Extending Ethernet through wall without too many boxes

David · 2024-05-13T11:04:46+00:00

I need to extend my Ethernet network outside to allow use of an AP to provide signal to the garden area.Running a new cable from the switch under the stairs is a real pain due to difficult access between the floors around the stairs.One option is an existing internal socket in the outside wall.I don't think that there is enough spare cable to disconnect and run it through the wall to the outside to a new socket, mount a router out there, then take a cable back in to the wall socket.I can connect a router inside, but want to avoid a box on the work surface or adjoining wall.Is there is a straightforward way to extend Cat5E from within a double back box?A very small router and power supply seems far too big.I could fit an extender (socket type) to the cable but I'm not really keen on this. Is there a connector with punch down connectors on both sides to extend a run of Ethernet?As usual, once I start typing out the details I think of more options.CheersDave R

T

Theo 2 years ago

That's interesting, I hadn't come across those. They look quite handy.

For the record those are PHYs - they go after the MAC chip which is the one that talks USB/PCI/PCIe/... There might be a USB ethernet adapter which has such a Marvell PHY after its MAC, but it's a job to find one unless you look at teardown photos. Many cheaper devices have combined MAC and PHY in the same silicon so that makes them less likely. You could hunt around for PCI(e) cards with Marvell PHY chips on them I suppose.

But it might be easier just to buy a proper TDR, ~$80:

formatting link

You're several levels of checksumming at that point, which covers a multitude of sins. But bodging it now stores up problems for the future - our entire office building had to be rewired because the contractors who installed cat5 when it was built only wired 2 pairs, which was all that was needed for 'super fast' 100Mbit at the time (the cable was fine, but all the terminations had to be redone).

2.5/5/10G copper is becoming more common and better to do it right than do it twice.

Theo

Vote

T

The Natural Philosopher 2 years ago

All this theory and possibility is trumped by the fact that a soldered joint actually leaves the pairs a lot more twisted than an RJ45 plug and socket does.

And a soldered joint inside a house is far less likely to corrode than a punch down...

I repeat my mantra. Punch down is designed so that numpties can do wiring, and the Ethernet specification is robust enough for rather crap connections not to fail.

And punchdown is rather crap compared with soldering.

In many years of Ethernet I have NEVER come across a link that 'worked with high error rate'

They work, or they don't IME.

PS you won't see errors in file transfer using TCP/IP because that has its own error checking. The effect of corruption on IP links is to reduce throughput, as the retransmissions become more frequent.

If your Ethernet is doing full speed IP transfers it has nothing wrong with it.

Vote

V

Vir Campestris 2 years ago

How far is your deck?

I get good coverage all over the garden from the router _inside_ my home office - a timber framed, plasterboard lined room. Out to at least 30m.

OTOH we don't have many neighbours to interfere with the signal.

Andy

Vote

D

David 2 years ago

Are you aware that some WAPs can be configured as repeaters. No need for any additional UTP cabling

Vote

D

David 2 years ago

Yes, thanks.

The issue is getting enough signal to the WAP.

We sit right outside the bifold doors which is where the WAP would have to go.

Problem may have been solved by a new WiFi6 WAP in the living area, which is far more effective than the old route which was being used as a WAP.

Cheers

Dave R

Vote

D

David 2 years ago

Deck is directly outside the bifold doors of the rear living/dining/ cooking area.

The problem seems to be the bifold doors blocking the WIFi signal.

However have just installed a new WiFi6 WAP w2here the old WAP was, and the signal is much stronger.

So I may not need the wiring after all.

Cheers

Dave R

Vote

D

David 2 years ago

If you still have problems, you could try using a directional (gain) antenna, a booster amplifier or a combination of both, such as

formatting link

If you need to buy cables with SMA connectors, be aware that they come in two flavours, SMA and SMA-RP (Reverse Polarity). Wifi antenna connectors are usually SMA-RP.

At 2.4GHz the cables are lossy, and it is very easy to loose more signal in the cable that you are likely to gain with a gain antenna or a signal amplifier.

Vote