Wanted: Ethernet Switch or Router (8 port+) and/or Advice

Posted Fri, 2005-05-27 16:41 by tlyons

I'm again giving thought to how I will wire my house for ethernet. WiFi is completely out of my budget (because I have none -- the kids I work with at my school have more money in their pockets than I do) but I would like to have more access points than my 4-port SMC Barricade 10/100 router/firewall can provide. I'm not being greedy here... I'm just trying to install a system that won't be completely inadequate from the second I patch the holes in the plaster walls.

I need advice and/or donated junk. What do you think?

1. I could split one or more of my router's ports with switches.

2. I could replace the router completely with a used 8-port (which would probably be enough).

3. I could build a router out of an old Pentium computer, add some PCI NICs, and use a LiveCD like Devil-linux to handle the routing. Still, I will probably need to split up one or more of the NICs with switches to add additional lines, or I'll have less than I do now.

What would you suggest?

In addition to the router/switch, I could also use:
- Spare cat5 cable, connectors or other hardware.
- Advice or assistance on where to locate the router, how to run the cables with fishtape, etc. My house isn't wired for TV yet either, so I might need to consider running coaxial cable at the same time.

Anybody?

- T.

‹ Foo. My hard drive croaked. Wanted: Vintage Equipment ›

Re: OK, HERE WE GO (SERIOUSLY. I really mean it this time.)

by schultmc - 2005-10-13 15:58
[quote="tlyons"][quote="schultmc"]I may have some hardware I can donate. You could have a wiring party (basically free labor) to get your house wired.[/quote] Now that the main floor renovation of my house is basically done, I'm finally ready to tackle the LAN issue.[/quote] Cool [quote="tlyons"] (1.) If I can run the cable lines from router to rooms so that the only assistance I need is the actual cable stripping, jack installation, and line testing, is that kosher for a wiring party?[/quote] Yes. It saves work for the helpers (who normally help with the grunt work of pulling the cable) but whatever you're comfortable with is fine. [quote="tlyons"] (2.) Looking at some of the suggestions for places to buy the cable and hardware, I didn't see prices that were all that better than what I could get at Menards. Does that make sense?[/quote] In my experience, home improvement stores are more expensive than specialty stores. I haven't priced the home improvement stores lately though. [quote="tlyons"] (3.) Michael -- If you still have any stuff you could donate (in addition to the laptop[s]?) let me know. Whatever I don't need to buy... well, it leaves money left over to buy the stuff I DO need to purchase for this project. [/quote] Will do - I need to test out the laptops to see which ones (if any) still work. [quote="tlyons"] Thanks for all the suggestions, and hopefully we can set a date for this sometime before the year is out. - T.[/quote] Cool - let us know

OK, HERE WE GO (SERIOUSLY. I really mean it this time.)

by tlyons - 2005-10-13 15:03
[quote="schultmc"]I may have some hardware I can donate. You could have a wiring party (basically free labor) to get your house wired.[/quote] Now that the main floor renovation of my house is basically done, I'm finally ready to tackle the LAN issue. I feel like a game of pong, but I've decided I'm going to just go for it and wire the house for ethernet (I did the phone jacks, so this can't be too much more difficult). The expense of buying new wireless ethernet cards and a new wireless router and then messing around with them to work, and hoping the signal is OK through brick and plaster over the large square footage . . . well, screw it. I've got regular cards that work flawlessly, so why mess with it? (1.) If I can run the cable lines from router to rooms so that the only assistance I need is the actual cable stripping, jack installation, and line testing, is that kosher for a wiring party? (2.) Looking at some of the suggestions for places to buy the cable and hardware, I didn't see prices that were all that better than what I could get at Menards. Does that make sense? (3.) Michael -- If you still have any stuff you could donate (in addition to the laptop[s]?) let me know. Whatever I don't need to buy... well, it leaves money left over to buy the stuff I DO need to purchase for this project. Thanks for all the suggestions, and hopefully we can set a date for this sometime before the year is out. - T.

Re: Wanted: Ethernet Switch or Router (8 port+) and/or Advic

by db - 2005-08-13 11:10

If you get it wired. Run a BBS so I can call in with my Model-T 300 baud modem! HAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Wanted: Ethernet Switch or Router (8 port+) and/or Advic

by tlyons - 2005-08-12 21:42

After further consideration, I'm starting to doubt the feasability of wiring a 115 year old house for ethernet. I don't have a good idea where my router should even be located in order to snake cables to it through all these lath and plaster walls. (Wiring my phone system as been difficult enough, and I've only done the main floor, and one extension on the second). The planning of a completely wired setup is over my head, forget about the actual execution.

On the other hand, I do have a small landing/nook at the top of my stairs to the basement which would hold a wireless router and the cable modem very nicely. Any suggestions as to which models should I consider, how much they are, and where could I get them?

If they also support an external switch for wired connections, so much the better, because I doubt that my basement will get great reception.

- T.

Re: Wanted: Ethernet Switch or Router (8 port+) and/or Advic

by tlyons - 2005-05-27 20:00
[quote="schultmc"] I may have some hardware I can donate. You could have a wiring party (basically free labor) to get your house wired.[/quote] Yeah, I think Kim mentioned that idea some time ago. I just need to confer with someone more experienced prior to the date, just to make sure I have everything needed. I don't want to waste anyone's time. - T.

Re: Wanted: Ethernet Switch or Router (8 port+) and/or Advic

by schultmc - 2005-05-27 18:06
[quote="tlyons"]I'm again giving thought to how I will wire my house for ethernet. WiFi is completely out of my budget (because I have none -- the kids I work with at my school have more money in their pockets than I do) but I would like to have more access points than my 4-port SMC Barricade 10/100 router/firewall can provide. I'm not being greedy here... I'm just trying to install a system that won't be completely inadequate from the second I patch the holes in the plaster walls. I need advice and/or donated junk. What do you think? 1. I could split one or more of my router's ports with switches. [/quote] This would be the easiest solution. I've got a Linux box serving as my router - the LAN port on the router goes into a multi-port switch that has cables that run to the jacks in my house. [quote="tlyons"] 2. I could replace the router completely with a used 8-port (which would probably be enough). [/quote] Fry's has new routers on sale fairly often. I haven't checked the number of ports since I'm not in the market for one. A switch combined with your current router should work fine. [quote="tlyons"] 3. I could build a router out of an old Pentium computer, add some PCI NICs, and use a LiveCD like Devil-linux to handle the routing. Still, I will probably need to split up one or more of the NICs with switches to add additional lines, or I'll have less than I do now. [/quote] A typical router only needs a WAN and a LAN port - a switch (built into the router or separate) or even a hub can multiplex the LAN port into as many ports as you need. [quote="tlyons"] What would you suggest? [/quote] Suggestions inline above. [quote="tlyons"] In addition to the router/switch, I could also use: - Spare cat5 cable, connectors or other hardware. - Advice or assistance on where to locate the router, how to run the cables with fishtape, etc. My house isn't wired for TV yet either, so I might need to consider running coaxial cable at the same time. Anybody? - T.[/quote] I may have some hardware I can donate. You could have a wiring party (basically free labor) to get your house wired.