# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An Ethernet cable is a common type of network cable used with wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices such as PCs, routers, and switches within a local area network. These physical cables are limited by length and durability. If a network cable is too long or of poor quality, it won't carry a good network signal. These limits are one reason there are different types of Ethernet cables that are optimized to perform certain tasks in specific situations.

What an Ethernet Cable Looks Like

An Ethernet cable resembles a phone cable, but is larger and has more wires. Both cables share a similar shape and plug, but an Ethernet cable has eight wires, while phone cables have four. Ethernet cable connectors are also larger. Ethernet cables come in different colors, but phone cables are usually grey.

Ethernet cables plug into Ethernet ports, which are larger than phone cable ports. An Ethernet port on a computer is accessible through the Ethernet card on the motherboard. This port is usually on the back of a desktop computer, or on the side of a laptop.

Types of Ethernet Cables

Ethernet cables support one or more industry standards including Category 5 and Category 6. Most technicians refer to these standards as CAT5 and CAT6, respectively. Because of this, many online stores that sell network cables use this abbreviated language as well.

Ethernet cables are manufactured in two basic forms:

Solid Ethernet cables offer slightly better performance and improved protection against electrical interference. They're also commonly used on business networks, wiring inside office walls, or under lab floors to fixed locations.

Stranded Ethernet cables are less prone to physical cracks and breaks, making them more suitable for travelers or in-home network setups.

A crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable that connects two computers to each other. By contrast, most Ethernet cables connect one computer to a router or switch.

Limitations of Ethernet Cables

A single Ethernet cable has a maximum distance capacity, meaning the cable has an upper limit as to how long it can be before there is a signal loss (called attenuation). This problem results because the electrical resistance of a long cable affects performance.

Both ends of the cable should be close enough to each other to receive signals quickly, and far enough away from outside electrical interference to avoid interruptions. However, this precaution doesn't limit the size of a network, because hardware like routers or hubs can join multiple Ethernet cables together on the same network. This distance between the two devices is called the network diameter.

The maximum length of a CAT5 cable, before attenuation occurs, is 324 feet. CAT6 can go up to 700 feet. Ethernet cables can be longer but may suffer from signal loss, especially if they pass near large electrical appliances.

Ethernet cable length is a little different for thin Ethernet cables (known as 10Base2) or thick Ethernet cables (known as 10Base5). The former should be no longer than 600 feet while the latter cable type can reach lengths of around 1,640 feet.

A short cable may suffer from reflection. However, some people have reported no problems with cable lengths as low as 4 inches.

Different types of RJ-45 connectors serve different purposes. One type, designed for use with stranded cables, is incompatible with solid cables. Other types of RJ-45 connectors may work with both stranded and solid cables.

Alternatives to Ethernet Cables for Computer Networking

Wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have replaced Ethernet in many home and business networks. Most tablets and other mobile devices don't have a network port. These wireless technologies are advantageous if the cable runs outside or in locations with a heightened risk of wire damage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Types of Ethernet Cables and What They Do

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An Ethernet cable is a common type of network cable used with wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices such as PCs, routers, and switches within a local area network. These physical cables are limited by length and durability. If a network cable is too long or of poor quality, it won't carry a good network signal.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An optical fiber cable, also known as fiber optic cable, is an assembly similar to an electrical cable, but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light. The optical fiber elements are typically individually coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be deployed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Twisted pair cabling is a type of wiring in which two conductors of a single circuit are twisted together for the purposes of canceling out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external sources; for instance, electromagnetic radiation from unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables, and crosstalk between neighboring pairs. It was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Networking cables are networking hardware used to connect one network device to other network devices or to connect two or more computers to share printers, scanners etc. Different types of network cables, such as coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, and twisted pair cables, are used depending on the network's physical layer, topology, and size.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Networking cables are networking hardware used to connect one network device to other network devices or to connect two or more computers to share printers, scanners etc. Different types of network cables, such as coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, and twisted pair cables, are used depending on the network's physical layer, topology, and size.

# data[].attributes.body
literally an extender for wifi

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Let's start with what is perhaps the simplest way to extend your wireless network's reach, by adding repeaters. A repeater is a device that amplifies the signal from a wireless network and operates in a combination of bridging and access point modes. A repeater takes a signal from an wireless access point or router and broadcasts it to wireless clients. We're particularly fond of repeaters because they are simple to install and to move around as you need to. A repeater does not connect to an Ethernet port, except for when you are configuring it, so these devices are entirely portable. A repeater can help you get your wireless signal to a remote bedroom, the basement, or your patio, and may allow a small network to use a single access point.

