in: walk; walk > 2008-08-28;
| # Posted 2008-08-29 19:44:02 | |
| chitownclark: | WiFi is always problematic...and not secure. Why not use spools of Cat5e, quad-shield coax (and fiber while your're at it) and hardwire in a Leviton structured home media system?
That way you get your choice of (1) cable TV, (2) internet, (3) remote speakers, (4) security video, (5) ethernet or LAN, and (6) many other options to each room of your home, through 6- or 12-outlet wallplates throughout the house. Very easy, once you get informed. And Leviton has books to provide all the technical expertise you might need to set up your system. I've put in similar systems in each of my apartments in my Victorian buildings...tenants and installers love them. And such systems are standard in most homes in Finland, at least. We're still in the dark ages compared with them: most US contractors think they're doing you a favor to run a single-outlet phone line and TV coax to the Living Room and the kitchen! |
| # Posted 2008-08-30 03:02:02 | |
| walk: | The only problem, slight though it is, pertains to the "pre-wiring" aspect. Otherwise it's interesting. Wi-fi avoids all that. And as you can see, I'm back on line. After going through all the troubleshooting guides I could find, it needed for the cable modem to be unplugged for 5' - enough to get a nice cup of tea - and then repower up. High-tech solutions are always the best. Now just hope it stays on. |
| # Posted 2008-08-30 06:29:19 | |
| chitownclark: | Interesting "fix." I've noticed that more and more high-tech devices benefit from unplugging...seems to give them a reset you can get in no other manner. But you have to remember to take out any batteries too! I've taken to installing a line switch right on the device's power cord so I can manually switch off power when I won't be using it soon...saves on the electric bill too.
Well, so far as pre-wiriing: you can buy a single composite cable that contains several strands of coax, Cat5e and fiber. But that stuff is 1-1/4" in diameter, stiff, expensive, and difficult to run. I like to use individual strands, loosely taped together. Its all low-voltage, so no conduit is usually required. If you live in a single story house, you can easily access all rooms and walls from the attic or basement/crawl space. But I have 3 storey buildings, so I had to find other methods. And really it's not too hard; depending on the age of your house, there may be abandoned runs you could adapt. We used the old voice tubes they used 100 years ago in one building. In another, we used existing conduit put in for the intercom system. In another, we just purchased long drill bits and drilled up through floors and ceilings, running the wiring through snap-on wire raceways we positioned in corners of closets. As far as horizontal runs, most electricians are skilled at running a "snake" to pull wires through existing walls. Yes, some plaster repairs may be needed afterward. But it gives you an excuse to repaint when you are done. All and all, it is a fun, worthwhile home project. |
| # Posted 2008-08-30 07:11:44 | |
| walk: | Wi-fi - Set up router in the basement, hook up to cable modem, run extra coax cable from a connector to the modem, set up system with appropiate passwords, done.
Now access Internet from anywhere in the house, including the family room couch, like now, with my Touch. And by the by, no coax, fibre-optic, or phone line connector on the Touch. Sure beats snaking through walls or ceilings. |
| # Posted 2008-08-31 02:48:20 | |
| chitownclark: | Well, heck yes...if its working for you. Why change anything? But your original log post said:
The main headache now is trying to get an internet connection working....have to poach to get internet service. That signal is not strong enough for Touching.... It's acting up anyway..... And I could identify with that. My wife, 25' and two walls away from my gaming dLink wifi router, was stuck poaching too because the dLink was not strong enough usually. So she poached on a tenant's upper-floor router; wifi coverage seems to project downward quite nicely, but not sideways very well. |
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