Connecting Your Computer to URHnet

• IMPORTANT Cable Instructions
• One Computer Connection
• Multiple Computer Connection
• Daniels Hall Connection
• Orchard Downs Connection

NOTE: The following instructions do not pertain to residents in Daniels Hall or Orchard Downs. If you live in Daniels Hall, go here for setup instructions. If you live in Orchard Downs please go here for setup instructions.

Cable Instructions

The first thing you will need a special, non-standard Ethernet cable with the ends of the cables being different sizes.(See photo). This is only available and used at the University of Illinois' residence halls. The non-standard cable you will need is termed RJ11-RJ45 (One end has a smaller RJ11 telephone type plug, and one has a larger RJ45 Ethernet type plug).

This blue or teal RJ11-RJ45 cable should be found in your room upon arrival. You may need to go to the computer lab to get the special RJ11-45 cable if it was not in your room.

Take the cable and put the small end in the wall jack. Just because it fits, doesn't mean its right. Plug the cable into either the bottom of the outlet or the lower left-hand jack, directly below the telephone jack. If you're not sure which jack it is, check to see if there is a dial tone coming from either of the jacks. The one without a dial tone is the jack you want to use for URHnet.

Here are pictures of the two types of data wall jacks:

One Computer Connection

If you are only connecting one computer to the internet then all you need to do is put the big end of the cable into your ethernet port on your computer.

After everything is connected, your setup should resemble the diagram below:

Now you are physically connected to the network!

Multiple Computer Connection

If you are connecting two or more computers to the internet you will need a mini hub and one ethernet cable (RJ45-45) per computer. The hub was placed in your room in a clear bag prior to move in. If you do not have one or believe your hub is broken visit the computer lab. The larger end of the blue cable goes into the port on the hub typically labeled "IN" or "Uplink", and is usually on the extreme left or right of the hub. In most hubs, the last port is shared with the Uplink, so there will usually be a null plug in the 5th port of any mini-hub that is borrowed from Housing. A typical hub setup is shown in the photo below.

You will also need additional standard (RJ45-RJ45) Ethernet cables (shown below) for each of the computers in the room. These cables will go from the hub to each of the computers in the room. These standard cables have the large ends on both sides. These are commonly available and now often come with the purchase of a new computer or network adapter. They do not have to be purchased on campus, although 14 foot ethernet cables are offered for sale in the Residence Hall Computer Centers for only $4.

After everything is connected, your setup should resemble the diagram below:

Now you are physically connected to the network!