Advice for home network

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 03:16

Noob here at networking, just wondering if the set-up I have in mind will work..

Sky router > Switch > Ethernet face plates > PC/TV/Xbox etc

Looking to wire entire house with Cat5e UTP Copper ethernet cables (solid) and face plates with plugs to go into the switch at the other end of the cables

I've chosen the TP Link TL-SF1024D 24port unmanaged switch. Am I right in thinking If I connect my Sky router to port 1 on the switch with a crossover cable it should all work?

Your help is appreciated

banger9365 · 6 Jan 2013 at 03:28

thats what i've done but using the TL-SG1024D

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 03:48

banger9365 said:
thats what i've done but using the TL-SG1024D

Exactly the same set-up? I did look at the switch you mentioned but don't require that kind of bandwidth yet.

So is everything working without any issues? Did you use a patch or crossover cable to connect from router to switch, and did you use port 1 on the switch for the router?

What router are you using? And if it's not against the rules could you tell me where you bought the ethernet cable from, currently I'm looking at Kenable

banger9365 · 6 Jan 2013 at 05:27

near enough ,
sky router down stairs plugged in to a cat5 wall socket,which runs up stairs to the switch,just plugged in to any port ,coming out off port oone or blue port on the router
using cat5e solid cable ,wired to the patch standard
1-White/Blue White/Blue 5
Blue/White 4
2-Wht./Orange White/Orange 1
Orange White 2
3-White/Green White/Green 3
Green/White 6
4-White/Brown White/Brown 7
Brown/White 8

then i've got anther cable running from the switch back down stairs for blu-ray,xbox,
external wifi extender with a 2 mtre aerial in the loft coming from the switch ,no dead spots in my house or garden or street,using a patch cable
nas,cctv and main pc in one room ,coming out the switch all using patch ,
which i made up
got anther running into the other side of the living room just in case
and i am putting a high powered wifi extender on the side of the house with a yogi aerial to get it to my daughters (well its me just playing )

i got the cable off a mate or back off a lorry,shhh

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:13

banger9365 said:
near enough ,
sky router down stairs plugged in to a cat5 wall socket,which runs up stairs to the switch,just plugged in to any port ,coming out off port oone or blue port on the router
using cat5e solid cable ,wired to the patch standard
1-White/Blue White/Blue 5
Blue/White 4
2-Wht./Orange White/Orange 1
Orange White 2
3-White/Green White/Green 3
Green/White 6
4-White/Brown White/Brown 7
Brown/White 8

then i've got anther cable running from the switch back down stairs for blu-ray,xbox,
external wifi extender with a 2 mtre aerial in the loft coming from the switch ,no dead spots in my house or garden or street,using a patch cable
nas,cctv and main pc in one room ,coming out the switch all using patch ,
which i made up
got anther running into the other side of the living room just in case
and i am putting a high powered wifi extender on the side of the house with a yogi aerial to get it to my daughters (well its me just playing )

i got the cable off a mate or back off a lorry,shhh

Do you see any problems with my set-up? Anything I should be aware of?

bremen1874 · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:42

Are you going to have 24 ports in regular use? It's fine to install outlets everywhere you think you could ever need them, but you'd usually only actually connect the ones in use and buy a switch to match.

Why 10/100 rather than Gigabit?

Almost all modern network equipment will have auto MDI/MDIX so you don't need to worry about crossover cables.

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:42

Bought some Draka Cat5e 305m cable

Cable spec

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:47

bremen1874 said:
Are you going to have 24 ports in regular use? It's fine to install outlets everywhere you think you could ever need them, but you'd usually only actually connect the ones in use and buy a switch to match.

Why 10/100 rather than Gigabit?

Almost all modern network equipment will have auto MDI/MDIX so you don't need to worry about crossover cables.

All bedrooms will have regular use for laptops and smart TVs.

Sky router has no Gigabit ports so until they update their router, just thought I'd make do with a cheaper 10/100M switch for now...

bremen1874 · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:01

Skeese said:
All bedrooms will have regular use for laptops and smart TVs.

Sky router has no Gigabit ports so until they update their router, just thought I'd make do with a cheaper 10/100M switch for now...

