Smart wired my house - what do you think?

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pedrogarcia

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Topic # 198635 17-Jul-2016 11:14

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I bought an old villa in Wellington and decided to smartwire with Cat6 during the reno. The network box has Freeview, HDHomerun, ONT 12 port patch panel, 16 port switch and a router. I have run out of room but would love to have crammed in a nas box or security system.

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Yogi02

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Reply # 1593849 17-Jul-2016 12:06

Nice - Im just about to venture into the same thing with an old villa.

Just out of interest - If all the adapters are 240V to 12V, have you thought about using a single and more robust transformer?

What else did you do around the house?

pedrogarcia

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Reply # 1593884 17-Jul-2016 12:50

Thanks for the feedback - i'm not sure how a transformer would be of benefit though. Would it save space in the cabinet or make it safer?

I ran 2 x ethernet to every bedroom and 4x behind my TV in the living room. I also used the Cat6 cabling to install a Unifi WIFI AP which is ceiling mounted and I cannot recommend highly enough. It gives us excellent strength throughout the property.

If I could start again I would probably pay more attention to where I place the ethernet jacks, i.e. half way up the wall for wall mounted TVs. But it's been fun!

Yogi02

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Reply # 1593945 17-Jul-2016 14:32

Cool - Having no dwangs makes running cables heaps easier.

froob

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Reply # 1595117 19-Jul-2016 15:56

Looks really good. Have you found that the 12 port patch panel is enough? I have the same one, and think I probably could have done with 2 or 3 times the ports... Unfortunately I have a smaller cabinet and don't really have the space for it. Thinking I might need to install an second cabinet somewhere else in the house.

wazzageek

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Reply # 1595130 19-Jul-2016 16:34

pedrogarcia:
Thanks for the feedback - i'm not sure how a transformer would be of benefit though. Would it save space in the cabinet or make it safer?

It should help save some space - one unit instead of the four. In theory a single transformer could be more efficient - it may have less heat than having four transformers jammed together.

From memory, some transformers will output different voltages, although you could always use a DC-DC converter.

The biggest thing would be to ensure that you have enough amperage to cover all units you wish to power.

I would also only wire in your own equipment - leave the ONT with it's own supply. (Simple insurance, anything goes wrong with the ONT and your power supply is the most likely thiing to be blamed ;-))

Cheers!

mdooher

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Reply # 1595197 19-Jul-2016 18:33

Nice Carpet...bet that fancy new Rhino strand nylon stuff doesn't last as long as that

Matthew

richms

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Reply # 1595220 19-Jul-2016 19:02

If you run out of space in one of them, chuck another panel in beside it and move all the coax clutter to that one.

Richard rich.ms

DarthKermit

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Reply # 1595233 19-Jul-2016 19:26

Looks good. Which room in your house do you have your cabinet mounted in?

pedrogarcia

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Reply # 1595444 20-Jul-2016 09:06

froob:

Looks really good. Have you found that the 12 port patch panel is enough? I have the same one, and think I probably could have done with 2 or 3 times the ports... Unfortunately I have a smaller cabinet and don't really have the space for it. Thinking I might need to install an second cabinet somewhere else in the house.

I have completely filled it up, should have gone with a 24 port. And the cabinet is definitely too small. All good lessons for next time.

pedrogarcia

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Reply # 1595452 20-Jul-2016 09:08

DarthKermit:

Looks good. Which room in your house do you have your cabinet mounted in?

I put it by the front door opposite the switchboard. Would have preferred a cupboard to hide it away in but until I build an extension I don't have one :(

pedrogarcia

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Reply # 1595458 20-Jul-2016 09:20

mdooher:

Nice Carpet...bet that fancy new Rhino strand nylon stuff doesn't last as long as that

All the hassle of a 1905 villa with all the horror of 1960's interior decorating :/

antoniosk

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Reply # 1595467 20-Jul-2016 09:24

pedrogarcia:

froob:

Looks really good. Have you found that the 12 port patch panel is enough? I have the same one, and think I probably could have done with 2 or 3 times the ports... Unfortunately I have a smaller cabinet and don't really have the space for it. Thinking I might need to install an second cabinet somewhere else in the house.

I have completely filled it up, should have gone with a 24 port. And the cabinet is definitely too small. All good lessons for next time.

This was my suspicion as well - for what I wanted would have required a much bigger cabinet and it just became too obtrusive. So rather than bring everything into one location I chose to focused on trunk ports around the main rooms coming into the office, and putting most things up high and out of the way...

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