Advice please (Poll)

[andyturpie]

As per post below, to gauge opinion I have created a poll which I would appreciate your feedback.

 

1. Get the CAT6 network done throughout the house.

 

2. Wifi is the way forward - CAT6 will have a limited lifespan which will make the kit redundant over time.

 

3. Use powerline adapters around the place.

 

4. I couldn't care less for your first world problems.

[JRowley]

I found powerline adapters really unreliable, their performance varies a lot based on quality of cabling and other plugged in devices.

 

Cat6 all the way!

[Garacesh]

Combo of Cat6 and WiFi. Obviously you need WiFi, mostly for phones, but if you own a laptop(s) you'll want them on wifi too. But if you have hard-wired pc's, it's worth putting in the wired network, especially if you do something where latency is crucial (most common example being online competitive gaming)

[mthomas08]

"Wi-Fi is the way forward".

Sorry but I actually "LOL'd". After doing some PS4 updates and a family PC updates on Wi-Fi (because I didn't have a spare cable) I can honestly say it's not the way forward. Took far too long to "Download" updates when compared to a cable.

 

Cat 6 all the way.

[JRowley]

WiFi infrastructure probably has a shorter lifespan than Cat6 also, given they are constantly adding new specifications.

[LosOjos]

I've had very positive experiences with powerline adapters, they're certainly a very easy, relatively cheap way to build a decent network infrastructure around the house. I have heard horror stories of them not working but I've not experienced any issues myself in the 4 or 5 properties I've used them in.

 

That said, if you can afford to have Cat6 put in, I'd definitely do that. Yes, it will become redundant eventually, but as Cat5 has been the primary network cable for over 20 years now I think Cat6 is pretty safe bet! WiFi is practically essential too, but generally I wire anything that can be wired.

@mthomas08 - the Wifi in Ps3/4 is infamously poor

[IrritableTech]

In my home (which is a new build - but it was completed by the time I set sights on it meaning I couldn't spec any extras) its very much a mixture of all three technologies. I have wire (actually I used external Cat5e) running between the bottom floor and the middle floor where the majority of my kit is (router, set top boxes, TVs, streaming boxes, NAS etc.) with an access point in each location. Then to link to the spare room (study/sewing room/dumping ground) we use Powerline stuff to connect to the printer up there. All of the devices which move use wifi - all of the devices which are fixed use wires. It's about adapting to your home and your budget.

 

Having Cat6 everywhere would be great - but think carefully about where you locate points. Wires are unsightly.

Edited September 14, 2015 by IrritableTech

[CyberNerd]

3x3 802.11ac is "upto" 1300mb/s per device. Even with 10% performance it's still better than most home internet links.

[Grey-gear]

If you can afford Cat6 it would be good and maybe a nice selling point if you ever move out, but like @Garacesh has wrote you may want some form of wifi for hand held devices

[JRowley]

My cry of Cat6 also includes some form of Wifi as it's effectively a requirement if you have any mobile stuff, I thought it was implied.

[Oddbod]

Cat6 with dual trunks on the hp gear I bought off eBay. Need it for the render farm I'm building

[steveg]

Why not run cat 5e? Much cheaper, especially for any containment, and will happily run gig over it, especially over the relatively short runs you will have in a house. I have wired my whole house in 5e over the last few years.

 

Home internet connections are not going to go beyond a gig for a very long time!

 

Just run it to the main points you will need it, 4 points to the main tv (I only put 2 in and had to run more - tv, sky box, dvd player and console all wanted a wired connection), some where you want a phone, and any desktop pc's etc. Allow enough to put additional wireless points so you have good coverage throughout - I have 3 ap's to cover the whole house and garden.

 

 

 

Steve

[Davit2005]

A mixture of both WiFi and CAT 6. I'd put multiple points in each room as then could use them for phone links if required.

 

Mostly mine is WiFi but have Ethernet for TV and servers of course.

[andydis]

so many uses for cat6

 

scenario: I want to play my PsXbox in room A but its in room D,

answer: plug in a hdmi to cat6 convertor in both rooms and bingo!

[andyturpie]

Cheers Guys, dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s regarding the complete renovation project this week, so will let you know how I get on.

[CyberNerd]

Cheers Guys, dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s regarding the complete renovation project this week, so will let you know how I get on.

 

Whilst you doing it; try and find some devices like fridges, heating systems, lights that come with RJ45. You'll probably find they most are only wi-fi compatible, so you could save time and money by only wiring in the things that will need the Cat5/6.

[Garacesh]

Whilst you doing it; try and find some devices like fridges, heating systems, lights that come with RJ45. You'll probably find they most are only wi-fi compatible, so you could save time and money by only wiring in the things that will need the Cat5/6.

 

Or you could do the sensible thing and not have your fridge, TV, lightbulbs, kettle, toaster, kitchen sink and bathroom scales networked because they don't need to be and are insecure as heck.

[CyberNerd]

Or you could do the sensible thing and not have your fridge, TV, lightbulbs, kettle, toaster, kitchen sink and bathroom scales networked because they don't need to be and are insecure as heck.

 

I rather thought that the point of wiring a house to connect to the internet was to connect things to the internet!. The same security argument goes for anything you plug in.

[Garacesh]

It is. But what use does your fridge have for connecting to the internet?

 

TV's I'll give them that, they can have use for it, but they're ridiculously insecure and this has been shown umpteen times already so you wouldn't catch me doing it. I'd rather hook it up to a media centre that I can secure. But my fridge, central heating and light bulbs (to stick with your examples) don't need networking. I really don't see why people seem to think they do.

[JRowley]

It is. But what use does your fridge have for connecting to the internet?

 

TV's I'll give them that, they can have use for it, but they're ridiculously insecure and this has been shown umpteen times already so you wouldn't catch me doing it. I'd rather hook it up to a media centre that I can secure. But my fridge, central heating and light bulbs (to stick with your examples) don't need networking. I really don't see why people seem to think they do.

 

Automated restocking of regularly used products, as an example.

[sted]

Automated restocking of regularly used products, as an example.

 

so fridge notices you are low on cheese and orders just that costing you more in delivery charges than the item itself is worth. It does seem like a solution to fix a non existent problem or one easily solved with a post it/list on your phone infact cortana can do this I jst tell it to remind me to buy cheese when I go to asda. Ive yet to see a use for the iot that to me dosent just smack of ooh look what we can do regardless of it it has many uses apart from remote controlling heating and debatably lighting

[Garacesh]

Automated restocking of regularly used products, as an example.

 

"Guys, I'm gonna make a brew, do you want one?"

"Sure!" "Yes please!"

".. Oh bugger, we're out of milk. GUYS! NIPPING TO TESCO! Do we need anything else whilst I'm out?"

 

I don't need my fridge ordering me stuff automatically. It seems a silly gimmick truth be told. To order stuff, my fridge needs my account details or card details. Given the insecurity of 'smart' household appliances that's not something I want.

[LosOjos]

so fridge notices you are low on cheese and orders just that costing you more in delivery charges than the item itself is worth. It does seem like a solution to fix a non existent problem or one easily solved with a post it/list on your phone infact cortana can do this I jst tell it to remind me to buy cheese when I go to asda. Ive yet to see a use for the iot that to me dosent just smack of ooh look what we can do regardless of it it has many uses apart from remote controlling heating and debatably lighting

 

Don't own an IoT fridge myself, but it'd be damned handy if that Cortana/Siri/Calendar reminder was added automatically when my daughter used the last of the milk for her cereal so I knew to get some on the way home rather than scream blue murder that there's none for a cuppa when I get in.

 

Of course nobody needs it, but then you don't need most technology you use every day - it's about convenience.

[CyberNerd]

Central heating is pretty useful to have online, especially if you don't know when you are going to be home/away. Lighting I'm not so sure about, CCTV is always a good one with PIR sensors that tell you if someone has broken in.

[Garacesh]

A fridge that pays attention to what I use, fine. Gimmicky, but has its uses.

 

A fridge that automatically orders replacements for me? No way. I'm not willing to give financial details to something when current IoT devices are shown to be so insecure.

 

CCTV should be connected by its very nature. But I just don't see a fridge or light bulbs needing it. It doesn't exactly take a lot to turn a light off, or switch your thermostat down if you're going away for a while.

Edited September 16, 2015 by Garacesh