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  • Thread starter Thread starter Andrew Hill
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Andrew Hill

Have two computers in our home. Want to network them
together. All I find talks about useing a Hub or switch
for multipule computers. With just two computers is there
any reson why they can't be conected diretly with out a
hub or switch?
 
Hi, Andrew -

There's no reason at all they can't be connected with
just a cable - but it needs to be kind of a special cable.

One of the functions a network hub performs is to make
the transmit and receive pairs on all those network
cables like up - to connect two computers by just a
network cable you need to have a cable that has a couple
of pairs reversed so the transmit and receive lines on
the PCs line up.

Most people call this a crossover cable and any decent
computer shop ought to be able to make you one in about
five minutes. If the computer shop gives you a blank
look, tell them to cut one end off a regular network
cable, swap pair 1+2 with pair 3+6 and crimp a new end on
the cable - so one end will look like this -

12345678

and the other end will look like this -

36145278

Then you just hook the PCs up - and instant network ;-)

Good luck -
 
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