Dylan, While this appears a cost effective solution that won't affect existing infrastructure, a few concerns and improvements on your design spring to mind. Since Richard has identified key young members of the household, a wireless solution in place of your design would have the side-effect of extra long-term exposure to EMR, hence Richards' kids might grow up as 3-legged mutant computer geeks. Security, both physical and systems, is of utmost importance. The couch might seem a perfect place to rack mount your equipment however it is by no means secure. I would recommend mounting the switch and any other equipment in a lockable cabinet, such as the oven (true geeks don't cook) and running cable through a duct drilled through the back of it. Additionally, electronic locking systems can be bolted to the hinged door and survelliance installed throughout the kitchen. And the warmer drawer makes an ideal place to store a change notebook, extra patch leads, etc. I would recommend the implementation of raised flooring throughout the areas of the house where network access is required, and running CAT-5E and power cable under this. If implemented in a "wooden carpet" fashion (i.e. only resting on existing carpet), it would not mark or damage any chattels and be easily removable when Richard moves on, by way of chainsaw, sledgehammer, etc. Steve Perich
-----Original Message----- From: owner-nznog(a)list.waikato.ac.nz [mailto:owner-nznog(a)list.waikato.ac.nz]On Behalf Of Dylan Reeve Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 6:43 PM To: Richard Stevenson Cc: NZNOG Subject: Re: Wireless LAN equipment
On Fri, 31 Aug 2001, Richard Stevenson wrote:
Hi all
In the interests of keeping my soon-to-be-landlord happy, I'm looking at building a wireless LAN rather than making holes in the 13-month-old house I'm about to move into. Can anyone recommend any particular equipment, suppliers, sources of information? It'll only be a small network to start with - five systems, though it'll grow; I have a nasty habit of accumulating junk :P
Richard,
You clearly haven't properly investigated the options with traditional wired LANs - making holes in walls is no longer needed.
To retrofit a building with a wired LAN without modifying the structure, you will need to following:
CAT5 Cable (enough to cover distances to be networked). RJ45 Plugs (2 per cable-run, and extras, just in case). Crimping Tool (and guide to cable crimping if you are unfamiliar with it).
...and the magic ingredient...
Gaffer Tape (Black is preferable, the good stuff, and Duct Tupe will not do).
Make cables long enough to reach all stations from the hub/switch via traditional access ways (the hall). Run cables. Tape down.
Where they need to run across doorways, it is best to tape firmly between either side of the door frame.
Gaffer Tape (unlike Duct Tape) is designed to be removed, so it is unlikely to cause damage (however be cautions of painted surfaces and shag-carpet).
I have executed this cabling solution in a number of situations with satisfactory results.
A tip: depending on the size of you LAN and layout of your house, it may be handy to locate the hub or switch in a central place, I reccomend under the couch.
-- Dylan Reeve - dylan(a)wibble.net Professional Cabling Installer, honest. Or not.
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