Unless the only use for the network is connecting to the Sky broadband just buying a 10/100 switch is probably a bit shortsighted. Unmanaged Gigabit isn't particularly expensive knowadays. If there won't be any internal traffic then fair enough.

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:07

bremen1874 said:
Unless the only use for the network is connecting to the Sky broadband just buying a 10/100 switch is probably a bit shortsighted. Unmanaged Gigabit isn't particularly expensive knowadays. If there won't be any internal traffic then fair enough.

I'll keep that in mind, not purchased the switch yet, do you see any problems with my configuration?

bremen1874 · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:15

Skeese said:
I'll keep that in mind, not purchased the switch yet, do you see any problems with my configuration?

It should be fine.

I'd punch down both ends of the cable rather than having plugs at one end, but plugs will be okay. Just buy plugs that claim to work with solid core cable as some are only suitable for stranded cable.

When your installing the cable install more than you think you need at the moment. They don't all need to be connected from the start.

If you're installing a lot of connections get at least two boxes of cable so you don't have to do them one at a time.

Where possible install drops on both sides of a room just in case the furniture is rearranged at a later date.

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:22

bremen1874 said:
It should be fine.

I'd punch down both ends of the cable rather than having plugs at one end, but plugs will be okay. Just buy plugs that claim to work with solid core cable as some are only suitable for stranded cable.

When your installing the cable install more than you think you need at the moment. They don't all need to be connected from the start.

If you're installing a lot of connections get at least two boxes of cable so you don't have to do them one at a time.

Where possible install drops on both sides of a room just in case the furniture is rearranged at a later date.

If I punch down both ends, wouldn't that mean I would need a patch panel as well?

bremen1874 · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:28

Skeese said:
If I punch down both ends, wouldn't that mean I would need a patch panel as well?

Yes.

It's just neater. In a usual network install you'll have many drops that aren't in use and so don't need to be patched in. Terminating at a patch panel means you don't have cables flapping around.

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:41

bremen1874 said:
Yes.

It's just neater. In a usual network install you'll have many drops that aren't in use and so don't need to be patched in. Terminating at a patch panel means you don't have cables flapping around.

Would you recommend I buy a 48 port patch panel or 1 x 24 port patch panel and 1 x 16 port patch panel, I can't see myself needing any more than 40...

Any patch panel in particular you recommend?

bremen1874 · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:46

Skeese said:
Would you recommend I buy a 48 port patch panel or 1 x 24 port patch panel and 1 x 16 port patch panel, I can't see myself needing any more than 40...

Any patch panel in particular you recommend?

I'd prefer a single panel unless there's a significant cost saving to be had.

Just look for something that has decent cable management built in.

You could always install plugs now and add a patch panel later if it seems like a good idea. Just leave enough spare length on the cables.

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:57

Looking at a Cat6 48 port patch panel, would the wiring configuration at the rear be the same for my Cat5e cables?

bremen1874 · 6 Jan 2013 at 15:03

Skeese said:
Looking at a Cat6 48 port patch panel, would the wiring configuration at the rear be the same for my Cat5e cables?

I've never tried connecting Cat5e to a Cat6 patch panel. The layout is the same, but Cat6 uses slightly thicker wires. I don't know whether this would be a problem or not.

Can't you find a Cat5e patch panel cheaper than a Cat6 version?

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 15:47

Cheapest I found for a 48 port Cat5e is £30, and the Cat6 is £30 as well...

Looking at the specs it says it is compatible with the 24AWG cables, should be all right then I suppose

Do you have it all within a cabinet or on a shelf?

bremen1874 · 6 Jan 2013 at 16:02

It'll need attaching to brackets of some sort. It depends on how much space you have available and what other equipment also needs mounting.

£30 is suspiciously cheap for a 48 port patch panel of any sort. I'd expect to be paying at least double that, but it wouldn't usually be my own money.

Skeese · 6 Jan 2013 at 16:18

bremen1874 said:
It'll need attaching to brackets of some sort. It depends on how much space you have available and what other equipment also needs mounting.

£30 is suspiciously cheap for a 48 port patch panel of any sort. I'd expect to be paying at least double that, but it wouldn't usually be my own money.

Here is the manufacturer code for the 48 port patch panel - PPAN-C6-48US

Could I have your views on this product?