Networking –Building a Prewired Home
Mike Cherney
Prewired Home – built 1995/6Location Coax Cat. 5 Cat. 3 Phone
Bedroom #1 1 1 1 1
Bedroom #2 1 1 1 1
Bedroom #3 1 1 1 1
Office 3 1 1 1
Family Room 2 1 1
Kitchen 1 1
Dining Room 1 1 1
Guest Room 1 1 1
Basement Distribution
panel
Distribution
panel
Distribution
panel 1
Wiring Cost - $941.85 7 Phone Jacks12 Security Contacts 6 Category 3 Runs13 Coax Runs 7 Category 5 Runs 2 Speaker Wire Runs
Much less expensive at time of construction!Cable provider may install some of this (at no charge).
Hub and Distribution
First Home Mac - 1990
Basement Basement
AppleTalk Network – 1994
modembluejay
Basement Basement Basement
AppleTalk Network – 1996
modemmodemInteract
Bedroom OfficeBasement OfficeGuest RoomOffice
modem
Transition to PC’s – 1998
modemmodemInteract
Bedroom
Office
OfficeGuest Room
Guest Room
Office Basement
Basement
modem modem
Office
First Ethernet – 2000
modem modemInteract
Office
OfficeGuest Room
Office
Basement
modem modem modem
BasementBedroom
Bedroom
Dining RoomOffice
Guest Room
Router – 2001
modemmodemInteract
Office
Office
Office
Basement
modem modem
Office
modem
BasementBedroom
Bedroom
router
Guest Room
Guest Room
Dining Room
Cable Modem and Router
Cable modem – 2001
Guest Room BasementOffice
Office
Office
Office
BasementBedroom
Bedroom
routerQwest OnlineCable
modem
Dining Room
Guest Room
Hub – 2001 Qwest Online
Office
Office
Office
Office BasementBedroom
Bedroom
router
Cable modem
BasementGuest Room
Guest Room
Dining Room
hub
Qwest Online
Office Office BasementBedroom
router
Cable modem
BasementGuest Room
Dining Room
hub
Today
3 Desktops 3 Laptops
Installation Almost everything worked
Plug and Play Out of the box
Interrupt Conflict Between one ethernet card and modem Tried debugging using Microsoft “Help” Tried manually changing interrupts Solved by removing modem card
Cable Modem Installation and Service Activation $62.50 (ask for special offers)
Hardware Costs Modems
$5 (on sale / rebate) - $60 / each (no longer used) built into newer laptops (still used for travel)
Ethernet cards $5 - $10 / each (on sale / rebate) built into newer laptops
Router $60 for 4 ports (on sale / rebate)
Hub $40 for 4 ports
Cable modem included in service
Monthly CostBroadband - $48.90 per month
$51.92 per month with taxes and fees Includes 16 channels of cable TV
Cost without cable TV: $49.95 per month Includes cable modem rental
Dial-up - $11.95 per month Required landline phone line Evaluating discontinuing landline
$35.05 per month including taxes and fees
Speed
In general, slower than my lab
In general, faster than my office
This is a hint I should bother network services
More that could be done and “Is it needed?”
Add Wireless Access PointAdd Network PrinterPut Ethernet Card in MacControlling Internet AccessNone of this is needed.
Is it home infrastructure? Is it leisure time activity?
In RetrospectCable Modem – Good Investment
Connect time Downloading time
Prewiring Now bundles including fiber
Router + Hub – Get a single package Router with wired ports for desktop Wireless Access Point Print Server