[Scabbraidz]

Can you plug a LAN cable into an Ethernet port?
Basically want I want to know: Is LAN and Ethernet both the same thing?

I know some may find my questions stupid, but I just wanna know so I won't mess something up....

[Joe's Dad]

Originally Posted by Scabbraidz

Can you plug a LAN cable into an Ethernet port?
Basically want I want to know: Is LAN and Ethernet both the same thing?

I know some may find my questions stupid, but I just wanna know so I won't mess something up....

Those are not stupid questions.

But the proper way to ask the question would be to ask if you can connect an Ethernet cable to a WAN, LAN or WLAN port.

Ethernet is an IEEE term for a wiring configuration. The connectors are 8-pin and referred to as RJ-45 connectors.

WAN (Wide Area Network) refers to the incoming signal for internet service.

LAN (Local Area Network) refers to a short distance signal (like connecting a computer to a modem, router, switch, etc.)

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is connect your computer, device wirelessly.

What was your question again? LOL

LAn

[Scabbraidz]

Originally Posted by Joe's Dad

Those are not stupid questions.

But the proper way to ask the question would be to ask if you can connect an Ethernet cable to a WAN, LAN or WLAN port.

Ethernet is an IEEE term for a wiring configuration. The connectors are 8-pin and referred to as RJ-45 connectors.

WAN (Wide Area Network) refers to the incoming signal for internet service.

LAN (Local Area Network) refers to a short distance signal (like connecting a computer to a modem, router, switch, etc.)

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is connect your computer, device wirelessly.

What was your question again? LOL

LAn

Your reply is very helpful. I guess my question is, can I plug an Ethernet cable into a LAN port? From the Google search results it looks like LAN and Ethernet ports are the same thing just worded differently.

[Scabbraidz]

As you can tell I'm technologically retarded.

[Joe's Dad]

Originally Posted by Scabbraidz

As you can tell I'm technologically retarded.

What are you trying to connect? Computer, Blu-ray, Wii?

From what to what is the question. LOL

And yes, Ethernet cables fit LAN ports. hahaaa

[Scabbraidz]

Originally Posted by Joe's Dad

What are you trying to connect? Computer, Blu-ray, Wii?

From what to what is the question. LOL

Trying to connect a blu-ray to a receiver/modem. The blu-ray has a LAN port and the receiver/modem has an Ethernet port. Can you plug an Ethernet cable into a LAN port?

[Scabbraidz]

Originally Posted by Joe's Dad

What are you trying to connect? Computer, Blu-ray, Wii?

From what to what is the question. LOL

And yes, Ethernet cables fit LAN ports. hahaaa

Damn it! While I was replying back, you edited and answered my question included in my reply!! Thank you for your advice and helping a technological retard, such as myself.

[Joe's Dad]

Originally Posted by Scabbraidz

Damn it! While I was replying back, you edited and answered my question included in my reply!! Thank you for your advice and helping a technological retard, such as myself.

I watch YouTube on a 42" or 60" tv. I'm gonna check out your link next time i go on.

[Toolbox]

Ethernet is a term for a type of connection. WAN, LAN, and WLAN are descriptors of the type of network that you are connecting to. Simply put when you plug an Ethernet cable into your blu-ray player with the other end into a router or switch then you are connecting to a LAN because it's the network within your house. Now the modem which is connected to the outside world is your WAN because it takes your traffic out of your home network. Now the modem has an Ethernet connection labeled as WAN because its telling you that when you plug the Ethernet cable into it you will be communicating to the outside... the actual outside WAN is not Ethernet because at most an Ethernet cable can handle no more than 1000ft cable length so fiber, coax, or twisted copper lines (plain old telephone wire), and are regulated by a different set of standards.

[Joe's Dad]

Originally Posted by Toolbox

Ethernet is a term for a type of connection. WAN, LAN, and WLAN are descriptors of the type of network that you are connecting to. Simply put when you plug an Ethernet cable into your blu-ray player with the other end into a router or switch then you are connecting to a LAN because it's the network within your house. Now the modem which is connected to the outside world is your WAN because it takes your traffic out of your home network. Now the modem has an Ethernet connection labeled as WAN because its telling you that when you plug the Ethernet cable into it you will be communicating to the outside... the actual outside WAN is not Ethernet because at most an Ethernet cable can handle no more than 1000ft cable length so fiber, coax, or twisted copper lines (plain old telephone wire), and are regulated by a different set of standards.

