Can I split my cat 5 cable?? 2

You can't just splice in the way you're describing. You need to insert a hub or switch at point C.

This is a nice device that might be an option: 3-Com wall switch.

Do you have a switch or hub at either point A or B? Or is this a peer to peer connection?

If you do have a switch or hub at one of the ends, you could split open the cable, grab the two unused pairs, and create another 10-Base-T connection for the device at point C.

YES, it's not standards compliant; Yes, it's not good practice; Yes, yadda, yadda, yadda.

In my opinion, I would just run a cable to each and be done with it. I have seen too many times in the past someone trying to save a little money or effort and it cost twice as much and twice the grief. If you put a cable to each it is standards compliant and you will have something in place that you can bet will be trouble free. To me not having to do something again or having something in place that’s has intermittent troubles is worth the little extra to begin with.

Mike Jones
LSUHSC

In my opinion, I would just run a cable to each and be done with it. I have seen too many times in the past someone trying to save a little money or effort and it cost twice as much and twice the grief. If you put a cable to each it will be standards compliant and you will have something in place that you can bet will be trouble free. To me, not having to do something again or having something in place that’s has intermittent troubles is worth the little extra to begin with.



Mike Jones
LSUHSC

Sorry for the double post. It could have been that their server is a little slow this morning or it could be that I have my computer and network printer shring the same line and it does that from time to time...

Just kidding. B-)

Mike Jones
LSUHSC

I would support adding a hub at Point C for the third computer. But I would cut the existing cable and terminate the new ends on jacks so that you would have two independant cables, one running from Comp A to Point C and one from Comp B to Point C. Then just run patch cords from the jacks to the switch, which is also now available for Comp C. This would eliminate needing to run new cable as well as the dreaded splits. (yes I know they work, and I know people do them but they are bad!)

This would be a way to implement the above mentioned 3Com. Also, since this is a home network, this would be a place to insert a DSL/Cable Modem router.

Justin T. Clausen
Physical Layer Implementation
California State University, Monterey Bay

I would Have to Say Ditto to the previous Post, I would run a dedicated cable be it cat3 or cat5 to the respective computers and put a Switch/Hub at Point C if you decided to add a device later at Point C you usally could with Relative Easy if you added a device be it a "server" another PC or whatever. with Normal Ethernet you can have two devices using a "crossover" cable but you are Limited to Just this two Devices, If you even remotely think you will add a third device at point C make it to home runs to Point C and put a small Switch/Hub there.
You orginal senerio suggest the possibility of using 10Base2, (from Dos days) but I predict you will have some trouble finding the Media & cards as they are not as common as the 10baseT that you can pickup just about anywhere,

Thanks for everyones help. I have decieded to put a switch in at that point. I wanted to see what alternatives I had to doing this since If the switch/hub failed at that point it wouldn't affect the systems at point A. I have a switch/router at point C but its rather difficult to run another cable since I have drywalled over the path. Doh!!! I would rather run a new cable from the central network point then create a new star point in my home but this will do.

Thanks again

Switches will rarely fail! You can always buy the expensive CISCO switches which MIGHT (not guaranteed) to have lower failure rates in a coporate enviroment but for home use any 30$ switch will do fine.

Hey,
You can split the cable(its not recomended).
Each run should have 4 pairs. ethernet only runs on 2 pairs.
Pins 1,2 3,6 (orange and green). If you can pinout the connections at both ends, blue and brown to go pins 1,2,3,6
It will work. You will have no spares in the future.

FRANK C
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