Home network set-up question

hornblower · 06-04-2011 04:29PM #1

I am wiring a house at present with plasterers expected within 2 weeks. I have a BT broadband Voyager ADSL 2110 wireless router which I will use for casual laptop use. However, I am running two cat6 cables to each of three bedrooms and the living room, one for computer and the other for internet television or whatever. I also need 3 desktop computers to use the same networked printer.

Can anyone tell me what hardware I need? Should the modem be upgraded? An ethernet hub or switch (gigabit)? Do I run an ethernet connection from the modem to the hub/swith and connect each room to that?

I have researched this to a degree and the more I read, the more confused that I get? A plain talk answer would be really appreciated.

Many thanks.

Spear · 06-04-2011 04:32PM

There's four LAN ports on the router, aren't they enough, or do you need more than that?

hornblower · 06-04-2011 04:35PM

Yes, I need 8 ports, 2 for each of three bedrooms and 2 for the living room. I'm guessing that internet TV will be a standard before too long and I'm hoping to be future proof.

Spear · 06-04-2011 04:40PM

hornblower wrote: »

Yes, I need 8 ports, 2 for each of three bedrooms and 2 for the living room. I'm guessing that internet TV will be a standard before too long and I'm hoping to be future proof.

Then a 100meg switch will do then and should be fairly cheap. Connect it through it's uplink port to the router and that should be it.

user1842 · 06-04-2011 04:42PM

Stick the router in the attic and run your Cat6 cables and phone line to it. If the router has 4 ethernet ports then that should be enough.

Note that if you want a Gigabit network in your house via your Cat6 cables you will either need to upgrade your router or buy a gigabit switch and connect your router to it.

hornblower · 06-04-2011 04:44PM

I've decided to go with a gigabit switch (again for future-proofing) and thats why I'm using Cat6 cable. But in short, all I need is the ethernet switch box?

Many thanks for the prompt replies.

user1842 · 06-04-2011 04:45PM

hornblower wrote: »

Yes, I need 8 ports, 2 for each of three bedrooms and 2 for the living room. I'm guessing that internet TV will be a standard before too long and I'm hoping to be future proof.

Why do you need two ports for each bedroom. Surely one per bedroom is fine?

user1842 · 06-04-2011 04:46PM

hornblower wrote: »

I've decided to go with a gigabit switch (again for future-proofing) and thats why I'm using Cat6 cable. But in short, all I need is the ethernet switch box?

Many thanks for the prompt replies.

This switch is very good:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-GS108-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B0000E5SES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302104771&sr=8-1

Might be able to get it cheaper on ebay or adverts.ie

Just plug your router into one of the ports on the switch and that should be it.

vibe666 · 06-04-2011 11:27PM

dixons in the UK have that netgear router for £35 if you know someone in the UK that could get it for you?

there's several more local options though if you're on a budget?

http://www.elara.ie/products/switches.asp?srch=gigabit&searchBtn=Search&offset=&tfm_order=ASC&tfm_orderby=price

i actually have the cheaper white box netgear switches and they're probably plenty good enough for your current needs i reckon as i get around 65MB/s sustained transfer from mine.

hornblower · 06-04-2011 11:45PM

dmclean1842 wrote: »

Why do you need two ports for each bedroom. Surely one per bedroom is fine?

one for computer connection and one for tv internet. Am I doing something wrong?

vibe666 · 07-04-2011 07:44AM

hornblower wrote: »

one for computer connection and one for tv internet. Am I doing something wrong?

sounds good to me, if/when i'm doing it myself i'll expect to do the same. i'll probably go for 4 behind the main TV tho between the htpc, games consoles and (in the future) the tv itself.

Home network set-up question

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