Home network tips

[dave89iroc]

ok, Cable modem in basement, I used to have the wifi router right next to it, but found I get better coverage with the router upstairs(connected to the modem with the ethernet cable I had running to the TV)

I plan to run ethernet to the garage in the spring, and am planning on needing at least 2 wired connections out there, as well as wireless...


ok, I don't want to run several ethernet cables into the living room for the router, so, do I get a second router, turn off the wireless, and put it in the basement at the modem, and plug in as before? what to use in the garage, a wireless router?

I have the winter to plan, so, lets hear what you got

I can draw a diagram if needed, and you label the components as what I need

 

[93 saturn sl2]

Id put a router downstairs by the modem, turn off its wireless or find a wired router. Run an ethernet cable upstairs to a wireless access point for the house.

Connect your two garage runs to the router in the basement. In the garage, find another wireless router (or your current one that is upstairs), run it in bridge mode and make sure it isnt routing. Or find a cheap switch for the garage, and hook-up another wireless access point to the switch for your wifi out there.

 

[dave89iroc]

Id put a router downstairs by the modem, turn off its wireless or find a wired router. Run an ethernet cable upstairs to a wireless access point for the house.

Connect your two garage runs to the router in the basement. In the garage, find another wireless router (or your current one that is upstairs), run it in bridge mode and make sure it isnt routing. Or find a cheap switch for the garage, and hook-up another wireless access point to the switch for your wifi out there.

ok, lets say, current router by modem with wifi off, wires running to router from around house, one of these (https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wire...D=31HO7%2BqZjfL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch) wired upstairs, wire to garage with a switch( https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Ethe...D=41U8BSz%2B-zL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch ) and another of the previous APs

 

[dave89iroc]

like this?

View attachment network help.bmp

 

[93 saturn sl2]

Looks good to me! One run to the garage will be sufficient, or run two for redundancy. Only having one hooked up at a time of course.

 

[soap]

Just use a powerline adapter and put a router in the garage. No need to run a hard wire.

--Joe

 

[Killjoy]

There's several possible ways to approach this. The best one is going to depend on your desires.

If you're happy with the existing wifi performance with the wifi router on the main floor of the house, and you want that device to continue being your main router (firewall, NAT, DHCP, DNS, etc.) you can leave it there, but would require pulling a second Ethernet cable between it and the basement (parallel to the old TV cable you're currently leveraging).

In that case, in the basement, you'll have the cable line coming in the house --> the cable modem --> WAN port of the router upstairs (likely using the second Ethernet run you'll need). Then LAN port 1 of the router would leverage the old TV Ethernet cable run back downstairs connected to port 1 of an 8 port Gigabit switch. Port 2 of the switch would connect to a single Ethernet cable running to your garage, as shown in your diagram. Ports 3-8 can be used to connect all of your 10/100/1000 Mbps wired PCs/devices in the house (as well as LAN 2-4 on the router upstairs, if needed). Then, in the garage, you have a couple options. The cheapest method would be to install a wifi router there that's capable of running in AP mode, with the Ethernet cable that's coming from the house connected to LAN port 1 of the wifi router. Your other wired devices in the garage would plug into LAN 2-4 of the router; don't use the WAN port. You would need to ensure that the wifi router you place in the garage is capable of running in AP mode (check the manual), or you need to buy a router that's compatible with aftermarket firmware like Tomato, DD-WRT, Gargoyle, etc. You'd then simple setup the wireless (SSID, encryption, password, etc.) the same as you have it in the house. The other option in the garage is to land the Ethernet cable from the house onto port 1 of another 4/8 port switch, then also buy/install/connect an AP there. And a third option in the garage is to simply place any wifi router there, with the home ethernet cable connect to the WAN port, and configuring the wifi as a different wireless network (different SSID). This third option is easiest to install, but not as nice to manage or maintain... and requires 2 SSIDs. You'd also need to ensure you use non-overlapping IP ranges between the networks.

Now, if you really don't want to run the second Ethernet cable between the basement and router upstairs (old TV run), then you'd need to move the router back downstairs (disabling wireless, and replacing the switch), and place a new AP upstairs in the same spot as the current router. That AP could be a purpose built AP, or a re-purposed wifi router running aftermarket firmware in AP mode.

