Your HomeCabling system when complete with an ADSL modem/router will allow you to network multiple computers together and to the Internet. Using this Local Area Network (LAN) arrangement allows simultaneous access to high speed broadband for each individual computer. If you currently use a single computer to connect to the Internet using a USB modem, then you will need to have this primary PC on before others in your home can connect to the Internet. Using an ADSL modem/router (sometimes known solely as a router) removes this requirement.

Situated above the hub, in the above photo, you can see 3 red blocks of 4 four ports per block. Each port is wired back to a single computer data outlet. The data outlets are located in different rooms around your home.

By using patch leads (as optional extras we offer 300mm red ones for data patching) you can patch from the hub to the red ports. Only the ports connected with the red patch leads will be active, thus creating your home network.

In order to make the physical connection to the Internet you will need to connect your ADSLmodem/router to the BT Master socket. To do this you need to split the incoming ADSL enabled phone line into phone and data. This is done using an ADSL Microfilter as shown on the schematic above.

For ISDN users an ISDN access server (which replaces the ADSL modem/router) will allow multiple users to share a single Internet user account over an ISDN phone link.

Printers and data storage

Printers can be shared amongst users on your network by plugging them to any data outlet, with the use of a Printer Server or by using a printer with a built-in Printer Server with a wired LAN connection.

For PC back-up and for use as a music and video server, a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive can be located in or adjacent to the patch panel. By linking this into the router it becomes available for all PCs and accessable by music streaming devices such as Sonos zone players.

Return to HomeCabling patch panel.