New Network Setup

[tunafish]

So im going to be redoing my Home Network

My current setup

I have TWO Belkin F5D7230-4 routers, one as a router and the other in wireless bridge mode. Now these belkin routers i have found to be rather crap, the main one keeps loosing internet connection (just port 80) as everything else works like msn etc.

I create a bridge between the two using WIFI. Then i have a gigabit switch where all my pc's plug into etc.

This is not going to be any use to me what so ever as i plan to stream media around the network to tv's etc, and doing that over a wireless brdige is gonna epic fail badly!

Anyway i really want to remove this crappy belkin F5D7230-4 routers.

So here is what i was thinking

Purchasing Buffalo Wireless-N Nfiniti Wireless Router (i still need WIFI for laptops etc)

Then running a cat6 cable from the router up to my main switch. Now i know the router only has a 10/100 base port so if i find it slow i can simply sling a small 4 port gigabit switch between the cable and the router if needed. So then all lan traffic is gigabit and anything hitting the router for WIFI is gonna be 10/100mbit. But simply put WIFI is still gonna be slower :)

The laptops will be simply pushing through web requests/msn etc and maybe some music streaking and the odd movie.

The other computers are gonna be streaming my ripped dvds (yes they ARE LEGIT), music, pictures etc. So i just want the high infrastructure there to help support my network.

But i want the main cable to be cat6, unless thats to overkill?. Anyway that will be around 20-30 meters long and run under the floor etc.

It will then plug into my gigabit switch and all other pc's will plug into that upstairs.

Some cables i plan on making my self, but the main network cable from the router will be premade as i really cant be bothered messing around with lengths of cable like that. I was planning on making them all patch cables as they are easy to make and i dont have any old hubs and wont be linking a pc to a pc :)

Now thats the main part of the network done right there. Now can anyone see any crazy thing i missed or anything wrong with this network or would like some bits to change. I am unsure about the router as i never used buffalo. Does it support bandwidth stats etc and so on? I am going to need a good cable tester as well if someone can recormend me one to get :)

[+StevoFC MVC]

Ok well to start. If you already have Cat5e cables there is nothing wrong with using them for now because they can support gigabit with no problems.

As for the Buffalo router, I have only used a few and they seemed alright. One router I really like is the D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless. Amazon is actually selling it for $99.99 right now which is a great price for it.

I only read through your post very quickly to start. i will look it over again here in a bit...

[+BudMan MVC]

There is no need for Cat6, unless you having it laying around anyway.. Gig will run just fine over cat5, 5e your bottle neck is going to be your hard drives or just what gig interfaces you have, not the wire -- I assure you.

I have done lots of testing and your not going to see any difference in speed with cat6 over cat5 in the home gig network.. More than likely your bottleneck will be your hard drives not wire speed.

As to the belkin routers -- yeah I would agree, they are pretty much crap.

If looking for new router(s).. Once thing I can not stress enough is get something that supports 3rd party firmware.. There is nothing but win/win when doing this.. Since it give you options!! Options are always what your after. Buying a router that does not support 3rd party is a waste of money if you ask me. I don't care how many features it currently supports, or how good users think it is..

Once the company comes out with their next model -- it will not get any more updates, if lucky maybe a bug fix update now and then, etc.

There are many routers to choose from that support 3rd party -- I am sure you can find something there that meets your wants.. Yes there are N routers that are supported!

[+StevoFC MVC]

Sorry I didn't reply here again like I said I would. My electricity was out for over 12 hours and when that came back the cable was off also, so no internet.

I read through your post again. For the most part it seems alright. Worrying about the hardware for the wireless devices is all worthless if the wireless in the laptops themselves isn't Wireless N anyways. I don't think you ever mentioned that or not.

[tunafish]

Well i just ordered a cable tester today as i want to make sure everything works fine.

I am going to look at the different types of cable and see what to get. Probs Cat5E as its cheaper

But yer im also going to need some connector clips, boots and a cable crimper :) As i do plan to make some smaller cables using my left over Cat5E cable (i dont have enough to do all the way to my room though)

The laptops are all wireless G but again i want to future proof my self.

[notta]

A while back I went to the network guys at work to make me up some cat6 cables for my new gigabit network at home. They told me all they use is cat5e. As a matter of fact their crimpers wouldn't even fit the cat6 cable. I went to their supply store where they get all their supplies and 1) they had to special order the cat6 RJ45 connectors if I wanted them and 2) they asked a couple of the patrons and they all said they use cat5e on all their installs. So the guys at work made me 3x50' and 1x80'. That saved me some money.

Anyway, you'll be fine with cat5e.

[+StevoFC MVC]

Well i just ordered a cable tester today as i want to make sure everything works fine.

I am going to look at the different types of cable and see what to get. Probs Cat5E as its cheaper

But yer im also going to need some connector clips, boots and a cable crimper :) As i do plan to make some smaller cables using my left over Cat5E cable (i dont have enough to do all the way to my room though)

The laptops are all wireless G but again i want to future proof my self.

Remember that all N routers now are at most draft spec. And not final versions.

[tunafish]

Well is it worth me getting a wireless N router?

All i want is a good wireless router that supports some 3rd party firmware and something that wont break!

[+StevoFC MVC]

Well is it worth me getting a wireless N router?

All i want is a good wireless router that supports some 3rd party firmware and something that wont break!

The N router is worth it if you have N compatible wireless devices, or if you need a built in gigabit switch. But, you have to be careful because all N routers aren't gigabit.

Seeing as though you plan on using separate gigabit switches anyways it might be worth you only spending $30 on a g router right now and throw a custom firmware on it. Then once you have N capable devices buy one. Because the prices of them will be down by then also.

[tunafish]

I think for now im gonna just get a Linksys wrt54gl and flash it with some 3rd party software.