3 things you need to enjoy Super Fast Wired Networking

Most broadband ISPs provide you with a router to run your internet connection over a simple home network. These routers share the internet access between all the computers and other devices in your home. They can be connected with Ethernet cables, or wirelessly via Wi-Fi.



However, you may not be getting the most out of your network. Wi-Fi can be slow and unreliable, and the Ethernet ports on your bundled router might not be the fastest available. By checking your network and making a few simple upgrades, you may be able to get even more speed from It. Installing Gigabit Ethernet can revolutionise your network.

Gigabit Ethernet equipment

There are three things you need to enjoy super-fast wired networking:

#1. Gigabit Ethernet router

To set up a wired network you need a hub, a switch or a router (also known as a residential gateway). If you already have a wireless router, it will probably have some Ethernet ports ready for plugging a cable into, although they may not support Gigabit Ethernet. To check, have a read through the device’s manual or check its specifications online. If it doesn’t offer the fastest type, you’ll need to consider upgrading.

#2. Gigabit Ethernet adapters

All the computers you intend to connect by wire will need to have a network adapter installed. Most desktop PCs will come with a Network Interface Card (or NIC) built in, but you can easily add one if yours does not.

To check if your NIC supports Gigabit Ethernet, look in the manual (for the card or your motherboard, if it’s an integrated device). Alternatively, go to the Network Connections window.

Don’t worry if your system does not currently support Gigabit Ethernet, because you can easily upgrade it by installing a third-party adapter.

Check if your PC supports Gigabit Ethernet
It’s easy enough to check the speed of your network adapters. Click Start, type ncpa.cpl into the box and hit enter. The Network Connections window will open. Right-click the Local Area Connection (LAN) entry, and select Properties. Click Configure, then select the Advanced tab.



Locate the Speed/Duplex Settings or Connection Type entry on the left. Select it, then click the Value field. If you see any 1000 values, it means your device supports Gigabit Ethernet. If you only see 10 and 100 values, you’ll need to upgrade. Another way of checking is to install a program like PC Wizard 2012.

Don’t worry if your system does not currently support Gigabit Ethernet, because you can easily upgrade it by installing a third-party adapter.

#3. The correct cables

You will need to get the right cables to connect everything. Although a category 5 (Cat5) cable will be fine, more up-to- date Cat5e cables give better performance (the ‘e’ stands for enhanced).

[caption id="attachment_220" align="aligncenter" width="340"] Cat5e and Cat6 cables perform better than standard Cat5.[/caption]

You can also consider category 6 (Cat6) cables. These are more expensive. Cat6 won’t deliver massive speed improvements, but it can handle more bandwidth and adds some future- proofing to your home network, especially if you’re going to properly fix the cables so they are hidden from view.

the exact length you need (100 metres is the maximum length allowed). Any spare cabling will go to waste and add a slight delay to transfer times. You can trim long cables down to the length and add the RJ45 plugs to the end yourself, although this can be tricky, especially if you have never done it before.