In all scenarios, make sure you're pulling CAT6 cabling especially on the house-garage run.

You could pull 2 cables between the house & garage if you really needed the Gigabit bandwidth for each connected device, but I don't believe that's the case here. A single Gigabit uplink should be plenty for connecting all devices in the garage to the main house network.

You could also use a Powerline adapter instead of pulling a dedicated CAT6 cable between the house & garage, but then your uplink will likely be limited to 100Mbps or less vs. 1000 Mbps. You're also going to be putting "noise" on your electrical lines, which usually isn't a problem, but I prefer not to due to HT equipment as well as not trusting DTE's power pole config to isolate my network from my neighbors. But I'm more paranoid than most.

Assuming that the garage is detached, if you were already planning to run a trench (say for a new electrical sub panel), I'd certainly pull 1-2 CAT6 Ethernet cables at the same time. But I wouldn't trench just for the Ethernet - several other possible solutions.


Big decisions I see you needing to make: 1) Can/are you going to be able to easily run Ethernet between the house & garage? 2) Are you willing to run a second Ethernet cable between the basement and where the router currently sits?

 

[dave89iroc]

There's several possible ways to approach this. The best one is going to depend on your desires.

If you're happy with the existing wifi performance with the wifi router on the main floor of the house, and you want that device to continue being your main router (firewall, NAT, DHCP, DNS, etc.) you can leave it there, but would require pulling a second Ethernet cable between it and the basement (parallel to the old TV cable you're currently leveraging).

In that case, in the basement, you'll have the cable line coming in the house --> the cable modem --> WAN port of the router upstairs (likely using the second Ethernet run you'll need). Then LAN port 1 of the router would leverage the old TV Ethernet cable run back downstairs connected to port 1 of an 8 port Gigabit switch. Port 2 of the switch would connect to a single Ethernet cable running to your garage, as shown in your diagram. Ports 3-8 can be used to connect all of your 10/100/1000 Mbps wired PCs/devices in the house (as well as LAN 2-4 on the router upstairs, if needed). Then, in the garage, you have a couple options. The cheapest method would be to install a wifi router there that's capable of running in AP mode, with the Ethernet cable that's coming from the house connected to LAN port 1 of the wifi router. Your other wired devices in the garage would plug into LAN 2-4 of the router; don't use the WAN port. You would need to ensure that the wifi router you place in the garage is capable of running in AP mode (check the manual), or you need to buy a router that's compatible with aftermarket firmware like Tomato, DD-WRT, Gargoyle, etc. You'd then simple setup the wireless (SSID, encryption, password, etc.) the same as you have it in the house. The other option in the garage is to land the Ethernet cable from the house onto port 1 of another 4/8 port switch, then also buy/install/connect an AP there. And a third option in the garage is to simply place any wifi router there, with the home ethernet cable connect to the WAN port, and configuring the wifi as a different wireless network (different SSID). This third option is easiest to install, but not as nice to manage or maintain... and requires 2 SSIDs. You'd also need to ensure you use non-overlapping IP ranges between the networks.

Now, if you really don't want to run the second Ethernet cable between the basement and router upstairs (old TV run), then you'd need to move the router back downstairs (disabling wireless, and replacing the switch), and place a new AP upstairs in the same spot as the current router. That AP could be a purpose built AP, or a re-purposed wifi router running aftermarket firmware in AP mode.

In all scenarios, make sure you're pulling CAT6 cabling especially on the house-garage run.

You could pull 2 cables between the house & garage if you really needed the Gigabit bandwidth for each connected device, but I don't believe that's the case here. A single Gigabit uplink should be plenty for connecting all devices in the garage to the main house network.

You could also use a Powerline adapter instead of pulling a dedicated CAT6 cable between the house & garage, but then your uplink will likely be limited to 100Mbps or less vs. 1000 Mbps. You're also going to be putting "noise" on your electrical lines, which usually isn't a problem, but I prefer not to due to HT equipment as well as not trusting DTE's power pole config to isolate my network from my neighbors. But I'm more paranoid than most.

Assuming that the garage is detached, if you were already planning to run a trench (say for a new electrical sub panel), I'd certainly pull 1-2 CAT6 Ethernet cables at the same time. But I wouldn't trench just for the Ethernet - several other possible solutions.


