Thread: Home network wiring help

wireless/WiFi instead ??

I've got WiFi (like the rest of us living in the 21st century), but looking to have a wired solution.
As home also doubles as a home office for my partner, the printer needs to be on the network (for remote printing), and one day I'll need to look at some kind of network storage for business info.
Speed benefits of wired over wireless also apply, but this is only part of the reason.

Once I get the infrastructure sorted in the place, I can adapt it up accordingly.

Have a read of this - should have all the info you need along with links to other resources:

Structured Cabling in the Home

I would also seriously consider another location for patch panel. the hall is fine while you just have a small router there but as you expand the network it will get very cluttered. You would typically find an out of the way spot where the equipment is protected and can stay cool.

Also, I believe that a licenced cabler is the only one who should be doing the work... but who's looking?

Ahh yes, a cabler.
The next door neighbour is one, I might be his TA for the purposes of the job.

I'd looked into a switch, but I didn't think my needs were this large. A patch panel might be the next best solution for upgrade-ability.
Is a small linen cupboard sufficient for the 'keeping cool' side of things? I know that at work it is a dedicated room with a dedicated AC system, but this covers 20+ WAN lines, a switch, modem, UPS, VOIP phone system, security system etc, but obviously home use is not this demanding.

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

The telephone entry point is in the hallway (I think it's the RJ12 style- 3 contact small form phone line, usually found on the end of one of those rectangular beige wall plugs).
.......

Also hoping to modernise the big beige plug on the phone line entry... can a CAT6 plug be used for this?

sorry, meant to reply to your specific question....

You can change this over to a RJ11 wall plate which takes the small clear connector (like a mini RJ45 network connector). This is likely what you're aiming to do:

Upgrading a 600-series phone socket to RJ11 | tp69

Do you have NBN and is it FTTN? (if yes then I am guessing yes). You'll likely benefit from upgrading the phone line cable between where it enters your house and the telephone socket to cat 6. If you don't do that, at least remove all additional connections to the line. when pulling data cables, keep them away from power cables and where they must cross try to do it 90 degrees (to avoid induced noise).

I think that a linen cupboard would probably be ok. Make sure that the equipment has air flow around it (all sides). Eg - Don’t stack equipment on top of each other, leave gaps. If it starts to get a little hot you can always put a few vents in the door. In my opinion hard wire is still better than Wifi, although it is getting better. Have you thought of running ethernet over power? If everything is on the same circuit, you can get away without having to run cat6....

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

Ahh yes, a cabler.
The next door neighbour is one, I might be his TA for the purposes of the job.

I'd looked into a switch, but I didn't think my needs were this large. A patch panel might be the next best solution for upgrade-ability.
Is a small linen cupboard sufficient for the 'keeping cool' side of things? I know that at work it is a dedicated room with a dedicated AC system, but this covers 20+ WAN lines, a switch, modem, UPS, VOIP phone system, security system etc, but obviously home use is not this demanding.

Yes, a linen cupboard is ideal as long as it can be kept cool (that's where I have mine). It's quite surprising how quickly a small space can heat up even with the smallest of equipment.

You'll be amazed at how quickly you use up ports. Just make sure things easily expandable. as the network grows beyond the 4 ports you have available on the back of your router you can add a switch - the patch panel will be needed regardless of the size of your network. It is the interface between your network wiring and your equipment (be that the little router or a 5/8/16/24/48 port switch).

Cat 6 can be used to phone sockets.

I think it beats wireless or at least allows a decent wired wireless exenter to give whole house coverage. A small network swtich like this 8 point one should be better than a unmanaged hub. Sounds like you know the diferance any way. Link in case

Your modem might have enough ports to skip a hub or swtich?