Trouble setting Home network up

Ok. im running WinXP on both of my machines. Ive installed the network cards (Belkin) and have connected the cable to them (CAT5e). Windows installed the drivers automatically and they are appearing on my network connections window, however it says the cable is not plugged in when it is. I havnet got a clue what the problem is. The cable is fine becos i tested it with a continuity tester. One more thing, My comptuer is at the front of the house and the other one is as the back. So im useing ordinary CAT5 cable in the attic and down into the rooms and i have connected CAT5E cable on the ends of that CAT5 cable in the rooms because it wasnt long enough. Can u use them cables together and can u use CAT5E cable on a 10/100Mbs network cards?

thanks for any help

PS: Ive now put the two computers in the same room and used that CAT5e extension cable to connect them together and it still says the cable is unplugged. So im assuming that the attic cable is not damaged.

This is what i got Here (i cant find it on belkins site)

You need a crossover cable, not a normal cable.
Alternatively, connect the machines into a hub or switch

Definately need a crossover cable if you are connecting two machines directly into each other.

Let me know if you need a cable making up - I've got loads of cat5 cable.. ;)

yep thats all it is. cross over cable =)

Im a bit confused now. I thought that cat5 cable was cross over cable (twisted pair)

No....twisted pair just means that it's 8 strands of cable twisted into 4 pairs; this is ordinary Cat5 and is through wired (pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2 and so forth). You need a crossover cable.

Ok thanks every one. Can i use THIS ?

Don't see why not. A length of cable would almost certainly be cheaper though; eg. 2m from ebuyer is 99p or something, but of course you have to add shipping.

Alternatively, if you fancy getting your hands dirty, look in the networking sticky - I think there's a picture there that shows you how to rewire a standard cable into a crossover one.

Thanks for ur posts. im still confused as to what i need to get. so ill tell u exactly what i got, and if some one can guide me from there



I have crossover cable running through the atic and into the rooms on each end of that cable i have a crossover adapter, plugged into the other end of the adaptor, i have ordinary patch cable (not crossed), the free end of that goes into the computer.

Whats the cheapest and easiest way for me to simply have the crossover cable extended.

thanks

Would it be too bold of me to suggest a cheap hub\switch:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=48534

It's probably worth it in the long run.

Adam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Frosty

Would it be too bold of me to suggest a cheap hub\switch:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=48534

It's probably worth it in the long run.

Adam

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Thanks for your post frosty, but this was sorted out over a year ago;). I should have updated the thread, any way after using crossover cable (for months) i eventually moved onto a Linkysys BEFSX41 Firewall/Router/switch a couple of months back, and i wouldnt be without it now. Its a great bit of kit for 32 quid iirc.:)

Talk about a bump ! :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Agent

Talk about a bump ! :P

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BUMP! :p

:) i was looking at my network cable link and noticed urs at bottom being slightly related, irrelevant of time :) oops