Ethernet connection: Any value ?

[markietas]

Re: Eathernet connection: Any value ?

If its 2.4ghz theres only 3 non overlapping channels(1,6,11) and only 11 channels total. So if theres a bunch of access points with a signal level of say -70db or better, you WILL have interference issues.

Changing the channel may or may not help. Doing so blindly without doing a wireless scan and knowing whats already out there may give one the same poor signal quality and interference.

If u have an android device, u can download WiFi Analyzer and scan the WiFi airwaves to see whats in use.

5Ghz is way better as there is more spectrum and channels available

This, there's only so much you can do to mitigate interference with wireless, not to mention most consumer AP's are **** in general.

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[Pwrgeek]

Re: Eathernet connection: Any value ?

I got $150 in routers at the house, I can take the hit LOL.

I can tell you this - over the years I've been on the job here, we have lost a LOT more commercial grade network equipment - all fiber links in and out, fiber stack cables, copper Cat whatever to the wall inside the building, UPS on all switch stacks - in "modern" buildings built to codes from about the 1980s on than we have in the "ancient" ones, like resident halls built in the 1930s. Go figure.

Yeah the routers aren't the issue. It's all the PCs, Cameras, Game systems, TVs, and just about everything else that is plugged into mine that I worry about. I've seen a lightning strike in one building take out all the networked equipment in another because someone ran copper Ethernet between the two. For $100 worth of equipment I've limited my losses to one building or the other not both. Worth it to me but everyone gets to make up their own mind.


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[Pwrgeek]

Re: Eathernet connection: Any value ?

Have you tried changing the channel. Most everyone leaves it at the default but changing it can sometimes help.

Most modern routers / APs (even consumer ones) automatically select the channel with the least interference dynamically.


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[jd_1138]

Fiber optic or Cat can go into the conduit now or later. Definitely run conduit. I'd have more than one.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Re: Eathernet connection: Any value ?

Most modern routers / APs (even consumer ones) automatically select the channel with the least interference dynamically.


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Sure. But someone can and will come along down the road and add a new access point possibly on the same channel or one near as the one the router picked on initial setup.

I do wireless scans for my clients and for myself at home at least once a week to make sure the best channel is in use...

 

[Pwrgeek]

Mine switch channels all the time (at least once a day). I had to turn this off on one of them because I have an older client on that one that wouldn't automatically follow along.


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[Dragfluid]

Re: Eathernet connection: Any value ?

Have you tried changing the channel. Most everyone leaves it at the default but changing it can sometimes help.

I've tried a couple times, but the wife always whacks my fingers!

 

[paranoid56]

like all have said, hardwire it. my rule of thumb is if the item is stationary it gets a hardline, if i move around with it then its wifi.

 

[G-ManBart]

I'd run the conduit with a fiber pair and a couple of pull strings in case you want to add something later.

 

[reader2580]

I would not add fiber unless you plan to use it right away. The fiber you pull today may not be what you want in five or ten years when you actually want to use it. I ran fiber in my last house and the fiber couldn't really handle any faster speeds than the cat 5 cable I also ran in the house. I never used the fiber and it was a waste of money in my opinion.

 

[ForceFed70]

I would not add fiber unless you plan to use it right away. The fiber you pull today may not be what you want in five or ten years when you actually want to use it. I ran fiber in my last house and the fiber couldn't really handle any faster speeds than the cat 5 cable I also ran in the house. I never used the fiber and it was a waste of money in my opinion.

Yup! Good advice here. Fiber standards change, and the equipment running it is expensive. Do not put in fiber until you actually plan to use it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I would not add fiber unless you plan to use it right away. The fiber you pull today may not be what you want in five or ten years when you actually want to use it. I ran fiber in my last house and the fiber couldn't really handle any faster speeds than the cat 5 cable I also ran in the house. I never used the fiber and it was a waste of money in my opinion.

