Wired or WIFI?

[orchardapple]

Caught in 2 minds for some work i'm doing in the house as to whats the best set up for internet in each room (4 beds and large living areas), got the wifi router at present in centre of home but signal very poor in the outlying areas of the house

Essentially i'd like a very good internet signal be it wired or wifi across the whole house

Lyncsys/Homeplug (type) adapters or Ethernet electric sockets

Will need a wired connection in the office (preference tbh) with some form of WiFi Range Extender in there also for gadgets and phones etc

Thoughts?

 

[ian]

If you have the option, Ethernet connections in each room is the way to go. Wifi will always be hit and miss and as speeds increase, cable will ensure consistency! Just make sure you throw cat6 in there for future proofing.

 

[DaveP]

Oh ya wired will always be better wherever possible just like Ian said. +1

 

[chrisduggan]

I use homeplugs round the house and a wifi extender in the hallway. Does the job. Very poor signal in my living room due to the thickness of walls.

I have also used the Linksys Powerline AV boxes they are great.

 

[orchardapple]

Thanks All, i've got electrics running on 2 different circuits (lounge & Kitchen, then bedrooms on seperate ring) so homeplugs would need doubling up (i assume)

Have seen some 4 port Power Ethernet Sockets around though, any use?

@invincible, did do a search beforehand, obv a newbie in this space so looking to get it right first time

think i've got it down to this point thus far

internet router in central location, (cable service)
2 x access points at diff ends of building (best access point products??) on different non conflicting channels?

XX port switch in central location also (good makes? 24 port i assume gives me enough options)
Looking for 2 (or 4) x Ports per bedroom (4)
Plenty of CAT6 cabling to run from central location to bedrooms

Missed anything?

 

[ian]

Not a fan of homeplugs; always found them to be slow even on a very decent ring main. In a way I just don't trust them! Ethernet cable all the way for me; apart from of course on devices that don't use that method (phones etc).

 

[nick-harper]

I have the Devolo Dlan 500 Wifi Powerlines, they work the same as other powerlines but they are Wifi Access Points as well so you could they could do the job as you still have the ethernet adapter if you wanted to use that.

If you are going along the CAT6 route then will you be using Faceplates on the wall? Are you going to be using trunking or chopping into the walls and plastering over them?

 

[murph]

I use the powerline adapters. Brilliant way to use existing wiring for Internet. Saying that I've got wifi coverage should I need it (iphone on the karsie)

 

[monaghan]

I ran cat 5 to each room and with a patch panel & hub under the stairs about 10 years ago, far more reliable than wifi. Homeplugs will probably be OK on a reasonably simple ring system, however, old or complex wiring (multiple rings and so on) may be an issue. Having read on other power-line technologies, you also could potentially "broadcast" outside your own house using these technologies, so read the small print to be sure you know how it works and how your wiring is actually configured.

If you want to do HD video to several rooms then you will really stretch wifi capability, also we find that there are wifi signals coming from all directions around us and although you have your own SSID to keep your traffic secure, you still share the radio spectrum so your neighbours will impact your ability to use the whole of the wifi capability. If you can use the 5GHz band you will probably get better results as most domestic routers are still using 2.4GHz

 

[martin-s]

I've had Devolos before - very good too.

Last year we had to complete a full rewire of our place and so I wired ethernet to every room. That has to be the way to go if it's an option for you.

 

[nick-harper]

I think if you can run cables then put a couple of ports in each room for the wired devices that won't move (Games Consoles, Media Boxes, Sky Box etc) but then like you say a couple of decent access points or extenders for the phones, laptops and tablets.

Make sure they are on different channels as to not interfere too.

 

[fastworld]

Cable is great however wifi has come on leaps and bounds. We use Ubiquiti UniFi access points at work. Feels as fast as cable and less hassle. Can always change channels if you've any interference and security is much improved now as long as you use wpa-2 and aes. You can also hide your ssid. (or rename it and annoy your neighbours with it if you don't like them)

 

[orchardapple]

We use Ubiquiti UniFi access points at work. Feels as fast as cable and less hassle. Can always change channels if you've any interference and security is much improved .......

Thats the ones i've been taking a look at

Re other posters, i've plenty of opportunity to chase the cables in etc, house being renovated so that why i thought i'd raise this early days before i smash the place about

Any recommendations on the 'wired' infrastructure equipment greatfully received

 

[monaghan]

Re other posters, i've plenty of opportunity to chase the cables in etc, house being renovated so that why i thought i'd raise this early days before i smash the place about

Any recommendations on the 'wired' infrastructure equipment greatfully received

Cat 5 was the only option when I did my house, however, cat 6 may be the route to take now. I have a minimum of 2 pairs to each room except the kitchen as there was no requirement for networking the kitchen in those days (no Internet fridge back then ) You can run in a small hub if you need more than the number of pairs you have to a room, there's even a small face plate hub I saw a while back! I have cable all through the house, I put in a run to each place where I was running power (separated of course so they don't share the same route for noise issues and safety).

If you have a central location (commonly known as Node 0 in home automation circles), run all your cable back to here and put in a decent patch panel and hub. Mine is under the stairs. Run cable to the garage and outbuildings if possible.

The beauty of cat 5/6 is that you can run phone, audio, video or data over it (more or less anything with the right balun). Run at least a pair to each point as most face plates have 2 sockets (or space for 2) and if there is a failed cable then you still have 1 working cable you can use. If you can afford it and it works in your house, run ducts rather than just cables so you can drop in additional cables later if needed.

