The client wall plates can either be single or double hole plates. The host/switch wall plate should be a 2, 3 or 4 hole plate, depending on how many remote clients you will be running cable to. For each hole in the wall plate you will need a Jack Module or blank, depending on whether you use each hole in each wall plate.

• One, 10/100 Network Interface Card (NIC) for each computer.
  
  

  Note: This includes the host computer. This is different from other Broadband Internet connections (DSL & cable) that require two NIC cards in the host computer.

  Some brand names include Belkin, D-Link, Linksys, 3-Com and Netgear.
  
  
• A five (or more, depending on how many computers you will be networking) port, auto-sensing, network switch for 3 or more computers. Note: You might consider buying a Home Networking kit, which normally comes with the switch, two NICs, plus some cables. Then all you have to do is purchase any additional NIC cards you may need. The brands are the same as mentioned in item three.
  
  
• Enough prefabricated patch cords to go between the switch and wall plate as well as between the wall plate and each client computer. Note: These should be Category 5 or 5e rated. Of course, if you put the switch close to the host computer (logical choice), then a patch cord from the switch to the host computer.
  
  

  Note: Make sure these are straight thru cables and not crossover cables. Crossover cables are only used if you are connecting one client to the host and not using a switch.

  
  
• Small, sharp, pocket knife or Xacto blade to strip outer sheath (outer cover) from the Category 5 (Cat. 5) cable.
• Diagonal cutters or Cat. 5 crimping tool (optional), with cutters.
• Fish tape or some other means to fish cable through hollow walls.
• Masking tape or cable markers for marking all cables.
• Small blade, flat screwdriver or 110 Punch-Down impact tool (optional) for attaching wire to RJ45 Jack Modules.
• Cable tester (optional)
• Number 2 Phillips head screwdriver or number 10 and 15 Torx drivers for taking apart your computer and installing the NIC Cards.
  
  

  Special Note: It is wise to purchase your RJ45 wall plates and Jack Modules at the same place and get the same brand. There are several brands available and they are not always interchangeable. Jack Modules and wall plates can usually be purchased at Lowes, Home Depot and your local, electrical supply house. Some hardware stores will carry these items. Radio Shack has their own type of RJ45 Jacks and wall plates that are totally different then the industry standard. They are fairly expensive, but a bit easier to attach the cable to.

  
  

A Glossary of Terms