Get the Right Cable for Your DIY Internet Needs

No one wants to pay exorbitant internet installation fees or wait around all day for a technician with a vague, sometime between 9AM and 5PM appointment to come in and set up internet connection for you. Sometimes it is just easier to figure it out yourself, especially if you already have the modem and router. Even though internet hook-ups can be daunting with all the cables that need to be run or knowing which one is for what. It’s not as overwhelming as you may think as long as you know what the specific cables are for, so here is a list of common cables and their uses.

• Cat5: A cat5 cables (or category 5) are Ethernet cables that you can run from your modem to your computer for a fast connection, or from your modem to your router to provide a connection in places that cannot be hard lined. Although these cables have been rendered pretty much obsolete by upgraded versions like the cat5e cables, and are generally not used anymore in installations; a well-made cat5 cable can last up to ten years you don’t have to worry about any replacements for a long time.

• Cat5e: The cat5e cables (or Category 5 enhanced) is supposed to be and upgrade to the cat5 cables, allowing for faster speed and less interference or the cross-talk that occasionally happens between the wires, but are basically used for the same purpose.

• Cat6: These cat6 cables are an upgraded version of the cat5e cables, which means even faster connection speeds and with an internal separator cuts down cross-talk between wires even more diligently.

• HDMI: HDMI cables allow you to connect devices for audio and video, for example, connecting your computer to your T.V. You would use an HDMI cable. HDMI are more suitable for audio/video purposes than an hdmi dvi cable because they are less bulky and the dvi only connects video so they are rarely used anymore. When it comes to audio and video the cable length really doesn’t matter unless you need to connect something over a long distance, in this case, you may want to go with 100 or 75 hdmi cable that is specifically designed for this purpose.

• USB: The usb cables (or universal serial bus) are one of the most commonly used because they connect devices to your computers, such as webcams, printer, and the mouse.

I know it seems like a lot but just remember the cat cables basically do the same thing you just need to decide on how fast you want your connection to be. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to pay over $50 for a single HDMI cable, some stores do charge around this amount but it doesn’t mean you have to pay that price everywhere. Now that you now the different cables and their uses you can go ahead and cancel that hazy appointment time, so go ahead DIY and get on with your day.