Wifi is useful for laptops & tablets, but if you have the ability to get an Ethernet cable to a desk for use with a semi permanent laptop or a desktop, then the increased throughput of Ethernet over WiFi will really make a difference.

I could go on for hours, but it will pay you to search for "home automation", there's quite a lot of good stuff (and some really OTT stuff) that's been done and documented by the HA community.

 

[bluerock]

it will pay you to search for "home automation",

Great domain and listed at sedo

 

[ian]

Cat 5 was the only option when I did my house, however, cat 6 may be the route to take now. I have a minimum of 2 pairs to each room except the kitchen as there was no requirement for networking the kitchen in those days (no Internet fridge back then ) You can run in a small hub if you need more than the number of pairs you have to a room, there's even a small face plate hub I saw a while back! I have cable all through the house, I put in a run to each place where I was running power (separated of course so they don't share the same route for noise issues and safety).

If you have a central location (commonly known as Node 0 in home automation circles), run all your cable back to here and put in a decent patch panel and hub. Mine is under the stairs. Run cable to the garage and outbuildings if possible.

The beauty of cat 5/6 is that you can run phone, audio, video or data over it (more or less anything with the right balun). Run at least a pair to each point as most face plates have 2 sockets (or space for 2) and if there is a failed cable then you still have 1 working cable you can use. If you can afford it and it works in your house, run ducts rather than just cables so you can drop in additional cables later if needed.

Wifi is useful for laptops & tablets, but if you have the ability to get an Ethernet cable to a desk for use with a semi permanent laptop or a desktop, then the increased throughput of Ethernet over WiFi will really make a difference.

I could go on for hours, but it will pay you to search for "home automation", there's quite a lot of good stuff (and some really OTT stuff) that's been done and documented by the HA community.

+1 great advice.

The best I was able to achieve in a fully built house was running a network cable under the carpet and down the stairs, and one through the loft down the waste pipe but it gave me a semi-network structure and has made a massive difference.

Certainly worth highlighting again how Ethernet can be used well for sending audio and video signals, CYP do some decent kit, not cheap though!

 

[ian]

Sounds like absolute hell. ;-) I think it's disgusting that new builds aren't built with Ethernet and coaxial distribution already built in because once they're up there's next to no ability to retrofit it. Never enough electric sockets either or in the right places so eight way plug bars everywhere. Utter misery eh? One of the major reasons I'm loath to move elsewhere.

Indeed, still to this day most new homes don't even offer the option of upgrading to include networking, though they do allow more power outlets, at an additional cost of course! I enquired about this recently on a flagship development (Stretton Green, Malpas) for the house we were buying and they looked at me like I was mad; wouldn't even allow the option of having a professional go in and carry out the work at first fix!

.

 

[ian]

I've heard the same from former neighbours that sold and moved to a new build that they now can't sell for what they paid. They took two large basins to fit in their master ensuite that I gave them from my previous bathrooms and asked for the hand basin plumbing to be capped off so they could fix those basins themselves, allowing for two sinks instead of one pewney one, adjacent to each other. I think they had to accept the fitting of a basin they didn't want in the end because the building company wouldn't sign the build over otherwise.

The amount of bathrooms that must be ripped straight out when new owners move in must be significant.

Good luck being allowed to go in during first fix stages and loosely run cat6 from a loft down to various rooms. As you say they look at you like you're mad. My other per hate is flats with limited CATV or satellite distribution. No option for Sky+, not enough outputs on the multi switch, rip off fees to run additional coax.

In new builds these days it appears the floors are those big sheets of chipboard that you can't hope to get back up without a circular saw and crowbar. Internal walls built ontop of that without cavities. External wall cavities filled. Heaven help anyone trying to add anything or fix a leaky pipe. Easier to rip ceilings down sometimes, if you don't mind showering the room with dust and risking divorce.

Yep, sadly (though I can understand tbh) developers have to build to a set standard to ensure sign-off, even if you will immediately rip out. We had a situation whereby we wanted to remove a wall between kitchen and dining room for an open space. They literally had to put the wall up, get it signed off, then rip it back down again (at our expense of course) to allow the sale to go through.

Plasterboard/chipboard walls aren't so bad, but wood framing inside them is what makes chasing cables impossible. I'm sure there are other ways, I have no experience of it, only what I've done in my home.

 

[Skinner]

I haven't done this myself, but I have seen it done in places where trunking/skirting conduit has been for one reason or another not an option. My observations may not be 100% accurate as I never paid much attention.

With wooden frame plastered walls, you have to cut a small section of wall plaster out like

[ || ]

where the || is the wood frame, then use a spade or a self feed bit to bore a hole in the wood frame They use some kind of pipe which is tapped into the wood and sealant used. I assume this is for support or reduce future damage perhaps, I don't know. Something like a stiff-ish hose (kinda like thinner hoover spiral hose) is threaded through each bored hole, as a kind of ducting. The cut out is replaced, plastered and skimmed.

Doesn't seem to take them very long to do it, so I guess its simple. Easier if your already planning to decorate I guess and some tools available.

 

[orchardapple]

Hi Guys, apols, just dragging this thread up again, i'm going to run CAT6 cables from a central point into each room, but looking about for WIFI access points etc, leaving me a little confused on differences tbh

So on this page, even the first page shown, whats the panels thoughts?

i'm 'tempted' by a couple of the CICSCO WAP371's