Bunch of Home Networking Questions

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Bunch of Home Networking Questions

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#324030 18-Feb-2026 14:29

Sooooo ... I'm designing the network set up for our new build (date TBC). I have bunch of questions I hope people here can help answer. I'd also welcome any feedback on what I have planned.

I'll describe the planned the setup first and then ask questions.

Thanks in advance.

SETUP

Internet:

Fibre to the site so I'm assuming max 1GB speed.

Chorus ONT (model TBD)

Infrastructure:

modem/Router TBD, ideally 1GB capable (ideally rack mounted)

Cisco 350 series 24 Port managed switch, 24 x 1GB (combo of POE/POE+) - 2 x 10GB ethernet ports and 2 x 10GB SFP ports, 2 x 10GB 'combo' ports) [I was given this for free]

Patch Panel(s) TBD

6 x POE mesh wifi units, ceiling mounted (probably TP-Link Deco units)

12 x additional ethernet wall plates

Devices to be in rack:

NAS (TBD) for Plex/Jellyfin, Immich, documents and laptop/mobile back up - 10GB capable

Reolink NVR w 8 x POE ports

Min PC running local Ollama 10GB capable

Pi based Back up NAS

A couple of other Pi's running a bunch of stuff (powered via POE)

UPS

Fans (managed)

LED Lighting (managed)

Fixed Devices/Zones:

6 x ReoLink POE cameras (4 on house, 1 on outbuilding, 1 on driveway)

1 x Reolink POE doorbell camera

Security system

Home theatre (TV, HT receiver)

Office (laptop, printer)

2 x Audio streamers

Workshop (3D printer, laser cutter, CNC, waser)

3 x small pi zero displays

Irrigation controller

Outbuilding (solar/battery monitoring)

Weather station

Glass house

Cabling:

Within house - Cat 6 or better

Between house and outbuilding/driveway .... ?fibre?

QUESTIONS

1) As we'll only have a 1GB internet connection, am I correct in assuming there is no point in having a router faster than 1GB, and 10GB port would be wasted on the connection to the modem. I should save speed for stuff within the house?

2) What should I use the 10GB port's on the switch for? I'm currently thinking the NAS and the AI server. (Or does it not matter as links to any other devices are only 1GB).

3) Should I use the SFPs for fibre for longer runs to the shed and driveway?

4) Would POE from a DVR normally pass through a patch panel (the POE ports are on the rear of the device) or direct to cameras?

5) Is using single ethernet runs to zones with multiple devices, and then a small switch a good/bad idea (office, home theatre, workshop etc)?

6) What am I forgetting/doing wrong?

Mike

LostBoyNZ

622 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 190

#3462678 18-Feb-2026 15:41

Correct :)

2) What should I use the 10GB port's on the switch for? I'm currently thinking the NAS and the AI server. (Or does it not matter as links to any other devices are only 1GB).

The NAS is potentially a use case yes, although even if you had multiple devices reading / writing to it at the same time, all on their own 1GB connections, you'd probably be speed limited by the storage instead. If you have a 10GB port though, I'd certainly plug the NAS into it. If a switch with 2.5GB instead of 10GB was quite a bit cheaper though, that's probably a good way to save money. Sorry I'm not familiar with AI servers though, I'll let someone more knowledgeable answer that one.

3) Should I use the SFPs for fibre for longer runs to the shed and driveway?

Unless they're around 100m away, it's hard to imagine there's a benefit to that vs a good ethernet cable. SFPs could be used to linking multiple switches together if you needed more one day.

4) Would POE from a DVR normally pass through a patch panel (the POE ports are on the rear of the device) or direct to cameras?

Should be no problem, POE will happily run through a patch panel.

5) Is using single ethernet runs to zones with multiple devices, and then a small switch a good/bad idea (office, home theatre, workshop etc)?

It's certainly less work in terms of terminating the ends, and then you can get a smaller switch, smaller patch panel etc. But you're limited by the speed of the single run, and there's a minor bump in power usage by introducing small switches. Many are pretty efficient these days though. But so long as you're not putting anything demanding in the rooms, I think it's not a bad idea personally. You mentioned home theatre though, I wonder if that might be best suited to having multiple runs.

6) What am I forgetting/doing wrong?

Nothing that I can think of, but it'll be good to see what other members think here too.

With running cables to locations outside the house, if it's needed for POE such as your cameras that's a good use case. Otherwise Wi-Fi is getting so good these days, if it's a huge pain or expense to run the cable out there, you might consider using Wi-Fi instead.

I'd also recommend leaving a fair length of extra cable coming out the walls of each room and near your rack. Just in case there's any problems terminating them and it takes a few goes, you'll have cable to spare.

Powershop referral: Get $150 of credit spread over 12 months with this link: https://secure.powershop.co.nz/r/grahamp-q8PwhBv?p=1827

---

Virtual Reality rentals for birthdays, gaming weekends, trade show booths, holidays, family gatherings & more

https://www.virtualrealityrental.co.nz/ - Including the Quest 3, Pimax Crystal Light, PlayStation 5 consoles and more...

nitro

756 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 335

#3462687 18-Feb-2026 16:36

good points from LostBoy, particularly the switches connected to your main switch if using single ethernet runs.

would just like to add, on...

