New build - No ethernet wiring - first world problem?

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885 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2972493 24-Sep-2022 15:30

neb:
allio:

for 23 in total.

"We're gonna need a bigger switch".

I took the very good advice I received on GZ a few years ago to forego the little recessed box and get a 6RU wallmount rack in the garage instead. Lots of room for a real patch panel and switch. Though now that it's finally done I wish I'd gone for 9 or 12RU instead!

lNomNoml

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#2972513 24-Sep-2022 16:58

Modern new build but corners cut

neb

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#2972654 24-Sep-2022 23:48

tdgeek: Our 12 yo house has 12 ethernet ports including in the stairwell (5 BR 3 LR home) Might be overkill, but as you say, why not when constructing. These days it should be a selling feature.

Some points for people considering getting Ethernet put in:

* Buy your own solid-copper Cat6 or whatever, that way you know what you're getting.

* Get the house plans and draw in every wire run you need on the plans and where it should run. So not just "bedroom, 2 Ethernet jacks" but actual lines showing where things go.

* Run twice as much cable everywhere as you think you need. You've bought a 300m spool of the stuff so you may as well use it, and it's only marginally more to pull through two cables in place of one.

* If you're connecting up anything that'll be outdoors, run fibre for that link to isolate it electrically from the rest of the network with a media converter at the far end to go back to Ethernet.

* If the option is available, get a sparkie who's run networking setups before. We were lucky enough to find one who's had a good bit of experience wiring up commercial buildings, he said the Casa network was about right for a medium-size business.

wellygary

8315 posts

Uber Geek

#2972665 25-Sep-2022 08:31

dolsen:

It did break the decision on a brand new home purchase for me. Agent was - but everything is wireless....

Let me fix that for you...

“The agent was -but everything is your problem not ours....”

froob

692 posts

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#2972670 25-Sep-2022 09:11

It would stop me from buying, unless there was a reasonably straightforward way of adding at least some network cabling. But, I think most people would survive just with mesh wireless or similar.

The TCF Premises Wiring Guidelines now have a minimum home wiring standard (cable runs to main TV and for WiFi) and it is a pity this hasn’t become a de facto industry baseline standard for new homes. But, I don’t think making it a legal requirement is the right answer either.

Guide: Installing Network Cabling in New Zealand Homes

alexx

867 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2972774 25-Sep-2022 17:38

I have an early 2000s place with similar problems. Perhaps excusable then, when most people had dial-up and few people had multiple computing devices in the home. In some ways you are better off in an older home where you can get up in the ceiling and run cables.

If it were me I would get the costs for the upgrades and compare with other places that already have the wiring or can be easily upgraded,

#include <standard.disclaimer>

mattwnz

20147 posts

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#2972776 25-Sep-2022 17:46

neb:* If the option is available, get a sparkie who's run networking setups before. We were lucky enough to find one who's had a good bit of experience wiring up commercial buildings, he said the Casa network was about right for a medium-size business.

I posted this photo a few years ago after a sparkies attempt to install networking in a new build for a family member, where they should have all terminated on a patch panel, and the box large enough for the number of cables entering the box. Instead they all got terminated as phone jacks!

It was completely redone by a new installer, and I ended up having to do a lot of the work myself to tidy it up. Unfortionalety the original sparky cut the cables too short after he tried to fix this below, meaning grouping the ports on the patch panel by room wasn't possible. I would ask to see their previous installs first or hire a specialist network installer.

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mattwnz

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#2972777 25-Sep-2022 17:53

froob: It would stop me from buying, unless there was a reasonably straightforward way of adding at least some network cabling. But, I think most people would survive just with mesh wireless or similar.

The TCF Premises Wiring Guidelines now have a minimum home wiring standard (cable runs to main TV and for WiFi) and it is a pity this hasn’t become a de facto industry baseline standard for new homes. But, I don’t think making it a legal requirement is the right answer either.

You can have it put in the specs when it is being built. I was discussing this with a developer and they said that everyone just uses wifi now. But that is often a compromise and wired also allows things to be powered over POE, such as security cameras.

Shindig

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#2972792 25-Sep-2022 18:51

Walking away from it, after multiple visits the places doesn't fill us with any great excitement. The retrofitting of ethernet is hassle, when it should be expected. Electrical sockets not where you would expect them.

What else is missing

and all for $1.5+Mill, F*** that

The little things make the biggest difference.

mattwnz

20147 posts

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#2972796 25-Sep-2022 19:04

That is why people often build, rather than buying a spec building where costs are minimise to maximise profits. If it is an off the plan house plan, you can then spec it how you want.

dolsen

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#2972859 25-Sep-2022 23:15

Shindig:

Walking away from it, after multiple visits the places doesn't fill us with any great excitement. The retrofitting of ethernet is hassle, when it should be expected. Electrical sockets not where you would expect them.

What else is missing

and all for $1.5+Mill, F*** that

Let them know that this was a contributing factor so perhaps they will think about this next time they build.

angski

59 posts

Master Geek

#2973256 26-Sep-2022 21:17

allio:

I took the very good advice I received on GZ a few years ago to forego the little recessed box and get a 6RU wallmount rack in the garage instead. Lots of room for a real patch panel and switch. Though now that it's finally done I wish I'd gone for 9 or 12RU instead!

Is it possible you take a picture show me your 6RU wallmount rack in your garage please?

neb

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#2973271 26-Sep-2022 21:28

angski:
Is it possible you take a picture show me your 6RU wallmount rack in your garage please?

As an alternative, could I suggest Elfa wallmount wire shelving if you don't have heavy servers to hold up? Much cheaper and easier to set up than an enclosed rack, and the form factor means you get good convection cooling and easy access to everything. I set up floor-to-ceiling shelving for all the assorted IT gear in a cupboard and it's perfect for that.

angski

59 posts

Master Geek

#2973273 26-Sep-2022 21:32

neb:
angski:

Is it possible you take a picture show me your 6RU wallmount rack in your garage please?

As an alternative, could I suggest Elfa wallmount wire shelving if you don't have heavy servers to hold up? Much cheaper and easier to set up than an enclosed rack, and the form factor means you get good convection cooling and easy access to everything. I set up floor-to-ceiling shelving for all the assorted IT gear in a cupboard and it's perfect for that.

I love it. Any pictures please?

neb

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#2973296 26-Sep-2022 22:59

angski:
I love it. Any pictures please?

Bit of a washed-out photo because there's currently only artificial light, starts with a UPS at floor level and works up through various power supplies and embedded systems and controllers to the switch and then radio stuff at the top. Cooling is by convection through the mesh shelving, nothing really gets more than moderately warm. The second photo is the ventilation, there's an extractor fan that draws warm air from the top of the cupboard once the temperature reaches a certain level, which it almost never does since it's in the basement.

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