Pimp my network.

[RGDave]

I got thinking on holiday that I really need to sort out the wi-fi business in my house. These days, almost everything is talking to t'internet or accessing t'internet and whatever. Even the missus wants wi-fi in the bathroom.....I mean, where will it end?

Next, the rabbit'll be wanting to watch bunny TV in the utility.
Even the blu-ray player is asking for the internet....
Does my fridge want to talk directly to Waitrose?

So the plan is to pimp my network f'real bro.

Ordered some plug things that send the internet around plug sockets (odd, but true - "homeplug/powerline adapter"), something that should work in a recently-wired house. I wanted to use the existing network wires and sockets that meet in a massive collection of blank wires in my kitchen, but that seemed rather tricky, so a HYBRID network it is then. It seems possible to attach wireless access points to the plugs, so I've got one of those too.

A few patch cables later and my house should be like a flippin' wi-fi hotspot...maybe I can sell 'net access to all the grannies?

I'll let you know when it arrives.....

Surely I'm not the only one who finds a modem/router in the lounge not nearly enough?

 

[brendy]

Unless your house is massive, a wireless router/AP in the middle of the house is loads. I have mine in the kitchen/eating area and can get wifi in all of the bedrooms and bathrooms. This is with a sky router. I do use home plugs for the desktop pc in the living room though just for the more solid performance of wire.

 

[RGDave]

I do use home plugs for the desktop pc in the living room though just for the more solid performance of wire.

That sounds encouraging.

I was thinking of using the access point on the landing of the 2nd floor (Maybe even a wall-mount?), near to bedrooms and nearer to the loft office, where the real problem (and the super-PC) is.

I wasn't sure about the access point, but I'm guessing I plug it into the powerline adapter and set it up?

I really wanted to use the integral network Cat5 (?) cables. Every room has a network port (next to the plug sockets) but all the cables appear in a kitchen cupboard (I didn't fit them, I'm not that good at DIY?!) and they don't even have ends on. If they'd had ends on, I might have tried a network hub-type thing.

 

[brendy]

Ends are very easy Dave, plenty of guides out there and if you really wanted to do it, I could lend you a crimping tool and you could have a dozen plastic ends to give it a go. plug them into a hub/switch and the router goes into it also and everywhere can have proper 100/1000 mb/s depending on the kit used.
When you have sucessfully crimped one or two it becomes very easy if a bit knacky. Practice on a spare bit of cat 5 cable first though as a couple of wronguns and you could end up with an overly short cable from one room haha.

 

[palindromicbob]

I use 2 routers! One for general use located in the bedroom which covers the main house but doesn't reach my hobbie room/man cave.

Old photo but you get the idea.

When I want to go online there then I switch off the general router and use the one in the cave to play Xbox Live or watch iplayer on the TV.

 

[bluewolf]

seriously man... you have waaaayy too much time on your hands...

 

[Smiffy]

I might be ording a couple of these...

Got a TV and a Freesat box that can both connect to the internet via ethernet cables, but don't want to trail them from the living room into the dining room where my router is situated. Seems the ideal solution, plugging one into a spare socket in the living room and just wiring up from there.

 

[upsidedown]

We put Cat 5 cabling throughout our house when we built 2 years ago with a hub in the garage and a Belkin 54 wireless router.

Our old desktop died 6 weeks ago so replaced with another laptop so wireless everywhere, even get signal 200 yards down the garden/front paddock

 

[RGDave]

That is SOME man cave there! I thought my loft was good!

 

[DaveM]

My whole apartment, is a man cave. golf gear in the lounge. 5 guitars in the dinning room. Fishing and photo gear in the bedrooms. HID just has to lump it. Well it is my place after all lol.

 

[Ken_A]

I have a Netgear N series router and wireless access point plus 2 network switches if you need them, I used them for a year then moved my office so I dont need to have such a laege WIFI range - Cost around £350 for them all and I would do them for £80 inc p&p.

 

[RGDave]

All my gear arrived and it's all fitted.

Works a treat. Basically, the loft PC is now attached directly to the powerline adapter and if I need wi-fi somewhere in a weak spot, I can unplug it and take it to any room with a plug socket and run it to a wi-fi access point.

Impressed so far.

 

[TonyN]

Dave my good man, been a while.

My pal just hooked me up..so to speak.

I have my main wireless router down stairs with the sky, xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 is in the office upstairs.

He's just given me an old tower PC and monitor so HID can keep the laptop downstairs. Becauser the tower is getting on a bit, it doesn't have a wirless reviever, so he gave me those magic plugs that sends internet throught the mains. Wierd or what!!!

Anyway, I'm well chuffed. Next job is to hook the bathroom up so I can tweet the toilet seat to warm up in advance!

 

[RGDave]

He's just given me an old tower PC and monitor so HID can keep the laptop downstairs. Becauser the tower is getting on a bit, it doesn't have a wirless reviever, so he gave me those magic plugs that sends internet throught the mains. Wierd or what!!!

Everyone's at it!

Glad to see you on here. I've been meaning to phone your landline, which I'll do. Not tonight though, just about to go out (which probably means about 2 hours knowing my missus!)

 

[RGDave]

All done now. Very impressive overall. Can plug in an adapter anywhere for ethernet-style connection or add the wi-fi access point for about -30 db, far better than -80 which kept dropping off completely.

Just need to secure the access point.....