6 x POE mesh wifi units, ceiling mounted (probably TP-Link Deco units)

if you're powering them via PoE from your switch, why use mesh wifi? wired backhaul would be better. but you probably meant that.

k1w1k1d

1711 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1305

#3462690 18-Feb-2026 16:39

Run the cables down the walls inside PVC conduit, so that additions or modifications can be done in the future as technology advances. Leave a draw string in each conduit.

cddt

1965 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1904

#3462836 19-Feb-2026 06:23

Six access points seems excessive. We have a large two story house and get great coverage with two...

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#3463024 19-Feb-2026 12:50

Thanks all for the helpful feedback

@LostBoyNZ it will be a ~180m run from the driveway gate to the house. I was thinking of fibre for that. The shed is only about a 40m run so it should be fine.

The most demanding thing on one of the in-room switches will be the Smart TV, or maybe a laptop if some major downloading is going on. I figure in each room there will only be one device at a time actively using the network cable back to the rack. For example ... it will be the TV or the receiver but not both.

@Nitro Yes, wired backhaul

@K1w1K1d I was planning on running the cables in conduit. Based on your and other's comment I'm now thinking I'll just run 4 cables to each outlet. I don't have to patch them in but they're there if I need them. Then I can either use switches or just connect devices directly. For example, in the garage I'll have a laptop talking to printing/cutting devices so it may a swell do that locally via a small switch.

@cddt Three for the house, one by the pool, one for the shed, and one for the glasshouse (sensors and stuff). The house is sort of a long thin design in three pods/wings.

Mike

SirHumphreyAppleby

2938 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1860

#3463027 19-Feb-2026 13:05

3. Yes, for electrical isolation. Even at 10Gbs^-1 speeds, having media converters installed at both ends would cost you about $50.
5. Yes.The only reason I wouldn't do this is if I needed to run non-Ethernet protocols over the connection OR if I needed a location for someone to put in a router with LAN and WAN interfaces (i.e. in a rental).
6. Don't use 'mesh' anything. Ensure all APs are directly connected to the switch.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

toejam316

1516 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 888

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3463042 19-Feb-2026 13:43

I'd still use an SFP and Fibre to connect your shed. You can upgrade capacity a lot more if you run a single mode fibre pair, and you don't have to worry about lightning strikes, voltage differences, etc. between the house and shed. Anywhere you run fibre, run two pairs. Always handy to have a spare pair, and gives you extra capacity if you need.

My rule of thumb is 2 ethernet runs per room, 4 for spaces like the lounge, but that's assuming you want to try avoid switches at the end. It also helps ensure you don't run into bandwidth contention (not likely to be fair). You should consider how many data links you'll be using, and add an extra one. Also, if you're a madman like me, I'd strongly back running a pair of single mode fibre to each room, too.

Regarding your APs, Grandstream is my usual recommendation for hardware, their new Wifi 7 gear has 2.5G/5G/10G ports depending on model, so you could use your 1G switch as the PoE source for a 7670 or 7672, and a separate run for the 2.5g/5g data uplink (the 10g 7674 requires PoE++).

Join Quic Broadband with my referral - no sign up fee and gives me account credit

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#3463047 19-Feb-2026 13:53

SirHumphreyAppleby:

6. Don't use 'mesh' anything. Ensure all APs are directly connected to the switch.

Thanks for your advice, yes that's the plan. All the APs will be wired back to the switch.

Mike

lxsw20

3689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2174

Subscriber

#3463062 19-Feb-2026 14:44

What is the floor area? I'm covering 200m2 with 2x U7-Pro-XG's.

Depends on layout obviously, but 6 seems a lot of APs for a house.

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#3463138 19-Feb-2026 16:32

lxsw20:

What is the floor area? I'm covering 200m2 with 2x U7-Pro-XG's.

Depends on layout obviously, but 6 seems a lot of APs for a house.

The house will have about a 300m2 footprint including garage/workshop. It's a long narrow building layout three pods, plus the garage as an almost separate building and the glasshouse partially dug into a hillside off one end of the garage. I'm also covering the pool/deck area, a shed and a glasshouse that will have some automation/sensors and double as a sort of conservatory in winter.

Mike

LostBoyNZ

622 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 190

#3463163 19-Feb-2026 18:03

MikeAqua:

Thanks all for the helpful feedback

@LostBoyNZ it will be a ~180m run from the driveway gate to the house. I was thinking of fibre for that. The shed is only about a 40m run so it should be fine.

The most demanding thing on one of the in-room switches will be the Smart TV, or maybe a laptop if some major downloading is going on. I figure in each room there will only be one device at a time actively using the network cable back to the rack. For example ... it will be the TV or the receiver but not both.

Aw yeah you're right to go with fibre for that, anything getting close to 100 meters in length is best on fibre.

It sounds like the in-room switches will work really well in your case :)

Powershop referral: Get $150 of credit spread over 12 months with this link: https://secure.powershop.co.nz/r/grahamp-q8PwhBv?p=1827

---

Virtual Reality rentals for birthdays, gaming weekends, trade show booths, holidays, family gatherings & more

https://www.virtualrealityrental.co.nz/ - Including the Quest 3, Pimax Crystal Light, PlayStation 5 consoles and more...