Now ur really gonna turn Scabbraidz upside down!!! hahhaaaa

Toolz...u ever had a chance to go into a central office for DSL, HSI or Fiber data switching? I can get pretty wild seeing all those miles of wire in a rack.

[Scabbraidz]

Originally Posted by Toolbox

Ethernet is a term for a type of connection. WAN, LAN, and WLAN are descriptors of the type of network that you are connecting to. Simply put when you plug an Ethernet cable into your blu-ray player with the other end into a router or switch then you are connecting to a LAN because it's the network within your house. Now the modem which is connected to the outside world is your WAN because it takes your traffic out of your home network. Now the modem has an Ethernet connection labeled as WAN because its telling you that when you plug the Ethernet cable into it you will be communicating to the outside... the actual outside WAN is not Ethernet because at most an Ethernet cable can handle no more than 1000ft cable length so fiber, coax, or twisted copper lines (plain old telephone wire), and are regulated by a different set of standards.

Originally Posted by Joe's Dad

Now ur really gonna turn Scabbraidz upside down!!! hahhaaaa

Toolz...u ever had a chance to go into a central office for DSL, HSI or Fiber data switching? I can get pretty wild seeing all those miles of wire in a rack.

You both have been very helpful. I pretty much have my confusion about LAN and Ethernet ports straightened out now. Again to the both of you; Thanks for your help!

[Toolbox]

Originally Posted by Joe's Dad

Now ur really gonna turn Scabbraidz upside down!!! hahhaaaa

Toolz...u ever had a chance to go into a central office for DSL, HSI or Fiber data switching? I can get pretty wild seeing all those miles of wire in a rack.

Haven't been in one of those, but I have been in ESPN's broadcast facility in Bristol CT. There are enough wires running through that place to drive one crazy. Wires going every which way connecting video servers, video recording servers, all the broadcast gear that links all the studios, playback rooms, control rooms, remote rooms, scrubbing rooms, transmission facility.... etc. I can only imagine what a central office looks like.

[Toolbox]

Originally Posted by Scabbraidz

You both have been very helpful. I pretty much have my confusion about LAN and Ethernet ports straightened out now. Again to the both of you; Thanks for your help!

Your welcome. As you can tell we have a wealth of tech knowledge on this site so if you have any other questions just give us a holler and we'll answer you!

[Josiah]

Originally Posted by Toolbox

Haven't been in one of those, but I have been in ESPN's broadcast facility in Bristol CT. There are enough wires running through that place to drive one crazy. Wires going every which way connecting video servers, video recording servers, all the broadcast gear that links all the studios, playback rooms, control rooms, remote rooms, scrubbing rooms, transmission facility.... etc. I can only imagine what a central office looks like.

Try an Aircraft sometime LOL
We have miles of wires in a very small area...

[Kuchhogya0]

The connectors are 8-pin and referred to as RJ-45 connectors.????

[Nickirwin]

The LAN ports on your router are intended to be plugged with Ethernet cables (there are usually 4 of them), which will give connection to the devices plugged at the other end.

However, make sure you don't confuse them with the WAN port, since it has a different purpose and won't provide a connection.

[jia28]

Hi,
In most cases yes, both of the cable types you mentioned use RJ-45 connectors so they most likely will be interchangeable. You can use them without any major concern and you will be fine.

I am speculating here but assuming that you are referring to cables behind a modem, router, or Ethernet switch.

The only issues I could you running into would be inconsistency in your network cabling (cat5, cat6) slowing down your network communication speeds. However if your devices (router, modem, switch) are intelligent they can adjust in a small household environment.





Dafont Showbox FileHippo

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by Toolbox

I can only imagine what a central office looks like.

A 1920 Central Office, 1930, 1940, 1955, up to 1986, 1990 or today?

LOL, up to 1986 depending on the area supported; up to several hundred meters of racks for incoming lines, the same for patchfields, a ball of the size of a ballroom for rotary lifting selectors (system 1925) or Precious metal rotary motor selector system 1955v including the racks for the connecting lines between the rooms.

In 1986 you suddenly needed only a quarter of the size for the hardware but you didn't spare any room cause the air conditioning system took up the saved space. There was no air conditioning before 1986.

LOL,nowadays I have not seen but most likely even more cramped than back in the seventies. LOL, even smaller components needing ever larger air conditioning; may be.

I have only seen a local sub central office supporting of two subnets of 10.000 users each in the 80ties.

LOL, I can tell you about the pb accumulator in the cellar of the Central Office in Bremen about 1983. LOL, than almost a hundred years old. LOL, an Olympic swimming pool.