Repeaters take the same settings as the device they are repeating and they don't add much to the complexity of a wireless network. Strangely, most wireless books and articles don't spend a lot of time describing repeaters, probably because they are only recently appearing in consumer wireless devices. Normally you don't buy a repeater per se; you buy an access point that can be placed into repeater mode. The first generation of access points did not offer a repeater mode, but most of the current crop of access points do have this feature.

A repeater is also called a range extender and, depending upon the protocol and placement, can amplify the signal 50 percent or more. The theoretical specification for the range of the DWL-G800AP repeater is from 328 feet (100 meters) indoors up to 1,312 feet (400 meters) outdoors. You'll typically get less than that for any real application where there are interferences. Given the variance in environment and signal strengths, no vendor publishes range numbers that are actually meaningful to most people.

One recent review of the D-Link DWL-900AP found that the range of a signal was increased about 160 percent. The access point signal was lost at 55 feet from the router/access point without a repeater. With this particular repeater, the reviewer was able to get a signal strength of 72 percent at 140 feet. So this technology does work and is worth considering when you want to keep things simple.

The D-Link DWL-G800AP is an example of an access point/repeater. This particular repeater amplifies an 802.11g and 802.11b signal. This particular repeater is meant to mate up to D-Link's AirPlus Extreme G series of routers and access points, so it's a good idea to check for compatibility when you are purchasing repeaters. Remember that the use of access points as repeaters isn't really part of the 802.11 standard so, as is often the case, you should try to use the same manufacturer's equipment in your setup.

When you use it for this series, these repeaters enable you to use 128 WEP and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security. You configure this repeater through the browser-based utility shown in Figure 10-1.

When the DWL-G800AP is an access point, a repeater takes a different channel from the other adjoining access points, but when it's in repeater mode it needs to be set to the same channel. To be part of the same network it must use the same SSID settings.

Repeaters do lower throughput, which is one reason that they aren't heavily used on enterprise networks or when there is heavy wireless network traffic. You are asking the device to both amplify a signal as well as broadcast it, which doubles the number of frames that the device transmits. But for a home or a small office that isn't limited in wireless bandwidth, this is a good solution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Let's start with what is perhaps the simplest way to extend your wireless network's reach, by adding repeaters. A repeater is a device that amplifies the signal from a wireless network and operates in a combination of bridging and access point modes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Any system or device connected to a network is also called a node. For example, if a network connects a file server, five computers, and two printers, there are eight nodes on the network. Each device on the network has a network address, such as a MAC address, which uniquely identifies each device. This helps keep track of where data is being transferred to and from on the network.

A node can also refer to a leaf, which is a folder or file on your hard disk. In physics, a node, or nodal point, is a point of minimum displacement or where multiple waves converge, creating a net amplitude of zero.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Any system or device connected to a network is also called a node. For example, if a network connects a file server, five computers, and two printers, there are eight nodes on the network. Each device on the network has a network address, such as a MAC address, which uniquely identifies each device.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Definition of: wireless adapter

A device that adds wireless connectivity to a laptop or desktop computer. All of the adapters below are available as external USB modules as well as PCI or PCI Express (PCIe) cards that plug into an empty slot on the motherboard. See PCI and PCI Express.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi adapters provide connectivity to the local area network (LAN) in the home or office. Typically used to add Wi-Fi to desktop computers, they can also retrofit older laptops that never came with Wi-Fi. See Wi-Fi and Ethernet.

Cellular (3G, 4G)
Cellular wireless adapters, also called "cellular modems," "air cards," "broadband adapters" or "broadband cards," deliver the same 3G and 4G wireless service that smartphones use. See wireless broadband and cellular modem.

Bluetooth
Bluetooth provides short range transmission between the computer and a mouse or keyboard. See Bluetooth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
wireless adapter Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Definition of: wireless adapter A device that adds wireless connectivity to a laptop or desktop computer. All of the adapters below are available as external USB modules as well as PCI or PCI Express (PCIe) cards that plug into an empty slot on the motherboard. See PCI and PCI Express.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Computer dictionary definition for what Hub means including related links, information, and terms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Network interface controller - Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I'll show how I'm using a Mac Mini G4 as a file server. I'm sharing files with AFP, NFS, and SMB. I also have a nightly scripted backup to clone primary drives to backup drives.