Service call. On site, a farm with business office.
Dsl at nid. cable to jbox 2'pvc to barn 90'. cable back feeds to remolded milk house now a nice office also. 45'. All the cable is 5 or 5e. There are two offices in the barn. My question is would it be best to set the Dsl modem in the barn then branch out to pc locations about 6. Of course no money to upgrade wiring just wants it to work. This is a new owner to the property. I did a quick connection to get dsl to milk house so he can do billing.
Any ideas Gary S.

Keep in mind that using CAT5 or 5E more than quadruples the actual length of the copper pair.

Put the DSL modem as close to the entrance point of the DSL service, then place a switched hub there to distribute the 10/100 networking from there. You'll obviously want to place the modem/switch as close to where the highest concentration of users is. With that being said, you can tap the phone line carrying the DSL nearly anywhere since it goes a lot farther than your LAN ouputs on the other side of the side of the modem.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you need to place the modem in a location that most easily allows you to extend the LAN connections elsewhere within 328 feet in a perfect world.

Don't forget that if you have to get down and dirty, you only need two pairs in CAT5/5E on pins 1,2,3 and 6 if necessary for TP Ethernet networking. It will work, but might not be perfect.

Maybe after you utilize the wiring that you have to work with and when the customer realizes the issues that may arise, they'll crack the checkbook open just a little bit wider to do it correctly.

I hate cutting corners in order to make it work, but often once you show the customer that it works marginally at minimal expense, they will soon realize that they need to do it right. Just keep it clear with them that you're doing your best to give them what they want within limited means.

Ed, don't you mean to say a router?

You might consider wireless behind the DSL modem.

Jeff,

No a switch or even a hub would work. You're looking for something to distribute the IP signals from the DSL modem to the computers. Being as DSL usually doesn't get above 3 Mbs then even a connection with a maximum speed of 10 mbs would work.

There's no need for a router in this situation. The DSL "modem" will either handle the router functionality (depending on the model) or it will just go look for a router in the POP.


Sam

I've always had to put routers behind DSL and Cable modems. Since you only get one IP, you have to NAT through the router to have multiple computers.

Jeff-

That's a good point. The last couple of DSL "modems" I saw were actually routers, but I had hubs working off my first modem and it was just a modem.

I believe I used Windows Networking to set up individual IP addresses, but as I recall I had a "real" IP address on the Telco side of the modem and an address of 192.168.1.1 on the customer side.

Maybe it was a Verizon thing?

Sam

DSL modems from Verizon around here are traditionaly routers as well with an internal ip of 192.168.x.xxx

Almost every DSL modem that I have seen and installed also functions as a router. Usually incorporates a 4-port 10/100 switch and either 802.11G/N wireless. Most instances the modem is all you need. If you need more ports, add a switch or utilize the wireless.

I've seen many standalone modems from at&t here...some lucky businesses such as my optometrist have a modem with 4 port router built in, which then feeds to a larger switch.

a lot of broadband modems around here have no routing capabilities so a switch won't cut it you would need a router

I would take both and try the switch first to see if you can get IP's on two devices

Like Skip said, I guess it depends on what deal the carrier got that week on equipment :p

Wow - that's a lot of interesting information. So - since the speed of the DSL (which actually can go up to 50mbs) is less than 100mbs ethernet, you might as well leave the modem and router at the demarc (near the nid) if you have power there. If the modem doesn't include a router (which you need to serve to do NAT and DHCP for IP address) then add one. Then run ethernet cabling - Cat 5/5e to your first building and put a switch (which many people call a hub) to connect your computers. From that switch, run a cable to your next building and connect another switch to connect your computers.

If your going bldg to bldg you should use fiber between bldgs , in my opinion anytime Ethernet leaves a bldg it should go to fiber


a switch and a hub are two different devices with different capabilities no matter what some people call them

A switch has one collision domain per port and a hub is one collision domain for the whole unit (big difference). All traffic on a hub is presented to all ports. In a switch only thetraffic destined for your computer appears at at your port (except for bradcast messages).

Oh network topography.
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