Big decisions I see you needing to make: 1) Can/are you going to be able to easily run Ethernet between the house & garage? 2) Are you willing to run a second Ethernet cable between the basement and where the router currently sits?

Yes, I'm trenching for power in the spring

Not oppossed to running a second line to the upstairs location

Sent from my SM-G530T1 using Tapatalk

 

[Killjoy]

OK - yea, I'd pull a couple CAT6 cables in a low voltage PVC conduit (along with coax for CATV, maybe phone, etc.). No brainer when you're already running a new subpanel feeder.

I'd follow what I laid out above. Hardest part is making sure you buy a good router that will be compatible with the aftermarket firmware you want to run, figuring out which firmware you like best, configuring it, etc. Although it's not rocket science either.

 

[ReiKo]

Where is TIN... He's slacking...

 

[StockNotch]

So, not knowing the house, this is what I'd do and what my house is currently like (sans a few devices). In the basement I have the modem, router and a switch. From the switch, I have an access point going to the stairway going up to the main floor.

Ideally (and in reality I need), a few more APs through out the main level, probably 1 in the basement and one on the second floor (doesn't get used, its just an attic in function) and then, fiber going to the garage(dual 10gb links, aggregated to make 20gb, yeah its over kill but...YOUTUBE!!!!) with another switch and an access point. Now, a disclaimer on my setup, I run enterprise grade equipment so the wireless and wired gear is better than consumer gear. I also like being able to roam from AP to AP with out noticing while retaining great connectivity in order to keep phone call quality like a lane line.

I have done similar deployments with consumer gear with great results but, it still took the thought of an enterprise deployment to make work well. With that, I mean, 1 to 2 drops for wired connections per room (its better to have too many drops than not enough...you'll learn that quickly when adding a new device or rearranging things), doing a survey to see what the wireless needs are and what the current wireless is providing you as well as what type of pollution is in the air. Leaving things in their default configuration will only give you grief when it comes to wireless and, is why people in apartments always complain about their wireless performance.

You say you're trenching to the garage for power, what is your budget for equipment? I have a few Cisco Meraki devices that I got for attending their training coarse, they are a yearly license after the 3 year license runs out ( they offer 1 to 5 year deals) and its a great small home/small office solution. If I remember right, its $150/year for licences to run the stuff, it gets updates as new features come out/patches come out, is super easy to configure, maintain and monitor and would be great for home use. I am not totally thrilled with the wireless coverage that the AP gives but, it is their entry level unit. I'd go back to my Juniper system if I didn't have the Meraki to learn/test for work. But, that Juniper is a controller based wireless system that is beyond what most would ever want for a home. Anyway, back on topic. If you can justify the licenses or, even want to poke around on eBay for some Cisco gear, you can run fiber to the garage at the same time for not that much more money. I priced out the cost for fiber to my garage and was at $300 for the cabling.

 

[StockNotch]

OK - yea, I'd pull a couple CAT6 cables in a low voltage PVC conduit (along with coax for CATV, maybe phone, etc.). No brainer when you're already running a new subpanel feeder.

I'd follow what I laid out above. Hardest part is making sure you buy a good router that will be compatible with the aftermarket firmware you want to run, figuring out which firmware you like best, configuring it, etc. Although it's not rocket science either.

Meh, if you're pulling network cable, eff Cat3 for phone lines, just use the Cat5+ for the phone connections or, if you're doing multiple drops per room, just plug the phone into the jack.

 

[The Man]

At&t Uverse comes to your house on voicegrade cat3....

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[wrath]

I have a RT-AC68 in router/Access Point mode, several RT-AC66 in Access Point mode, and a couple WRT-54GL (using DDWRT) in AP mode. And a pile of cheap POE switches. I do this mostly because then I can tell other people how to do it semi-affordably because it's way easier with Palo Alto, Cisco, or even Juniper gear that I get for free from work. But I digress.

In your case, I'd run the router you have (if you like it) in the basement as router/AP. Then put another one in AP mode in the living room. Then run a cable or ten to the garage and put another AP there.