OM1 and OM2 support gigabit. OM3 is upto 10GB. Unless youre running servers over that fiber why would gigabit not be sufficient for your needs?

 

[Beemer533]

Re: Eathernet connection: Any value ?

5Ghz is way better as there is more spectrum and channels available

True, but compared to 2.4, 5ghz is terrible at penetrating obstacles such as walls.

 

[reader2580]

OM1 and OM2 support gigabit. OM3 is upto 10GB. Unless youre running servers over that fiber why would gigabit not be sufficient for your needs?

Cat 5 will support gigabit so the fiber in my previous house was a waste of money in my opinion. Fiber would not be a waste of money to a detached structure.

 

[jreineri]

Wireless is convenient. In every other way, wire is better. There are many sources of interference: neighbors wifi, bluetooth, wireless phones, baby monitors, etc...

One person suggested that he has never had trouble with wifi. Great. But that does not mean that someone else will not. Even the person that has never had trouble with wifi might have interference issues that are reducing throughput. Just not enough that he has noticed.

As many have said, when you have an open trench take advantage of the opportunity and put in the extra conduit. It is cheap. It is not likely that you will regret it. Worst case you spent a few extra bucks. If you don't and you need it later...

Regarding putting in fiber optic or copper network cable. That is a gray area. For a short run you are ok with copper. But, a long copper wire between buildings is more prone to lightning induced voltage spikes. My garage is 100 feet from house. I put in fiber.

 

[TPM01]

OM1 and OM2 support gigabit. OM3 is upto 10GB. Unless youre running servers over that fiber why would gigabit not be sufficient for your needs?

OM1, OM2 and OM3 are certified for 10GbE Speeds, just at different cable lengths (OM3 can actually do 100GbE). That being said, its a total waste of money for a residential application, as the cable is expensive, and to terminate the ends is expensive as well.

Personally, (As long as the cable run will be under 300 feet) I would install a Cat6, even if your not going to use it right away. Better to install two run's as your just paying for material at that point. Uses such as security camera's etc have already been outlined here.

You can get cheap good quality cable and terminations\wall brackets, etc from www.monoprice.com

If your running it along side power\other wires make sure you get Shielded cable STP.

Worse case scenario you could use it to stand up a wireless networking in your building using something like a UBNT UniFi access point for all your garage devices to connect to.

Cheers.

 

[Falcon67]

Yup! Good advice here. Fiber standards change, and the equipment running it is expensive. Do not put in fiber until you actually plan to use it.

We're running 10 gig over 16 year old single mode using regular 1310nm parts. True that our multi-mode is old spec and won't handle it.

 

[General Geoff]

Wired is the only way to fly for dedicated computing. Any laptop that doesn't have an ethernet port, is not a laptop worth having.

 

[rlitman]

We're running 10 gig over 16 year old single mode using regular 1310nm parts. True that our multi-mode is old spec and won't handle it.

I can think of NO application for single mode fiber in a residential setting. Period. The cost of single mode just is way too prohibitive for what you get, and the advantages only start to appear at lengths starting at several hundred meters.

 

[Git]

Wired is the only way to fly for dedicated computing. Any laptop that doesn't have an ethernet port, is not a laptop worth having.

Sadly that is not true. Some of the higher end, ultra thin laptops do not have the ethernet port because it would make the machine too thick

The work around is a usb to ethernet adapter (I hate wireless also and avoid it as much as I can)

When they built our current house in 2003 - I snuck in at night and ran "Structured Cable" everywhere. It is one "bundle" that contains 2 Cat5 and 2 Coax all in one jacket for easier pulling. I see now they have it with also with fiber

 

[hnsy]

Sounds like the questions been answered, but yes, I would definitely add it

 

[justsam]

Sounds like the questions been answered, but yes, I would definitely add it

Well the op certainly has an assortment of "answers" to choose from. All the way from do nothing to put in fiber and a gigabit switch!