what is this cable called? (Really stupid question I know)

[Bananaketchup]

Please tell me, what is the name for the cable that connects your computer to your umm internet box? (modem? urgh I don't even know the name for the box thingy). I need a new one and am too to display my ignorance in a shop.

TIA

um.. is it an ethernet cable? don't know if you need reminding or just don't know. if the latter wait for someone more competent than me to come along.

You mean an ethernet or network cable?

Yes an ethernet cable! Thank you!

If you really want to be geeky you could ask for Cat 5 or Cat 6 cable depending on whether you have 10/100MHz (the norm) or Gigabit ethernet between your PC and router .

Argh they're not going to ask me that are they? Maybe I should buy online to be on the safe side!

Unlikely, depending on the store it's more likely that they would try to sell you a cable with "gold connectors" because that will make all the difference

(no it doesn't)

Unless you have fiber optic superfast broadband it's a Cat 5

Just ask for an Ethernet cable of whatever length you need. It'll be fine. Don't bother paying over the odds for anything "special" because, unless you're doing something very unusual or have a need for more than about 10m of cable, there's no practicable difference.

If you do need a particularly long cable go for Category 5E or Category 6 cable. The "Category" stuff indicates the quality and consistency of the cable manufacture.

For what it's worth, back in my old job we used to buy good quality Cat6 cables in the hundreds. A 3m cable, bought in bulk, cost about a fiver. Expect to pay about double that in a reasonable shop or three times that in PC World or Currys.

and maybe a fiver including delivery via Ebay

(though I have not gone looking)

There's almost nothing they can do to make it faulty (as most people would not be making them but buying them in in bulk and adding a markup)

Hmmmm I was wrong, prices have come down, and there's a UK seller offering a 3m cable for under 1.50 (a few years ago it was often 1 pound per metre for leads with connectors fitted, perhaps the growth in RJ45 use has dropped the prices a lot, plus manufacturing plants in SE Asia increasing output).

Expect to pay about 2.50 for a 3m cable in colours other than grey

Okay, looks like Ebay may be the way to go - cheap, and I can't get bamboozled by talk of flashy techy things I don't need! Thanks for the help.

Ebuyer have em for very cheap, only problem is the postage costs unless you up it enough for the free postage .