My computer is quite a long way from my phone point, so at the moment a long phone extension cable connects it to the Web. I've now invested in one of those Wanadoo broadband boxes which comes with a modem etc. The trouble is, the short cable included isn't long enough to reach from computer to phone point. What sort of cable am I going to need to hook them together, and will it make any difference which way I do it i.e. should I have the modem next to the phone point and then a long cable to the computer, or vice versa (if that makes any sense)? You can tell I'm not a geek, can't you. And please, don't tell me to get a wireless network because I'd never figure it out.

i can install an extra phone point for you nearer the pc pm me and i`ll give you my number.

:thumbsup:

Hi Metalman,
if you don't want a nearer phone point as suggested by pj66 above, then it might be a longer network cable that you want.
This cable is called CAT5 cable [category 5 being a computer standard] and the plugs on the ends are called R J 45. They come in straight or crossover versions. If you go to your local computer store, they will make you a cable up while you wait. You will need a straight through version, but you can connect 2 PCs together with a crossover.

Or if you're close to woodseats pm me..

stick a wirless router next to the bt socket = no need for any wires to the pc :)

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Hi Metalman,
if you don't want a nearer phone point as suggested by pj66 above, then it might be a longer network cable that you want.
This cable is called CAT5 cable [category 5 being a computer standard] and the plugs on the ends are called R J 45. They come in straight or crossover versions. If you go to your local computer store, they will make you a cable up while you wait. You will need a straight through version, but you can connect 2 PCs together with a crossover.

Or if you're close to woodseats pm me..

Depends on the btoadband modem being used. Some of them use USB instead of ethernet connections.

I have the same problem, only i have my PC upstairs, in my room, and the phone socket is in mum and dads room next door, and a socket downstairs in the hall but the cable doesnt reach to eithert socket, so i have a telephone extn cable plugged into the phone socekt upstairs with a DSL filter in the end nearest the PC, and a DSL filter in the socket downstairs with all the phones etc plugged into the "Phone" section on the DSL filter. All works fine for me.

Thanks for all the replies.

First things first. We've already got 4 phone points (installed by the people who used to live here) and the computer isn't anywhere near any of them. But I don't think more phone points is going to be the answer (not least because we might start running into REN trouble if we have more things connected).

The problem with the wireless router is really that it costs about an extra 70 quid or so, so although it may be the most technologically appropriate solution I'm not sure I want to go down that road unless if I can get away with something cheaper.

Avalon, I thought they didn't recommend using ordinary phone extension cable for broadband connections (though I don't know why not).

This is definitely a modem which plugs into a USB port. That being the case, what sort of cable would we need then instead of the CAT5?

Your modem will stay next to your computer.
The cable connecting it to your phone socket is RJ11 and if you want to buy an extension cable of required length you can get it Maplins, most computer shops or online. About £1.00 per metre.

http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/help/id/7103.htm?linkfrom=help&link=2_topItem&article=BROADBAND_setup

Like many others, I am running broadband perfectly well on a 10 metre normal telephone extension cable. But if you run into connection problems, it will always be questioned as a possible source of the problem.

p.s. you could do better than Wanadoo.

Ta for that. Using the ordinary phone cable seems to be the thing to try first then, and if that doesn't work we'll go for this other sort.

Now I'm thinking, why couldn't I find that help page on Wanadoo when I looked for it earlier. And yes, I probably could do better in terms of price than Wanadoo but it would mean changing lots of other things so I'm going for the easy life, at least for now.

Originally posted by metalman
Ta for that. Using the ordinary phone cable seems to be the thing to try first then, and if that doesn't work we'll go for this other sort.

Now I'm thinking, why couldn't I find that help page on Wanadoo when I looked for it earlier. And yes, I probably could do better in terms of price than Wanadoo but it would mean changing lots of other things so I'm going for the easy life, at least for now.

Yeah they say that normal telephone extensions have aluminium in them whcih interferes wiuth the #BB signal?? Mine is working ok at the moment....

A decent wireless router would be a 3com adsl wireless router and modem, with free 54g card available from dabs.com @£79 i believe, worth the money i use it and never had any problems, v.easy to setup too

regarding the "ren problems" you can have as many sockets as you like its the equipment you connect to them thats the problem the phone extension i`m offering would be a professional job not off the shelf from diy shop stuff, (just in case you was wondering lol)

:thumbsup: