Apartment Networking Round 2
DOOManiac
Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Cat5 VS. Powerline</div>I've been talking w/ a coworker of mine and I've found that while it may be possible, getting my apartment wired is going to be much more expensive than I thought. I got the go ahead from the management of the place to do it, its just now I'm wondering if it would be worth the cash.
Then he reminded me of a new technology I had forgotten about completely: Using your powerlines as a network. You have an adapter box, one end a standard RJ45 hole for your network cable (which can go to anything, but usually its your PC), and the other end is a plug that goes into your electrial outlet. It then uses the existing wires in the home to transfer your gigs of porn.
Anybody here have experience with this? He said it was pretty good and most reviews I see seem to indicate that the products deliver. There are all kinds of adapters from Siemen's, Linksys, and D-Link, so there's no worry of not having enough choice with the issue.
Benefits of Powerline:
1) won't have to put any holes in the wall. Also if I pack up and go somewhere, these can go with us.
2) don't have to drill freakin holes.
Downside:
1) Expensive. $99 for one converter, and you need at LEAST 2 to be effective.
2) Slow. Powerlines can only carry a 14mbps signal. doh. :(
So yeah, the two main reasons I didn't get wireless is 1) Expensive and 2) Slow...
So yeah, I'm starting to wonder again... meh.
Right now I'm looking at getting 2 of the <a href='http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4505-3334_16-20684584.html?legacy=cnet' target='_blank'>Siemens SpeedStream Powerline Ethernet adapters</a>.
Why must both Wireless and Powerline be so damn slow? :X
What do you guys think?
Then he reminded me of a new technology I had forgotten about completely: Using your powerlines as a network. You have an adapter box, one end a standard RJ45 hole for your network cable (which can go to anything, but usually its your PC), and the other end is a plug that goes into your electrial outlet. It then uses the existing wires in the home to transfer your gigs of porn.
Anybody here have experience with this? He said it was pretty good and most reviews I see seem to indicate that the products deliver. There are all kinds of adapters from Siemen's, Linksys, and D-Link, so there's no worry of not having enough choice with the issue.
Benefits of Powerline:
1) won't have to put any holes in the wall. Also if I pack up and go somewhere, these can go with us.
2) don't have to drill freakin holes.
Downside:
1) Expensive. $99 for one converter, and you need at LEAST 2 to be effective.
2) Slow. Powerlines can only carry a 14mbps signal. doh. :(
So yeah, the two main reasons I didn't get wireless is 1) Expensive and 2) Slow...
So yeah, I'm starting to wonder again... meh.
Right now I'm looking at getting 2 of the <a href='http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4505-3334_16-20684584.html?legacy=cnet' target='_blank'>Siemens SpeedStream Powerline Ethernet adapters</a>.
Why must both Wireless and Powerline be so damn slow? :X
What do you guys think?
Comments
Personally, just putting in CAT-5 isn't all that difficult so long as you know how to do it. But then, I put it in as a method for earning money, and have been doing it for a few years now, so I might not be the least-biased.
Wireless (802.11g, preferably) may be an option. You should borrow adapters from a friend though and see how good the reception is in your building, so you won't get a nasty surprise if it doesn't work after shelling out a few hundred bucks.
As well, wireless is the least-secure form of network besides possibly going up on top of a building and yelling with a megaphone.
Cat-5. Fast, cheap, simple.
As far as wiring the apartment, its not that simple.
As you can see, there's some distance to cover with going from my room to his. I don't want cables visible in the apartment, especially up by the ceiling where it would look very tacky. And I don't want it going across the floor...
Now, I'm on the first floor of this 2 story apartment complex, so I can't exactly just get in the attic and drop cable. Hell if that was all I had to do it it'd be no problem. But I don't know of any other way of doing this w/o it looking like crap. A coworker, Dustin, used to install cat5 professionally and he says its almost impossible. Another coworker, Brian, actually has a wireless B network set up and he had nothing but great things to say about it.
Both of them helped me look at wireless tech today at work, and it turns out Wireless G is a lot faster than I thought. 54Mbps is definately acceptable. Also if I don't go with complete 3Com equipment like I originally wanted to (but rather settle for NetGear or D-Link), it'll be a lot cheaper. Not to mention that when I move again I can take the network with me. Or hell not even moving, but also for like, QuakeCon and etc.
And I don't really *NEED* a wireless PCMCIA just yet, because its not that often that I use the laptop, and when I do its almost always plugged into the wall anyway. So really wireless PCMCIA is only needed for when I get a new laptop. :P
So look at the diagram.. Anyone still think that a wired network is possible given the constraints? And if so, some of you have mentioned you have done this professionally, how much do you think it would cost to get it done? And who the hell do I call for this sort of thing anyway?
802.11g Cable/DSL Router: <a href='http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=251778' target='_blank'>Netgear WGR614 Cable/DSL 54Mbps Wireless Router $44.50 After Rebate://Netgear WGR614 Cable/DSL 54Mbps Wir...50 After Rebate</a>
802.11g PCI Adapter x 2: <a href='http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=251795' target='_blank'>Netgear WG311 54Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter $51.00x2 = $102.00://Netgear WG311 54Mbps Wireless PCI A... = $102.00</a>
Total: About $150
Definately not as bad as I thought it would run.
*thumbs up*
--Scythe--
--Scythe-- <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
LOL
@DOOM: what type of flooring do you have in the living room? If it's carpeting, you could lay the line under it. If it's not, I think you should just go with wireless. I can get 54MBps on my dad's router (a Linksys POS, I might add) from a floor away. Just be careful; I lost my connection whenever someone made a call, and we never found out why. We <i>theorized</i> it was because we have lots of wireless phones, but we couldn't be certain.
P.S. My according to my coworker, you lost the signal because 2.4ghz cordless phones run on the same band and you just happened to have the same channel as the phone.
Shaggy: The powerline things include built in security through passwords and encryptions, but also each apartment is on its own circuit.
I still think Cat5 is the way to go. Easy, fast, cheap.
As for running it under the carpet:
You run it along the walls under the carpet. Thus it is not under foot and it is not visable <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
G is faster but because it uses a higher frequency it tends to do poorly when you have alot of walls in the way, if you mount the router close to the ceiling in the cable modem room (preferably somewhere close to the door) you should have no problems.
Also check <a href='http://www.pricewatch.com' target='_blank'>Pricewatch</a> for better deals on the equipment.
My router is on the floor under the computer station I lose the signal about 30 feet (3 walls)
*thumbs up* <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
+1 vote for the under-the-floor thing. CAT5 all the way.
Yes. :P
I suck w/ stuff so I know there's no way I'll be able to do that. If someone else can, then hooray. But I know I can't.
Who the hell could I call about this sort of thing?