# Question about data ports in hotels

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-data-ports-in-hotels/91156>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 2, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-data-ports-in-hotels/91156 "2001-11-02T17:32:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-data-ports-in-hotels/91156/21 "2001-11-04T19:44:09Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Well, the data ports in the dorm are at least 6 years old. They are CAT5 connections (that’s what it says on the box and Computer Services said thats what I needed), and they look like as you said, oversized RJ45’s.

Sounds like you’re using the common setup, CAT5 twisted pair, with RJ-45 connectors. This is what you get if you go down to Radio Shack or CompUSA and ask for an regular Ethernet cable. Same stuff I was describing used by the hotels. I just used a different terminology than your CS department. Here’s a link that shows a hub and standard cables. I’m guessing this is what you have:

> **[How Home Networking Works](https://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm)**
>
> If you're thinking of networking the computers in your home, you have several options to explore. Will you go wired or wireless? And what's the best way to ensure the safety of your network?

> [@](#):
>
> If you could describe a USB connector for me, I’ll tell you if that’s what it takes or not.

Based on your description above, you’re using the common kind of cables, which have RJ-45 type plugs on the ends. But USB is a kind of small, rectangular connector. They are becoming more common for mice, keyboards, printers, scanners, etc. They are cool because more than one component can share the USB line going back to your computer. Here is a link that shows them:

> **[How USB Ports Work](https://computer.howstuffworks.com/usb.htm)**
>
> You can find Universal Serial Bus connectors on just about every PC made today. But when it was introduced, USB was leaps and bounds ahead of the technologies it replaced. What makes this standard so useful?

> [@](#):
>
> ( _averts eyes to floor in shame_ I kinda use the prob around in the back of the computer until something fits method of connecting things).

Nothing wrong with that! I tell people to do it all the time. Given the pretty good standardization among PC peripherals these days, it works pretty well.

Ugly

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