wireless networking question

PhantomOG

Can someone recommend a wireless device to hook up home theater equipment to my existing wireless network?

I'm looking to hookup my DVR and PS3 to a device like this:

http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DAP1522-GigaBit-Selectable-Wireless/dp/B001769K3O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234975612&sr=8-1

Is this the best thing out there? I was hopeful to find something cheaper, but I can't seem to find any products like it (with multiple ports). I currently have a wireless Linksys G router in the computer room for the network. Upgrading it to wireless N in the future is a possibility so I don't mind buying something N compatible.

bruss

linksys wrt54g with custom firmware.. http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/.. Im sure everyone has their own firmware recomendations.. but the concept is there. Turning the wrt54g into a bridge.

why do you need to plug your ps3 into that? just go straight to your wifi..

PhantomOG

well, I already need the device for the DVR which has no wireless, so I figured it would help to hook up the PS3 as well since I seem to lose connection periodically. I know a wired connection is best, but wouldn't a bridge offer better performance (for streaming video etc) than the built in wireless in the PS3?

bobman1235

I agree with bruss : just do a WRT54G with custom firmware.

If you really don't want to do that you can try one of these for about half the price of the unit you're looking at :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124012&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Network+-+Wireless+AP/Bridge-_-Linksys-_-33124012

polktiger

I never could get adequate wireless streaming for my PS3 using its internal device. I tried a variety of wireless routers both G and even N. The line of sight was even pretty clear about 20 ft with only 1 interior wall. I did not try the WRT54G becuase I heard that newer models had mixed results with changing firmware. I eventually caved, returned all the routers and pulled the wire. Good luck, it seems to be a mixed bag with wireless streaming.

bruss

PhantomOG wrote: »

well, I already need the device for the DVR which has no wireless, so I figured it would help to hook up the PS3 as well since I seem to lose connection periodically. I know a wired connection is best, but wouldn't a bridge offer better performance (for streaming video etc) than the built in wireless in the PS3?

Maybe.You would just have to try it. but its still a wireless shot from the bridge to your wifi router. It may be a better radio in the bridge..

No room for a wire huh?

PhantomOG

To run wire I'd have to go up the wall in the computer room, through the attic, and down the wall in the living room.

I'd love to do it, but I'm not very "handy".

bruss

all the work looks like attic work.. wouldnt be to hard.. but i understand.

Systems

PhantomOG wrote: »

Can someone recommend a wireless device to hook up home theater equipment to my existing wireless network?

I'm looking to hookup my DVR and PS3 to a device like this:

http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DAP1522-GigaBit-Selectable-Wireless/dp/B001769K3O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234975612&sr=8-1

Is this the best thing out there? I was hopeful to find something cheaper, but I can't seem to find any products like it (with multiple ports). I currently have a wireless Linksys G router in the computer room for the network. Upgrading it to wireless N in the future is a possibility so I don't mind buying something N compatible.

This is what I'm using on my Directv HD DVR,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124279

The DVR is setup to recognize this unit when you plug it in so the installation was pretty seamless....

PhantomOG

only one port though right?

PhantomOG

I'm even considering this:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-PLK300-PowerLine-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B001J2ZSL4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234983964&sr=8-3#

Since it has 4 ports. Although I wonder how well the powerline stuff works.

Systems

PhantomOG wrote: »

I'm even considering this:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-PLK300-PowerLine-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B001J2ZSL4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234983964&sr=8-3#

Since it has 4 ports. Although I wonder how well the powerline stuff works.

I had the netgear powerline kit for my 360 when we we're living in our trailer house. Worked very well although I could never really check to see what the speeds were....

Once in awhile I had to unplug it and plug it back in to reset it...

PhantomOG

Ok, I think I'm going to try to run wire myself. Could use some help. I've never done it before but I just can't imagine it being that complicated. I want to fix up the wall plates behind my tv with a better speaker terminal wall plate like this.

While I'm back that I might as well cut a hole in the wall and try to run some wire. I'm assuming I'll need this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10517&cs_id=1051703&p_id=1101&seq=1&format=2#description
and and 4 of these:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10513&cs_id=1051302&p_id=1087&seq=1&format=2

Do I need to actually get a light switch type box to go behind the wall plate? If not, will the wall plate be secure just to drywall?

I don't know how to cut/crimp ethernet cable so I'm just going to buy a few of these:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10208&cs_id=1020812&p_id=2162&seq=1&format=2


Any other tips, tricks? Best tool for cutting a hole in the wall?

PhantomOG

or should I go for cat6 cable? what's the difference?

