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willlbur · 02-06-2019, 01:36 PM

Hello all--

I had cat5e wires run from the entertainment cabinet over the drivers seat to the dinette (1), behind the passenger seat (1), the bedroom tv (1) and the rooftop tv antenna (2). Now I own a lot with a post with ethernet and I would like to have a cat5e from the post to ANY of the other cable locations. My ideal scenario would be cat5e from the entertainment center to any bay down below (I suppose the electric bay would be best)

The electri bay to the BR cabinet seems the shortest distance, and that would work fine.

Basically I want to have a hardwired repeater/access point in the coach that will improve the wireless signal AND allow me to hardwire a few things together to make them work better. That repeater could be in the entertainment cabinet, in the bedroom cabinet, behind the passenger seat or even in a bay under the coach. Anywhere I can get (or already have) a cable from the post and a cable to the entertainment cabinet.

Thanks for any thoughts you have.

theoldwizard · 02-06-2019, 03:43 PM

Having Internet (Cat5E with RJ45 phone style connector) outside on a post, is very unusual, but I will assume this is really what you have.

From the post, run your Cat5E inside to a router. Now things get "interesting". Plain old router allowed multiple "hardwired" (Cat5E with RJ45) to conect to that "hub". A "wired" Internet setup is called a "star topology" because each device connects back to the center, like the rays of light coming from a star. No splices, no daisy chain.

Over time, router got integrated with "wireless access points" (WAP). One box doing two jobs. Now a days, router have mostly been replaced by "switches". Without getting into the details, switches are basically very fast routers. Some have WAP built in some don't.

Dozens and dozens to choose from. Mine are over 10 years old and still work perfect.

I hope I did not confuse you even more.

willlbur · 02-07-2019, 07:03 AM

Thanks so much for your reply. I built a casita next to my lot. As part of building the casita, I ran a lot of cat 5e. All of it terminates at an equipment rack. That is where the router (and a switch) live. One of the runs I put in is from the equipment rack to the RV post. So, now the goal is to get the signal from the cat5 at the post, into the Ventana. It is that wiring run that I need help with. Where is the easiest place to run a cat5e wire from any of the inside locations (dinette, bedroom, or av cabinet overhead) to some inconspicuous location outside the coach (i.e. in some bay).

Stuart W · 02-07-2019, 07:11 AM

Where is your A.V. cabinet? If over the front, run the cable fro under the front of the Motorhome, up the “A” post ( the plastic finisher that covers the area vertically next to the windshield. Put a water tight box below to plug into from the pole.

Stuart W · 02-07-2019, 07:32 AM

Sorry just reread your post, over the drivers seat, definitely the way I described will be your easiest in my opinion.

stemplar · 02-07-2019, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoldwizard

Now a days, router have mostly been replaced by "switches". Without getting into the details, switches are basically very fast routers.

This won't help the OP, but routers and switches are different beasts, and one has not replaced the other, nor will one replace the other. Routers and switches work at different layers of the OSI network model (routers at layer 3, switches at layer 2) and perform different, important functions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model

You are correct though that devices commonly incorporate functions of layer 2 (ethernet and wifi) along with layer 3 (routing) for home- and SOHO-targeted devices.

willlbur · 02-07-2019, 08:42 AM

Stuart--
Thank You. Tow follow up questions. First, when I remove that cover, will it be fairly easy to get back on or am I looking at a genie out of the bottle situation? Second, will it be obvious with that cover off how the wires are exiting the bottom of the coach?

Thanks Again.

Stuart W · 02-07-2019, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willlbur

Stuart--

Thank You. Tow follow up questions. First, when I remove that cover, will it be fairly easy to get back on or am I looking at a genie out of the bottle situation? Second, will it be obvious with that cover off how the wires are exiting the bottom of the coach?

Thanks Again.

The cover comes off pretty easy, the wires will most likely exit through the Fire wall out to under the hood, look for foam sealant with wires going through. Poke a hole in the foam and push wire through. It would be easier to run the wire and then install the end, just need a bigger hole for the end to pass through