At the moment my PC connects wirelessly to the router downstairs. It is working fine, although it does drop the speed now and again. Now I'm CONSIDERING connecting the PC and router directly with a cable.

I have a spare roll of Ethernet Crossover cable which is plenty long enough to do the JOB. However, I'm not SURE if it will do the job, or if I need a standard Ethernet cable. No problem if it isn't, but would be nice. I believe a direct connection is faster anyway.PC to router requires the standard ethernet cable.

A crossover cable is to join identical ports (LAN) of computers together. What this does is 'crosses over' specific cables that in essence change in to out, and out to in so that the two computers can talk.

The standard ethernet cable CONNECTIONS are different on either end.

For example, an ethernet cable has 8 pins.
Pin 1 on the ethernet cable goes to point 1 in the machine
Pin 2 to 2 etc,

On a crossover cable:
Pin 1 goes to 8
Pin 2 goes to 7 etc. (format differs slightly as you go through the 8 pins but hopefully you get the idea).

So if I connect the router and PC with this crossover cable, it won't work? I found this earlier when Googling

http://www.certforums.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php?t-16840.html

I guess if I can't use it, I can modify it by removing the one RJ-45 connector, get a new one and wire it the right way? The cable is labelled UTP PATCH CABLE CAT 5EIf you have both items you could try it anyway - but as a rule 99.9% of domestic routers would use the Ethernet cable and not the crossover.

Business devices would have both functions of router and switch so it could restrict traffic to one direction and prevent what they call 'collision', but if you are using a shop bought off the shelf £70/$110 router I doubt yours will.

As we brits say - suck it and see! Quote from: pcwizard on September 11, 2008, 09:07:20 AM

As we brits say - suck it and see!