CaligulaPolk

I have wirless d link router, that will help u being wireless.

am selling it. Its like brand new, dont need it anymore since i got wireless modem with verizon.

unc2701

Get an "old work" low voltage box. should be less than a dollar, orange and have an open back. Cat 6 is probably overkill, but might as well.

Trace around the box w/ a box cutter- make sure it goes all the way through the paper part of the drywall, then you can just smack it with a hammer. If you're not comfortable w/ that, do the thing w/ the box cutter, then use a drywall saw (cut just inside your outline- cutting through the paper first will give you clean edges.

unc2701

Oh, before you cut any holes, get a stud detector and make sure that there isn't any horizontal blocking in the wall. That really sucks. and that keystone jack you linked is wrong. you want an rj-45, not rj-11.


You won't need to crimp anything- the rj-45 jack should come with a disposable punch down and you can just cut it w/ a box cutter. just follow the same color coding on each end and you'll be fine.

PhantomOG

does the voltage box need to attach to a vertical stud?

PhantomOG

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10513&cs_id=1051303&p_id=1044&seq=1&format=2#description

So that one? So I do have to cut the ends of the cable? sounds complicated... How do I know which wire attaches to which post?

PhantomOG

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10513&cs_id=1051301&p_id=1089&seq=1&format=2

Looks like that one might have a little wiring diagram.

Will cat6 cable connect to a cat5 jack? are cat5/6 jacks the same? just the wire is different, right?

unc2701

"Old work" boxes have two fins that pop out and hold it in place when you screw it in. Just don't cut the hole too big or it'll fall into the wall (here's a high voltage one)

The high voltage boxes are harder to work with, but I couldn't find a low voltage one on the lowes webpage... they're orange and will be fine for this job.

That last link has the right jack. That one doesn't even need a punchdown- just match the colors and you're set. Look at the larger picture- sold orange goes to the orange square; orange/white striped goes to the orange triangle; green solid goes to the green square... etc.

PhantomOG

I see the color diagram. How does the wire attach? Do I need to strip each wire? Can't really see a binding post.

unc2701

Yes, cat5, cat5e and cat6 are interchangeable in a mechanical sense. If you were doing full duplex gigabit over a long distance, I'd tell you to use cat6 everywhere, but as it stands, cat5e will more than suffice.

unc2701

don't strip- you'll just pull the wires through the slots, then the top clamps everything down. the slot is sharp, so it cuts the jacket of the internal wires and makes the connection. You will need to cut off some of the outer jacket to get to the inner wires. Try to cut off as little as possible and untwist the inner wires as little as possible.

PhantomOG

thanks a ton. doesn't sound too bad. Here's hoping I don't step through my ceiling or screw up my walls too bad.

unc2701

Yeah- that's the part you need to be worried about, NOT the punch down.

PhantomOG

What about the cables in the attic? Are there any building codes I need to be aware of? Do the cables need to be secured to studs in the ceilings in a certain fashion?

unc2701

There's nothing really to watch out for in the NEC- local codes may require it. The only thing that you typically see for low voltage wiring is that in business installs you have to use plenum wire if it's going through a drop ceiling which has air circulating through it, but that wouldn't apply to you. If the wire is going to hang more than 20 feet vertically, you need to use "riser rated" but that's not a code thing. Keep it away from florescent lights and avoid running it over power cables and you'll be fine.

CaligulaPolk

what happened to wireless plan? seems itd save you time and trouble.

PhantomOG

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

what happened to wireless plan? seems itd save you time and trouble.

I'm also going to get my home alarm system monitored by nextalarm, so I want to run an ethernet cable from the home office to the closet where the alarm panel is located. Since its an alarm system I don't want a wireless adapter for reliability reasons. I'm going to be up in the attic anyways, I figured I might as well run a couple more wires to the living room as well.

Yeah it is more time consuming, but it will probably save me some money. I should get much much better streaming performance on the PS3 with the cat6 run directly connected to my router.

PhantomOG

Ok, one more question.

I took a look behind my entertainment center last night and there is already a 3-gang box that is not being used. There are some speaker wires in there (I assume they go to the front left/right ceiling mounts), however, I have towers so I don't use them.

Would it be impossible to just re-purpose that 3 gang box? The current plate is completely solid.

I was looking at this last night:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=261-120&ctab=1#Tabs

and hoping I could use it with 3 of these:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=261-444

The big question is whether I can feed the cat6 cables into the existing 3-gang blue box. It looks like I would have to take a pair of pliers and try to rip open the top of the box more. It looks like there are these punch down type tabs, a couple are already down for the existing speaker wires.

Will those components work together?