Internet/networking help. Questions on topics above my head.

[cruiseroutfit]

First off, specific to Comcast, does anyone know how many phone lines their system will support? Right now we have Comcast cable for Internet, TV and a single phone line. I'm wanting to add a second phone line for a true phone and fax setup. The alternative is to do an online fax system?

Next. I have a Comcast modem that kicks out internet to my Linksys router through a single Cat5, which then sends it to several different computers, printers, etc. What if I wanted to have two routers? One in my house (current setup) and another in my shop out back? Can I simply send a Cat5 from a channel on my router to a another router in the shop? Would that provide the needed feed or is there some kind of 'splitter' I need between the modem and the two routers?

Or, can I split my cable input and send that to two different modems which then feed routers and phones? Would that give me two phone lines??

When we built my shop we ran 2 x Cat5 and 2 x RG6 cables between the shop and the house, so that shouldn't be more than a matter of terminating the ends correctly and then sending things where it needs to go right?

Lastly, anyone do this for a living that could give me an estimate to do this for me? Thanks!

 

[Caleb]

By default the comcast system only support one or two phones, depends on your modem. I don't think fax will work over their system, I could be wrong though. You would have to call and talk to them since you will need another number anyways. The online fax systems are way nicer than having a fax machine, especially if you get most of your stuff (invoices, or whatever else you need to receive or send) digitally anyways.

Comcast proveds a single connection, you then can do whatever you want with it from that point. Right now you are feeding that to your linksys, which should be a switch as well. That makes it easy, you can either get a nicer switch or use what you've already got. Just terminate one of your cat5 lines from your shop, plug it in to your linksys, then terminate the other side that's in your shop and plug it in to another switch (that could be another wireless access point if you wanted it to be wireless over there). From the switch in your shop, you can then run cat5 lines to your desktop, laptop, or anywhere else you would like to have wired networking.

You can't split your cable and use another modem. You would have to pay for two accounts to do that, not worth it, especially cause what you have will already work.

I don't do this for a living but if it's just a couple connections, I could probably swing by on my way home one of these days and help you atleast get your stuff laid out how it should be and terminate your connections.

The last option, and IMO the least desirable option, is to just setup a wireless access point in your shop that attaches (as a client) to your current wireless and then re-broadcasts it. No wiring would be needed to do this, but then you are also subject to wireless interference.

 

[Herzog]

No idea on the phone/fax.

Droping another router in would just need some slight config changes to make sure it's not trying to act as the gateway through your modem. Other than that, easy squeezy. I also have the crimping tools if you need a hand.

 

[rholbrook]

You are either (1) going to need 2 phone lines for this

Or (2) you can connect the fax machine to that line, and call Comcast, and ask for a distinctive ring number.

This is a second phone number that will ring through on the main line, only in a distinctive ring patter (2 long rings One short ring, or something else) The fax machine has a setting for this, and its usually only a few dollars extra a month.

That way you will have a dedicated fax line, without having 2 phone lines. This is what I do for my fax line in my home. There are some fax machines that are not compatible with their service by not many if I remember right.

As far connecting the shop, you will need to crimp your CAT5 ends in the proper order and then either connect directly to your computer in your shop to your Router or Switch in your home. If you have more than one computer in your shop that needs connection then you will need a little switch in your shop that will connect to your home and then you can connect your computers in your shop to the switch.

I have the tools and RJ45 ends you need as well as the know how. I can either come with Caleb or if you become my gopher we should be able to knock in out in just a few minutes. My fee??? A 32oz Diet Coke.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Awesome guys, thanks for all the input. I'll definitely be in touch.

My current router is a Linksys WRT54G, do I need something better?

I need to call Comcast but our modem does say 'Telephone 1/2' on the back so I'm assuming two lines is a possibility?

 

[Herzog]

My current router is a Linksys WRT54G, do I need something better?

I have 2 of those (well, a WRT54G and a WRT54GL) both running tomato firmware which is awesome. Opens up more options.
Depending on which version of the 54G that you have, you will be able to flash it to a better firmware. One of them I just use primarily for an SSH tunnel point. Sorry, probably jibberish. That Linksys will do fine. Pickup a decent 4 or 8 port switch to put in the shop and you will be set. If you want wifi access in the shop find another WRT56GL to keep it simple.

If you want to do gigabit ethernet between your home and office, you will need different routers/switches.

 

[gijohn40]

I have a 8 port or 16 port switch I can let go for 10 buck if you want... or I have a couple of 5 port hubs you can have... and I also do this work and could do the ends as well...

So many options for you!

 

[chans]

Your best bet on the fax would be to just run a standard analog copper line. We ran faxes of off VOIP at my last job and they have nothing but problems because the baud rate of the fax is too slow.
I can help out as well. I use to set up networks for our local companies years ago. I ran an E2000 router that had one of the lines running to an E1000 because my neighbor couldn't connect to the E2000 because of his OS until I upgraded him to service pack 2.