I prefer "home runs" as much as possible as it keeps junk switches from being overloaded as much (I have a lot of POE cameras). So, I have 3 CAT6 going to the garden shed. However, my detached garage only has phone wire going to it (of which you can run fast ethernet over, only needs two pair). From the detached garage and the garden shed I spread out from there.

 

[Killjoy]

As someone who works in IT and has a full 42U APC enclosure in his basement, I can fully appreciate the fiber runs to the garage. But I have a feeling that the Cisco SFPs required to terminate that fiber by themselves also likely cost more than the OP is looking to spend on the entirety of the project. Plus, while my garage has a furnace, it's left as unconditioned space 99.9% of the time. Not sure I would be too keen in running $200-300 worth of IT gear in < 20*F (winter) and > 100*F (summer). Much rather put a $20 residential class router in there, and if it dies, it dies...

 

[Tin]

As someone who works in IT and has a full 42U APC enclosure in his basement, I can fully appreciate the fiber runs to the garage. But I have a feeling that the Cisco SFPs required to terminate that fiber by themselves also likely cost more than the OP is looking to spend on the entirety of the project. Plus, while my garage has a furnace, it's left as unconditioned space 99.9% of the time. Not sure I would be too keen in running $200-300 worth of IT gear in < 20*F (winter) and > 100*F (summer). Much rather put a $20 residential class router in there, and if it dies, it dies...

Not just that, but I think a good WAP would be best in this situation. A good AC WAP will be more than adequate to stream HD video, music, and surf the web. Ideally, run a Cat5E or Cat6 out to the garage and run the WAP from there, or you can be lazy and just set the WAP as a repeater assuming the main router is AC capable as well. A Ubiquiti Edge Router and a couple of Ubiquiti Unifi APs would be cheap and effective. I would recommend Mikrotik, but Ubiquiti stuff is much more consumer friendly from a usability standpoint while Mikrotik is more involving for the setup process.

 

[wrath]

Graybar and ApprovedOptics sell SR SFP+ flashed with whatever firmware you want for ~$80. If you buy them by the case like I do at work they're WAY cheaper than that. No sense in paying $260/each from a Cisco reseller.

You can usually get away running 10gbit over short runs of CAT6. But you really need CAT6a or CAT7 and some sweet ass terminations on the end of the cables or else you'll have problems at any noteworthy distance. Copper at 10Gbit is just plain too expensive, fiber is way cheaper. OM3 is even cheaper than twinax.

I have found few people can fill a 1Gbit piece of copper in their home. If they can, it's usually from aggregating many cameras to one device. Chances are you're flooding the rest of the network so you might as well have multiple private networks directly connected to that server and keep it off the "general interwebbing" network.

As far as putting crap outside...

I have a Dell R720XD screwed to the wall in my garden shed. When I say shed, it is literally a steel box that animals come and go from as they please. It is the same temperature as outside in the winter and in the summer it gets well north of 120°. It has even had snow on it before. It runs off a APC BackUPS 1500. It does not care for the times when moisture condenses on it but so far has survived just fine. I have a BackUPS 1500 in the garage with a couple wireless access points, a couple cheap POE switches, a laptop, and a TV. They are covered with dead bugs and metal shavings. Still work fine. Laptop does not care for metal shavings. I can tell you Samsung tablets do not care for grinder discharge (breaks the screen) and LG tablets do not care for welding slag. I have a desktop PC screwed to a 4x4 with a wheel barrow bowl over it in the woods to keep rain off it. But, all the stuff works fine.

I have to buy a lot of "hardened" equipment for my employer. Some of it is even class 1 division 2. The items are put in truly atrocious environments. So much so that we even have to buy "hardened" SIM cards for cellular devices. I buy them 500 at a time. However, a lot of this is overkill.

I one time had to blow out a Cisco 3850G with compressed air because the ports were full of a special kind of "dust" because the SFPs and RJ45 ports nothing would seat in them.

I had a Dell R710 that had a wet pipe sprinkler system leak on it. It turned itself off gracefully because it overheated. Popped it open, shook out the water, powered it back on.

Some datacenter equipment can't really go outside. For example, I'd never put a Brocade 6510 outside. The damn thing runs at 170° in a datacenter with perfect humidity for maximum heat transfer. EMC VMAX3 storage arrays are designed to run on a nuclear warship... but I wouldn't set one down next to my plasma cutter because they hate dust.