What type of cable do I need for my modem?
It might be difficult to deal with a pile of network cables for the first time.We are here to help if you need to fix an issue with your network or set up your own.There are some situations where using a cable might be better for you.
Jump to: How to connect your computer to the internet, cables, and how to get a faster internet connection.
If you are connecting your computer to the internet for the first time, you should have all the cables in the box.If you double-check that you have all the cables listed on the parts list, you will be ready to connect.
The first thing to do is make sure your internet connection is working.If you have a separate modem, you will need to connect it to a cable.The one that you connect to your modem is usually labeled internet or wide area network.It may be a different color than the other ports.
If you combine your modem and router in a single device, you just need to make sure that the device is connected to wherever your internet connection enters the house.The type of internet you have affects the connection.If you connect your modem to a phone jack, you'll be able to use cable internet in your house.You can find more information on cable types.
It is time to connect your computer.Plug the cable into the network port of your computer, then the other end into one of the ports on the router.
Plug your modem into one of the other ports on your routers, if it has an Ethernet port for connecting to it.These are often referred to as a local area network.
You can turn your computer on once you have all the cables installed.You should be connected to the internet now.
Most of the time, the routers are used for connecting devices like a shared printer or an external hard drive instead of connecting to the internet.You will want to use the Ethernet ports instead of the USB ones, even though your computer and the router both have them.
The main type of cable used in computer networking is ethn cables.Depending on the kind of internet connection you have, you might have to deal with other kinds as well.It is helpful to know some details about the different types of cables.
There are a lot of cables used in computer networking.There is a phone jack on either end.The telephone cable is thinner than the cable.
Telephone cables and phone jacks are used in most houses in the US.Unless you have dial-up internet, you won't use telephone cables or jacks.
It is important to note that the smaller telephone cable will fit into the larger Ethernet port but doing so can damage the device, so make sure that you have the right cable that looks like it fits the jack before you plug it in.
Coaxial cables look different from other networking cables.The end is a circular one with a single sharp pin.A coaxial cable is used to connect a cable modem to the internet.If you plug the cable into the modem, make sure you screw it on securely because they have a screw-on connection.
There are several types of networking cable that you might encounter.Cat5 cables are also known as standard Ethernet cables.The old CAT5 standard is an improvement over the current one.The next generation of Ethernet standards are called CAT6 cables.Most connections don't require the increased performance of CAT6 cables, so those interested in future-proofing their wired network can make the leap to Cat6 without any issues.
It is easy to get the right kind of cable.It is difficult to tell if a cable is right for the job if you just pull one out of your closet.The manufacturer, bandwidth, certifications, and much more are printed on the sheath of the cables.You can find out what kind of cable it is by looking at the words.If you're not sure, you can always replace an old cable with a new one.The cables are cheap.
The name of the cable is sometimes referred to as RJ-45 cables.If someone talks about a "RJ-45" cable, they're really just talking about any Ethernet cable.
There are special cables that can be used to connect two PCs directly without using a router.The pins are reversed on one side.If you try to use one in place of a normal straight-through cable, it won't work properly.
Adding new devices doesn't require additional cables once your home wi-fi network is set up.There are a few situations where physical connections might be better for you.
Your connection isn't as fast as the slowest one.All that bandwidth is going to be wasted if you haven't upgraded your router since 2005 and you're paying for the fastest internet connection money can buy.If you want to improve your connection speed, you should use an Ethernet cable to connect your laptop to your computer.
If you have been using satellite internet, you should upgrade to gigabit internet because it is a huge leap in speed.It will not do you much good if you can't get a gigabit wi-fi signal.
If you are already paying for internet, you should upgrade to a gigabit router.Plug your computer into your current router if you are taking your time considering your options or just saving up for a new one.Even if your wi-fi can't handle your connection speed, Ethernet cables can.If you find an internet service provider that offers multigigabit speeds, you can use CAT6 cables.
One downside to using a wi-fi network is that it can end up with dead zones.There are two choices for dealing with dead zones.
The most convenient option is to invest in extenders.These can be used to boost the signal in your home.
If you have just one dead zone where your work computer sits, it might be better to spend $10 on an Ethernet cable rather than $100 on a fancy wi-fi extender.
If the dead zones in your house are too far away from your router to get a good signal, this solution is not practical.Since they don't require any soldering, it's easy to make Ethernet cables.You can get 1,000 feet of fancy CAT6 cable for less than a single wi-fi extender if you want to physically wire your whole house.
While speed and signal strength are the main concerns when building a home network, there is one category where wired connections beat wi-fi hands down.The time it takes for a signal from your computer to travel to a remote server is called lag.
Since the software can buffer the video stream to keep it running smoothly, activities like streaming video are unaffected.Playing online games has to account for every action in real time so it is very sensitive to latency.lag in your games can be caused by high latency and you can even be disconnected in the middle of playing.
Plug your PC or console in next to your router and you'll be good to go.Installation of a long cable will give you a better experience with less lag than using a wi-fi extender.
Even if you don't use physical cables, having a spare cable lying around can be useful.If your wi-fi connection goes down, a spare cable can help you fix your problem or at least keep you connected while you work on a more permanent solution.
When you can't connect to anything, it can be hard to fix your wi-fi problems.If you want to fix your wi-fi problems, you can either go into your router's settings or update its firmware.If the internet isn't working, you'll need a cable to connect.If you have a broken antenna, you can use your cable to stay connected until a new one arrives.
It is easy to take Ethernet cables for granted since they are inexpensive and ubiquitous.It is important to remember that they are not the most durable cables out there.There is usually no way to tell from the outside if the cable is tight or not.You can swap out the cable for another if you still can't connect.It is possible that it might be broken.This is a common problem, so it is always worth checking.
Even though connecting your devices to the internet might make you feel like you were in the 1990s, they are still useful.It is not a bad idea to keep a spare cable in the closet just in case.
Peter Christiansen is a writer for HighSpeedInternet.com.Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years.His writing has been praised by a number of publications.
Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years and she's edited all things internet for five years.She received a degree in English and editing from a university.She makes tech accessible through her writing for brands.She believes that a good internet connection extends your life span and that no one should feel lost in internet land.