House Network Wiring

[jimbo]

I am having a house built. It will have a dedicated computer room. We
will have two desktops resident in the computer room and two laptops
that could be most anywhere. I currently use wired and wireless routers
with a cable modem and a dial-up modem. I have been wondering about
having ethernet cable installed between a couple of rooms, but I can't
really think of what benefit I would get.

Does anyone have any ideas about the benefit of installing ethernet
cable between some of the rooms?

Thanks for any thoughts, jimbo

 

[Sleepless in Seattle]

Maybe just run Cat 6 cable between between TV room and computer room/router
for XBox live and DVD recorder/TiVo like devices.

 

[Al Dykes]

I am having a house built. It will have a dedicated computer room. We
will have two desktops resident in the computer room and two laptops
that could be most anywhere. I currently use wired and wireless routers
with a cable modem and a dial-up modem. I have been wondering about
having ethernet cable installed between a couple of rooms, but I can't
really think of what benefit I would get.

Does anyone have any ideas about the benefit of installing ethernet
cable between some of the rooms?

Thanks for any thoughts, jimbo

100mb ethernet beats WiFi if you are moving really big files around If
you backup systems over the LAN to a big disk WiFi would be an
all-night propasition. Over copper it can take half an hour.

It costs very little to put in CAT5 copper during construction. You
don't even need to terminate it until you need to.

Plan on the number of WiFi APs you need for full house coverage and
run CAT5 to the optimal locations for them. You will be able to do
Power Over Ethernet (POE) so you don't need a power outlet nearby.

 

[Christo]

I am having a house built. It will have a dedicated computer room. We
will have two desktops resident in the computer room and two laptops
that could be most anywhere. I currently use wired and wireless routers
with a cable modem and a dial-up modem. I have been wondering about
having ethernet cable installed between a couple of rooms, but I can't
really think of what benefit I would get.

Does anyone have any ideas about the benefit of installing ethernet
cable between some of the rooms?

Thanks for any thoughts, jimbo

the advantage over cabling your network is obvious

it is more secure than wireless, even with WEP and WPA wireless isnt 100%
secure

if you have desktops i would wire them into a switch with a internet
gateway/firewall (router) coming out of the switch, set the default gateway
for your desktops to this, also i would have a wireless access point coming
from the switch, or better still buy a wireless cess point/adsl modem/switch
an all in one device to do it all

desktops into switch on adsl modem/router (wireles of course) have laptops
configged to access the access point and use the adsl router as internet
gateway

in your case you say DSL so you may not be using adsl infact cable, but such
devices do work and although they can sometimes be a bugger to setup they
are extremely versatile, one central point for the network

if ur desktops were wireless, then they woukdnt be as secure or benefit from
the wired 100mbps speeds of cat5, although wireless tech will probably
eventually be a very viable replacement for all wired networks it isnt at
the minute.

gd luck and dont forget the stupid things like i usually do.

 

[jimbo]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I understand the benefits of wired
connections and the pitfalls of wireless connections. I guess I am
struggling with where the wires would go. One option would be a wire
from the computer room to every other room in the house. And then the
question is, where in the room would be a "good" location. And it is
unlikely that I would want or need a wired location in every room. If I
want to sit on the sofa in front of the TV and check my E-Mail, I don't
want an ethernet cable running from the wall to my laptop.

And I don't see how a "daisey chain" from room to room to room would
work. And the same question about location of the ethernet jack comes
up. And the same concern about a wire running from some wall to where I
am sitting with my laptop or maybe some other desktop.

It seems that a wire from the computer room to one or two locations
that would give full house wireless coverage might be the best option.
And use all of the wireless security features that my routers support.

Anyway, thanks for the replies and thanks for any additional thoughts.
jimbo

 

[Al Dykes]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I understand the benefits of wired
connections and the pitfalls of wireless connections. I guess I am
struggling with where the wires would go. One option would be a wire
from the computer room to every other room in the house. And then the
question is, where in the room would be a "good" location. And it is
unlikely that I would want or need a wired location in every room. If I
want to sit on the sofa in front of the TV and check my E-Mail, I don't
want an ethernet cable running from the wall to my laptop.

And I don't see how a "daisey chain" from room to room to room would
work. And the same question about location of the ethernet jack comes
up. And the same concern about a wire running from some wall to where I
am sitting with my laptop or maybe some other desktop.

It seems that a wire from the computer room to one or two locations
that would give full house wireless coverage might be the best option.
And use all of the wireless security features that my routers support.

Anyway, thanks for the replies and thanks for any additional thoughts.
jimbo

Plan on WiFI coverage for the entire house. This may take more than one AP.

Where are you putting phones ? Pull a CAT5 cable along with the phone
line to every phone location. Make sure the phone lines are
backhailed to the dmarc, not daisychained. If all the wire is CAT5
then any wall jack can be a phone or an ethernet based on how you
patch them at the hub.

