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 Many thanks Richard -- Richard Stevenson, Systems Specialist, Xtra Limited Phone: +64 9 355 5231 Mobile: +64 25 290 3101 Pager: +64 26 100 155 "Visual $ANYTHING" just screams out "100% suckage or your money back". -- Tanuki the Raccoon-dog, in the Monastery --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
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. --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
On Fri, 31 Aug 2001, Dylan Reeve wrote:
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
You clearly haven't properly investigated the options with traditional wired LANs - making holes in walls is no longer needed.
Thanks for the pointers. I should probably have added the information that there will be inquisitive younger people in the place also, and I don't really want anything they might mess with lying around. Given my propensity for playing with any cool new toys I can lay my hands on, having a wireless setup appeals ;) Cheers R -- Richard Stevenson, Systems Specialist, Xtra Limited Phone: +64 9 355 5231 Mobile: +64 25 290 3101 Pager: +64 26 100 155 "Visual $ANYTHING" just screams out "100% suckage or your money back". -- Tanuki the Raccoon-dog, in the Monastery --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
:: shag-carpet). Ooo-errr. Is that the stuff you put under your etchings then? ;-) :: I have executed this cabling solution in a number of situations with :: satisfactory results. I bet. :: 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. Might that not be err... a somewhat vulnerable position? Also, you'll miss out on those blinking LEDs. You can't have a network installation without those. Anyway, this is how a real pro (yep, that's me!) would do it: you get your Cat-5 ready and then, get into the ceiling! Brilliant eh? Tends to work the best on old vullahs, where you can crawl around, breathing in the remnants of some extremely hirsute sheep (or glass wool), and drop the cable through the ventilation shafts or the holes for the chandeliers-wotsits. Honest, it looks really neat and tidy -- much nicer than sticky tape all over the place. Watch out you don't put a foot wrong though, and step through the ceiling. Lots of cable-laying novices perish every year that way. -- Juha --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
At 19:21 31/08/2001, Juha Saarinen wrote:
Anyway, this is how a real pro (yep, that's me!) would do it: you get your Cat-5 ready and then, get into the ceiling! Brilliant eh? Tends to work the best on old vullahs, where you can crawl around, breathing in the remnants of some extremely hirsute sheep (or glass wool), and drop the cable through the ventilation shafts or the holes for the chandeliers-wotsits. Honest, it looks really neat and tidy -- much nicer than sticky tape all over the place. Watch out you don't put a foot wrong though, and step through the ceiling. Lots of cable-laying novices perish every year that way.
however if you do happen to step through the ceiling the newly formed hole can be utilised for lots of other cables making it a prime point to put your switch or hub or server rack ! -- Steve Systems Admin, Asia Online (NZ) --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
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.
--------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
--------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
Only one way to go for the true geek http://www.intellon.com/. Neil --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
I could get some for ya.. Regards, Sahil Gupta NET4U Limited ------------------------------------ NET4U -- www.net4u.co.nz Home of the new - $24.95 128k ADSL Nationwide Internet Service Provider ------------------------------------ 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
Many thanks
Richard
-- Richard Stevenson, Systems Specialist, Xtra Limited Phone: +64 9 355 5231 Mobile: +64 25 290 3101 Pager: +64 26 100 155
"Visual $ANYTHING" just screams out "100% suckage or your money back". -- Tanuki the Raccoon-dog, in the Monastery
--------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
--------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
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
Many thanks
Richard
Best option, imho, is an Apple Airport, and Orinoco PCMCIA cards, 11MB. You can get actual 6MB + speeds, airport is about $800 and Orinoco cards about $400 each. Keith Davidson --------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
It doesn't matter so much WHAT you buy to do this, as HOW you choose to implement it. If you get it wrong then the consequences can range from . People messing with your files . People seeing your network traffic/email . People running up huge bills on your internet account. I'm not going to preach here, but just make sure that you know all the consequences of Wireless before you find one of them out by accident. Dean On Fri, Aug 31, 2001 at 05:01:42PM +1200, 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
Many thanks
Richard
-- Richard Stevenson, Systems Specialist, Xtra Limited Phone: +64 9 355 5231 Mobile: +64 25 290 3101 Pager: +64 26 100 155
"Visual $ANYTHING" just screams out "100% suckage or your money back". -- Tanuki the Raccoon-dog, in the Monastery
--------- To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog
participants (9)
-
Dean Pemberton -
Dylan Reeve -
Juha Saarinen -
Keith Davidson -
Neil -
Richard Stevenson -
Sahil Gupta -
Steve Phillips -
Steven Perich