Home network infrastructure recommendation

[Bob]

Hi chaps and chapsesses. I'm just popping by for some quick technology advice
(I tried doing a quick search here on the forum, but if I missed something obvious please just point me in the right direction)

I've just recently bought my very first own apartment, and tomorrow I start the moving process. The most important thing to have a good plan for is (obviously ) the network infrastructure. I have the following scenario:

• Internet enters my apartment in one corner of the living room.
• My desktop computer will be placed in the opposite corner of the living room. I'll probably be able to pull a cable between it and the Internet access point
• My home server (HP MediaSmart) will be placed in a cabinet in the hall. I don't have the option of pulling a cable to it, and it doesn't have a wireless interface.
• Various portable devices (phone, laptop etc) will be connected with wifi
• There are also lots of other apartments around, so I would guess that'll also mean many other wireless networks as well (but all apartments are separated by concrete - both walls and floor/roof).

My initial idea to set this up is something like this:

• One wireless router (with some LAN ports) placed at the point where I have the Internet plug in my living room, one cable between this router and my desktop
• Another wireless router in the hall connected physically to my home server, and configured as an access point (is that the proper terminology?) towards the wireless router in the living room

And I have the following requirements:

• All of my media is stored on the home server, so I must be able to stream high quality video (1080p (at least when I get myself a new TV :narnar:)) from it to the desktop (wireless between the two routers, and through cable from the last router to  the desktop)
• I have amongst other things some torrents running on the home server. This means that the two routers (and the wireless network) must be able to cope with this kind of traffic (many simultaneous connections etc).
• Although it has been ages since I've had time to do some proper gaming (and it doesn't look too good in the foreseeable future either...), the network should by no means have any limitations here
• The router(s) must be easy to manage w.r.t. wireless security, port forwarding (perhaps QoS?) etc.

So, I guess this means as a bare minimum the two wireless routers must support 802.11n. And since the wireless network will be the bottleneck here, gigabit support on the physical ports isn't strictly necessary (but would be nice if I'll be able to connect things differently in the future). But is there any point in both the two wireless devices being routers, or would it work just as well (or perhaps even better) if the one in the hall with the media server were a dedicated access point only?

And does people have any special recommendations regarding brands of routers? Linksys > D-Link? Or are other brands better? And how much money is it worth putting into this? The Linksys E1000 Wireless-N Router is for instance a cheap alternative at only 39£, with the Linksys E2000 Dual-N Band being a bit more expensive one at 72£.

I've also come across people mentioning DD-WRT. Is it worth buying hardware where you can install this? And is it worth it to go for DD-WRT?

[DrunkenZombiee]

I have an E3000 and it does the job well but its a a pricey router!

Really useful to have both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz at my disposal and I would recommended it if you are having several WIFI routers in your house as the 2.4GHz range can get quite congested when everyone is using WIFI in a small area. Even on different channels there is interference.

For traffic shaping you will need to use custom firmware like DD-WRT or TOMATO as the LINKSYS/CISCO firmware is pretty basic. Have you thought about using your server for traffic shaping if its on 24 7 and has dual LAN ports you can use software which is a bit slower but has some really cool advanced options.

Have you considered homeplugs as an alternative to WIFI? I have used a single pair to get networking out to someones garage at the bottom of their garden once. It could handle 1080p Video no problem which I was impressed with!

Lots to think about.

Good luck.

DZ

[Tutonic]

I'd use a wireless bridge instead of a 2nd router, just to keep things simple.

Draytek do some pretty good routers, fairly powerful and very flexible but not too pricey. TeaLeaf recently bought a Billion router which I think he rather likes, but I've never used one before.

[ArithonUK]

Netgear Wireless N rangemax router with bridging will do the job, however WiFi "noise" from other areas, wireless phone handsets, anything with an electric motor (girls hairdryer in apartment above) etc. will take it's toll.

A cheaper, more practical solution I've used is flat Cat6 cables. They are more expensive than normal cat5 network cables, but as with your situation, I couldn't pull cables through. All my walls are solid. We have a router in one bedroom where the phone-point is, my computer in the next room and another PC in the far bedroom. The flat cables tuck down the sides of carpet, go under carpet and under door sils. They are quite similar to RJ11 telephone cable (if you aren't sure).

This means apart from internet access, my network is full-on 1GB and my HD media streamer receiver in the master bedroom and the PS3 downstairs are the only things using my WiFi.

[T-Bag]

Homeplugs are the way forward. I use a basic set that does 200mbps, but you can get gigabit ones. Another advantage is you can get ones with wireless networking built in, which means you can avoid that second router, stream everything over your power lines and have a single wireless network that scales to meet your needs with additional plugs.

[ArithonUK]

I bought 4 homeplugs from Ebuyer a couple of years ago (£40 each!!!) and while two worked okay-ish, the bandwidth was 4Mb down to 2Mb if the washing machine was running and with all four plugs in use it was slower than 802.1 B WiFi.

They have made better ones since, however you HAVE to plug them directly to the wall (not via extension) or bandwidth drops off and the state and age or your house wiring is a MAJOR factor.

They can work, but I'd advise buying only two to start with (or borrowing a pair) first, before blowing money you can't get back.

[Bob]

Cheers all, lots of good advice here

I haven't thought of homeplugs, but that might be a viable solution. The building is only from 2005, so the electric system ought to have a pretty decent standard. Regarding placement of the homeplugs, is it better if they are plugged into the same circuit, or doesn't it matter it it has to take the tour via the fuse box? If I could get 200mbps as T-Bag says, that would be great, but if I end up with something like what ArithonUK describes, that wouldn't be worth it...

Flat cat6 cables might also be a good option. Naturally it would be the best solution if I could get a full-wired gigabit network between all my major devices, so I'll definitely have to look into this.

And if I end up with the full wireless solution, I'll probably go for something with dual band support to minimize interference problems from neighbours etc.


Thanks again, and please add more input and advice if you have some to offer

[Gorion]

Bob, does your flat come with floor skirting?  If yes, you can pull it out and pass the wires behind it.

Or, you can always add new skirting and do the same thing.

[T-Bag]

The more gear the signal has to travel through the less well it likes it (just like wifi). Mine travels through the main fuse box to get between the upstairs and downstairs ring main I believe. The Down side of this is if your neighbours have the same plugs (it has to be the same brand or controller to work) they might be able to access your network, so you should secure it (again like wifi), most if not all let you do this.

[Bob]

@Gorion: I have some very small floor skirtings, but in the living room I've already planned to install special cable skirtings to pull cable from the pone point to the desktop computer (as well as some audio cables for my surround system). The problem with cable however is to get between the rooms (as my server probably will be placed in the hall). But those cable skirtings are a really nice invention, so that'll probably work out very good in one room at least

@T-Bag: thanks for the clarification. I've already read a bit about security with homeplugs, so I'll keep that in mind.

[Gorion]

There's always a drill to solve the "between" rooms problem.

If you position the holes properly, they won't be an eyesore.  You could also pass wires around the edges of a door, then paint the wires.

A word of warning, if any of your wires are going outside, use shielded cable.