direct connection to PC from 5040

You can use a hub or a switch.


A hub is simply a repeater that takes an incoming packet and rebroadcasts it out to anything that is connected to it. A switch learns what is connected to it and sends that packet only to the intended recipient. The added smarts of a switch makes it the better solution.


As for the type, a cheap one would be best At the consumer level there is very little difference in cost between switches and hubs. I would recommend picking up a cheap switch from your local best buy/circuit city/frys. Popular consumer brands are d-link and linksys and both often have rebates running. For reference, BB has the d-link dss 5+ for $30.


You'll need some ethernet cables too. You want to get cat(egory) 5 or 5e. The retailers charge way too much for cables but if you only need a couple short ones... If you need longer cables or more of them I highly recommend gocables.com.


If you are thinking about a broadband connection you may want to consider getting an ethernet router instead of the switch. They are a little more expensive (d-link is $40 after $10 MIR) but they have a built in 4 port switch you can use now and when you do get that broadband connection you will be ready to share it with your Replay and other networked devices.


7241252: All the hub (or switch) would do is allow you to connect your PC to your Replay without using a crossover cable. They really don't "interact" at all. As for upgrading... I don't know what kireol meant but using a x-over cable is very limiting. With a hub/switch you can add other devices to the network. Or as I mentioned above, with a router you are ready for that broadband hookup.

Joule,

Thanks for your response. You seem to know a good bit about this. I know just enough to be dangerous I guess. Read enough about it to peak my interest....


I already have DSL so, what I would like to do is somehow, via Wi Fi or some other means, maximize the use and integration of both 5040's and my old modified replay 2000, coupled with my PC, laptop, pocket PC, palm device, TV, Surround sound, DVD Player, Jukebox 3, etc. I am not a gamer.....


I am renovating a big old house and would like to set it up in the most advantageous way to take advantage of all the so called "toy's" that I use everyday and capitalize on todays "latest" technology to make my lifestyle as convenient as possible. I am retired/disabled so I have a lot of time to diddle around and I enjoy my puter and all the things that interact with it.


At this stage of my life, the cost to accomplish this is secondary to the convenience of being "wired". I'm curious how you and others might approach this matter to achieve this disired outcome. If you were to have anything you wanted in this regard, How would you set it up.


I hope I'm not asking to much of the members but I respect those in the know. Who better to ask?


Thanks again.

Quote:
According to ReplayLyndon, that's not completely true.

http://www.planetreplay.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3018

Frozen, you may want to check the details regarding doppler's comments. My replay connects via ethernet so I don't have any experience sharing in-house when using the phone jack. No sense buying gear to share if you can't.


7241252, since you do have DSL the above really doesn't matter since once you get your replay wired in house it will have access thru your router to the internet (or at least you'll set it up that way).


As for a home networking solution... This is an area that is exploding and there are new products and technologies emerging weekly it seems. Fast ethernet, gigabit ethernet, 802.11a-b-g, even 1394b. Given the myriad of choices, I recommend keeping it simple. Wire as much as is possible/feasible as a sort of "backbone" and then add wireless for portable devices.


That means running cable for your replays, your PC and maybe a couple of other jacks for future expansion. You can go as simple as cat5e or as complex as the stuff that has 3 cat5 cables, video and fiber depending on your needs.


All of these cables come back to a "media panel". Go to the depot or www.leviton.com to get an idea.


You need to decide if you are going to pick up a wireless router or a regular router and a separate wireless access point. I don't have any experience with this but I would lean towards the latter since it gives you more flexibility in placing your media panel in that if you can put both your DSL modem and router in the media panel without worrying about reception. But, wire is wire. You can put your router and DSL modem anywhere you want as long as you run a cable from your router's switch back to a switch in your media panel.


FWIW, I have wired my old house with cat5e which will carry up to 1000 Base-T so there is some room to grow. I pulled two cables (phone and data) for each jack and have jacks in the kitchen, office, next to the TV for my Replay, and by my stereo (as well as other phone only jacks). I have a d-link router that has a simple firewall and DHCP server and 4 10/100 ports. I don't need wireless but if I do I'll just add an access point.


Hope this helps. It is difficult to get specific but maybe this will give you some ides.


good luck!