Need Home Network Referral

[iacrenter]

My central networking/cable box in the master bedroom is a mess. Tons of CAT5, voice, and coaxial cables without labels. Some appear to be hanging in midair and not connected to anything.

I was looking for a referral in the Irvine/Orange County area who might be able to setup a wired/wifi network, check that all my data/voice/cable outlets are functioning/connected, and label/organize my networking/cable box.

I currently use Cox for my data, voice, and cable services.

Thanks in advance.

 

[paperboyNC]

I could easily do it myself or guide you through doing it so I haven't used a contractor.

You can use something like this to trace and label the wires:http://www.homedepot.com/p/Triplett...nosearch2-3-_-NA-_-203345762-_-N#.UtQcydJDvWg

Then just buy a wireless router:http://www.homedepot.com/p/Netgear-N600-Wireless-N-Dual-Band-Router-WNDR3400100NAS/203467545#

and a switch:http://www.homedepot.com/p/D-Link-DGS-108Unmanaged-8-Port-10-100-1000Mbps-Switch-DGS108/203310131#

If you aren't going to use any of your jacks for phone (all for network) you can just plug every cable into your switch / router and they should all work. Home depot sells cheap tools to put a jack on any loose wires.

 

[index]

My central networking/cable box in the master bedroom is a mess. Tons of CAT5, voice, and coaxial cables without labels. Some appear to be hanging in midair and not connected to anything.

I was looking for a referral in the Irvine/Orange County area who might be able to setup a wired/wifi network, check that all my data/voice/cable outlets are functioning/connected, and label/organize my networking/cable box.

I currently use Cox for my data, voice, and cable services.

Thanks in advance.

if you install a few 8 port gigabit switches, you won't need to label your cables, since all of the ports in the home will be live. 


If you don't put in the switches, you can only connect as many rooms as you have open ethernet ports on the back of your router.  Then you get to play marco polo with the wife to tell you which room is active at the moment and endlessly rotate the cables until you find the set you want.


Here's the equipment i use for this task:


802.11ac router (i have 3 routers in my home, with 2 acting as bridges - to blanket the entire home and entire yard with wi-fi - no stuttering or skipping when i stream pandora to speakers in the yard.):


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F0DD0I6/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


8 port unmanaged switch (i have 2 since i had something like 14 jacks across the house):


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QUA6RA/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1


cat6 cable (to connect switch to router):


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C2DZ90Y/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

.

I second that. Just get a few switches and install them in the wire cabinet and make all your ports "live".
Then set up a single router (e.g. Asus RT-N66U), which has a very easy guided self-installation process.
No need to spend $$$ on a contractor if you have 1-2hrs on a weekend.

 

[ZeroLot]

I'm working on my home network setup. I'd also like to extend my wifi to the yard.    With the network panel in the master closet ... Which is on one end of the house on the second floor ... Would I be able to blanket the house with just 2 net gear nighthawks?

My place is only 2k square feet.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[ZeroLot]

I'm working on my home network setup. I'd also like to extend my wifi to the yard.    With the network panel in the master closet ... Which is on one end of the house on the second floor ... Would I be able to blanket the house with just 2 net gear nighthawks?

My place is only 2k square feet.

Probably do the job with one, strategically placed Nighthawk. It's an incredible device.

Wow ... Just one?!  That's impressive.  I currently am using two old costco routers in my old 80's condo.  I'll just buy one nighthawk and see.

Thanks Opensky.

 

[OpenSky]

>

 

[ZeroLot]

I'm working on my home network setup. I'd also like to extend my wifi to the yard.    With the network panel in the master closet ... Which is on one end of the house on the second floor ... Would I be able to blanket the house with just 2 net gear nighthawks?

My place is only 2k square feet.

Probably do the job with one, strategically placed Nighthawk. It's an incredible device.

Wow ... Just one?!  That's impressive.  I currently am using two old costco routers in my old 80's condo.  I'll just buy one nighthawk and see.

Thanks Opensky.

Definitely. Location is key so play with that too. BTW, plug in a usb3.0 hard drive in that bad boy and you got yourself a home media server too. Really, a crazy cool box.

That's awesome.  I will.  I've always wanted an easy to install media server.  Thank you!

 

[irvinehomeowner]

So is there something equivalent to the Nighthawk but not as expensive?

 

[OpenSky]

 

[ZeroLot]

So is there something equivalent to the Nighthawk but not as expensive?

You can try to find an Asus AC66U (or AC68U) for less, but only by about $20.

It's a combination of beamforming + large external antennas + 802.11AC that is just unbeatable. The nighthawk adds a featureset that is well worth the $20 difference with the Asus.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2050...s-802-11ac-router-sets-lan-speed-records.html

Just got the Nighthawk and that baby is SWEET!  The cable guy loved it too.  He did, in his opinion, believe the Asus is better tho.  But hey I LOVE my Nighthawk!

 

[OpenSky]

 

[ZeroLot]

Any suggestions as how I can bridge my Nighthawk.

I feel like it's a waste to put my Nighthawk in the master bedroom closet because that's where everything terminates. 

Any suggestions??  I'd rather not buy TWO Nighthawks if I don't have to.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I bought the Netgear AC1450 from Costco for $125, I'll see how it is.

May end up just getting the Nighthawk but $75 can buy me many donuts.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[qwerty]

@opensky - in the bedroom downstairs my iphone was getting a weak signal when it was able to pick up the router signal, alot of the times it dropped, it was very slow and alot of times the page would not load so i bought one of these for $40.  the signal strenght improved dramatically, now i have full signal strength throughout the house. when im picking up the wifi signal from the router, the speedtest on the iphone has download speeds of high 20, low 30 mbps. when its picking up the signal from the repeater in the downstairs bedroom the signal speed is in the low teens. the pages i view load fast, youtube has no issue so it works just fine, just not fast as when i pick up the signal from the router. the speedtest on the laptop gives me downloads of 40-60 mbps when the signal connects from the router. would the nighthawk improve my iphone download speeds in the downstairs bedroom or does the speed drop off like it does using the repeater below? thanks.

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WA850RE-Universal-One-button-Indicator/dp/B00E98O7GC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1394232666&sr=8-2&keywords=router+signal+repeater

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I bought the Netgear AC1450 from Costco for $125, I'll see how it is.

May end up just getting the Nighthawk but $75 can buy me many donuts.

Dude... like saying you got a Porsche and you show up with a Boxster. Get the 911 or go home.  >

Yeah... but I don't have a big home so if the Netgear is a big enough speed bump over my old Linksys cheap router, then I'm good.

If not, then I'll return it (love Costco) and get the Nighthawk.

And in your Porsche comparison, $50k is even more donuts than $75.

 

[OpenSky]

8)

 

[ZeroLot]

Any suggestions as how I can bridge my Nighthawk.

I feel like it's a waste to put my Nighthawk in the master bedroom closet because that's where everything terminates. 

Any suggestions??  I'd rather not buy TWO Nighthawks if I don't have to.

Are you on UVerse?

I'm doing a cheapo gigabit switch in the wiring closet, then the Nighthawk in the main/family room with the Cox cable modem.

Cox installed their modem in the closet since everything terminates in there.