Using an older coaxial cable for Ethernet connectivity
Using an older coaxial cable for Ethernet connectivity
Here’s a clearer version of your notes:
So, a few years ago someone told me my wall coax wasn’t actually connected to the basement. Last week I found a small conduit holding two flat UTP cables. It was about 12mm wide—smaller than I expected. I wondered how to set things up now that I have the opportunity. A couple of points: 1) Can a small conduit hold two regular UTP cables, or maybe just two flat ones? Have you done this before? What did you experience? 2) Are there any differences between regular and flat UTP cables? I read somewhere that cables labeled the same (like 5E, 6A, etc.) should match the speed requirements. If not, why was extra shielding needed for regular cables? Do flat cables handle cross-talk better? 3) I’m confused about how speed is distributed between the modem, switch, and devices. Right now I have an all-in-one modem/router with four ports. I want to connect everything in my room two stories up and a powerline adapter two stories away—same circuit for better speeds. Should I run a cable through the conduit to a new switch in my room and another to the powerline? Or could I just connect the switch directly and then link the powerline adapter without losing speed? I don’t want the modem connection to become a bottleneck later. Also, how does the switch handle bandwidth across all connected devices? I imagine it’s like traffic on a highway—some lanes for different speeds. 4) How many devices can fit on that powerline electricity plug? I’d like to see examples online. Thanks!
When you mention a modem, it can refer to a basic modem or one that includes a router. If it's only a modem, you'll need a router and a switch. The switch helps distribute bandwidth among devices based on usage. For instance, with a 100Mbps download plan, if one device uses about 50Mbps for streaming, the remaining 50Mbps will be shared among others. This depends on how traffic is managed without special QoS settings. For internal connections, speeds are limited by the switch's capacity—typically maxed out unless multiple devices request simultaneously. Consider these points: 1. Flat cable works if there’s sufficient space. 2. Performance remains consistent but may face more interference if cables aren’t properly arranged. 3. Follow the earlier guidance for powerline setups, taking into account wiring age and distance.
The modem features a switch and access point, though its positioning is somewhat inconvenient since there aren’t many computers on the ground floor. Our current setup offers 200Mb/s, and we might consider upgrading to 400Mb/s later if needed. We prefer not to change without the right equipment connected. The speed distribution seems sensible, but why is frequency important then? I assumed higher frequencies allowed more devices at the same speed—like 250MHz supporting one device at 100Mb/s and 500MHz handling two at 100Mb/s?
The cable's frequency matches the operational speed and determines the maximum data rate. A higher frequency supports faster speeds, though it mainly applies to higher-rated cables or bandwidth. For example, a 500MHz signal could achieve 10GbE with a 10GbE switch, while a 1GHz link can handle 25GbE to 40GbE—though this is very costly. It doesn't restrict the number of connected devices.
The present scenario involves (1) and (2) exiting via the modem, while the future plan includes (1), (2), and (3) departing through the updated connection.
Plan #2 reflects the present reality, which isn’t ideal. We need to assess if Plan #1 holds value or if adjustments are possible.
That aligns well. Plan #1 seems the better option and appears to look solid based on what I understand. No visible changes needed at this point.