Put a 110 block near the demarc. Put 120VAC there and plan on putting
a hub/switch there when you need it. Pull CAT5 to each of the WiFi AP
locations you need to cover the house.

 

[jimbo]

Plan on WiFI coverage for the entire house. This may take more than

one AP.

Yes, I understand, I may need more than one AP to get wireless coverage
for the whole house.

Where are you putting phones ? Pull a CAT5 cable along with the phone
line to every phone location. Make sure the phone lines are
backhailed to the dmarc, not daisychained. If all the wire is CAT5
then any wall jack can be a phone or an ethernet based on how you
patch them at the hub.

Not sure I understand the connection between phone lines and ethernet
cables. Maybe because I might have DSL?

Put a 110 block near the demarc. Put 120VAC there and plan on putting
a hub/switch there when you need it. Pull CAT5 to each of the WiFi AP
locations you need to cover the house.

OK, the computer room (demarc?) will have both a phone line and a cable
TV connection and a 120 VAC power outlet. I will use either a cable
modem or a DSL modem for my primary internet connection. I think DSL is
the only service available at this location, but cable may also be
available now or in the future. And I will use a wireless router/switch
at this location. Two desktops at this location will be wired to the
router. This AP will cover most of the house. I may need another AP at
the extreme other corner of the house for full coverage.
Additional advice will be appreciated.

Thanks, jimbo

 

[Sleepless in Seattle]

Not sure I understand the connection between phone lines and ethernet

cables. Maybe because I might have DSL?

Cat 5 can be iused for both phone cabling and computer networking. Typically
you would have all data/phone cabling going to a central patch panel. Some
outlets can then be used for phone rather than data. Phones would have RJ11
connectors swapped for RJ45.

Jonah

 

[Al Dykes]

one AP.

Yes, I understand, I may need more than one AP to get wireless coverage
for the whole house.


Not sure I understand the connection between phone lines and ethernet
cables. Maybe because I might have DSL?


OK, the computer room (demarc?) will have both a phone line and a cable
TV connection and a 120 VAC power outlet. I will use either a cable
modem or a DSL modem for my primary internet connection. I think DSL is
the only service available at this location, but cable may also be
available now or in the future. And I will use a wireless router/switch
at this location. Two desktops at this location will be wired to the
router. This AP will cover most of the house. I may need another AP at
the extreme other corner of the house for full coverage.
Additional advice will be appreciated.

Thanks, jimbo

The demarc (telco jargon for "demarcation point") is the point where
the phone lines come into your house. It is the legal demarcation
point that devides wire that is the responsibility of youir phone
company and the "inside wire" which is your responisbility. If you
have a problem with your phones (or dsl service) yoiu will be asked to
jack an analog phone or the dsl modem directly into the jack on the
demarc to determine if the problem is on the phone companies side, or
yours.

If you use cable broadband, which typically comes in somewhere else in
the house. You can "backhaul" that ethernet/IP connection from the
settop box to the demarc and distribute it to the rest of the house
from a switch located there. You want to pull at least two CAT5
cables to the TV room. One to bring the ethernet from the box to the
hub and another to bring the internet from the hub back to the
computer in the TV room.

This is called "structured wiring", and CAT5 is a
specificaltion/standard that is under that. Modern phone and data
wiring is supposed to be done to CAT5 (or 5e) spec, which is much more
than just buying wire with the 5e label on it. IF done right, all
room jacks are identical and data or analog phone signals are
determined at a punchdown "110" block near the demarc, or the
equipment room.

You can put your wiring center anywhere, just get it in the drawings
early so all the phone, data, and CATV wires from your outside
services, and the pulls to all the rooms come to that spot. All the
equipment can be fastened to the wall (a 110 block, a small
router/switch, and a dsl modem). Make sure there is a quad AC outlet
at the same point. The guy that does your phones should know what you
are talking about. Ask him.

Plan your WiFI coverage and be generous with the signal strength.
When the location of all the APs has been determined, put a CAT5 cable
to each one. Power will be provided over the ethernet cable, so you
don't need to run extension cords for power.

Look at the Smarthome catalog for ideas.

http://www.smarthome.com/

 

[jimbo]

You want to pull at least two CAT5
cables to the TV room. One to bring the ethernet from the box to the
hub and another to bring the internet from the hub back to the
computer in the TV room.

I don't understand. My "TV room" will be a family room. The computer
room will be a different room. There will also be a TV in the computer
room and maybe a laptop in the "TV room". What do you mean by, "One to
bring the ethernet from the box to the hub...."? What box and what hub?
And what do you mean by, "...and another to bring the internet from the
hub back to the computer in the TV room."?

Thanks for the help, jimbo