[Lula] Lula Digest, Vol 4, Issue 6

[Richard Dawson]

By original advice I assume that you mean the manufacturer's (RCA's) 
instructions.  I know that the Linksys WGT54 wireless router failed to 
communicate with the RCA modem using a straight through cable, and I am 
hoping when I get back with the crossover cable that will solve the problem.

My question is not so much "how to get it working" as it is "should I have 
been surprised."  From your answer I take it that it is unusual for a modem 
to require a crossover connector to hook to a router and a straight through 
connector to hook to a computer.

I seem to recall that for the clasic serial port there were designations of 
DTE (data terminal equippment?) and CTE (computer terminal equipment?) with a 
similar requirement for crossover connectors between like ports. I though all 
ethernet ports were of the same "polarity" and that hubs and switches flipped 
the transmit and receive lines so that all of the connected devices could 
talk to each other.  A crossover would be used to connect to like ports.



On Wednesday 21 February 2007 10:46 am, Bob Pegram wrote:
> The original advice is backwards. A crossover cable should be used between
> computers and between a computer and a DSL modem. A straight-through cable
> (a standard ethernet cable) should be used between a computer and a router
> and between a router and a DSL modem.
>
> Bob Pegram
>
> on 2/21/07 9:00 AM, lula-request at lula.org at lula-request at lula.org wrote:
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> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1.  Question concerning ethernet wiring (rcdawson at att.net)
> > 2. Re:  Question concerning ethernet wiring (Shane Chen)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 05:42:10 +0000
> > From: rcdawson at att.net
> > Subject: [Lula] Question concerning ethernet wiring
> > To: lula at lula.org
> > Cc: sphilips4 at aol.com
> > Message-ID:
> > <022120070542.471.45DBDBB20008A907000001D7216028074802019C990E0B0C9D at att.
> >net>
> >
> >
> > My friend's RCA cable modem has both USB or ethernet connection points. 
> > I have a question about its ethernet connection.  The instruction manual
> > says that in order to connect a single computer to the modem you must use
> > a straight through cable, but if you are to connect multiple computers
> > using a hub or a "hub within a port switch that provides the same
> > function," then you must connect the hub (or hub within a port switch) to
> > the modem with a crossover cable
> >
> > Of course I didn't read the instructions before trying to set this up for
> > my friend, so I  spent many frustrating hours with the modem and my
> > computer both connected to a router with straight through cables. I won't
> > try this again until next weekend, but I assume it will work if, as the
> > instructions advise, I use a crossover cable between the modem and the
> > router.
> >
> > My question:  is this a standard way of doing things?  My home
> > installation has a DSL modem, a router, and several computers all
> > connected together with straight through cables.  I have never tried to
> > connect two computers together directly, but I understand that if one
> > does, one must use a crossover cable.
> >
> > Who is following the standard, my DSL modem manufacturer or RCA?  Or is
> > it left to the discretion of the manufacturer?  How does one refer to the
> > "polarity" of a connection point?
> >
> > I realize this question may be a bit off-topic, but where else could I
> > find such a knowledgeable bunch of folks?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:12:22 -0800
> > From: "Shane Chen" <shane at electricmonk.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Lula] Question concerning ethernet wiring
> > To: lula at lula.org
> > Cc: sphilips4 at aol.com
> > Message-ID:
> > <e75e16af0702210012w3057572bwd279ac240142cad5 at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> >
> > On 2/20/07, rcdawson at att.net <rcdawson at att.net> wrote:
> >> a hub or a "hub within a port switch that provides the same function,"
> >> then you must connect the hub (or hub within a port switch) to the modem
> >> with a crossover cable
> >
> > Depends on the hub or switch.  Some have an "uplink" port that's
> > naturally crossed.  Others have a switch to toggle it.  The newer
> > switches auto-detect the wiring and flip it on its own.
> >
> >> instructions advise, I use a crossover cable between the modem and the
> >> router.
> >
> > Can't hurt.
> >
> > Shane
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
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> >
> > End of Lula Digest, Vol 4, Issue 6
> > **********************************
>
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