Help with home network

TriggerHappy

TriggerHappy

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My understanding of configuring home networks isn't the best so I was hoping you could help.

Let me start by explaining my current setup... I have a basement room which is where my Hi-Fi, TV, PS3, Mac etc. is but my internet is received in an office upstairs and the wi-fi doesn't extend to the basement. To get around this I've wired an ethernet cable from the wireless router (a Netgear DG834PN, should it matter) upstairs and plugged it into an Apple Airport Express allowing me to have wireless in the basement and stream music from my Mac and iPhone wirelessly to my Hi-Fi. I'm thinking of upgrading my TV to a Samsung SmartTV which would require an ethernet cable to plug into it. Obviously I could wire another cable down but that would be another 50m of cable plus a lot of hassle wiring it so I'd rather add a second switch type unit in-between the current ethernet cable and the Airport Express that would allow me to run a cable to both TV and PS3.

What type of configuration is required for this work, if it's possible at all? I'm assuming it isn't as simple as plugging it in and being away? If it is possible, and not too much hassle, which switch (or similar) would you recommend?

An alternative would be just to buy the Samsung wireless USB stick but I would quite like to use the PS3 wired rather than wireless if the cost difference doesn't amount to too much.

Thanks, and sorry for the essay!
 
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It's possible. You need an ethernet switch. A 10/100 will do as your Netgear is only 10/100.

Any off here should be fine: http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&limit=10&store=8&cat=109&subcat=1156

Just hang your airport express off one of the ports, the TV off another, PS3 off yet another and the cable to your router off the uplink port (if any is identified - if not, one of the other ports will be fine).

You might like to consider upgrading to a gigabit network - especially if you want to move lots of data around wired. It is a lot quicker if you have big files. As long as your cabling is Cat5E you should be fine.
 
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arad85 said:
It's possible. You need an ethernet switch. A 10/100 will do as your Netgear is only 10/100.

Any off here should be fine: http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&limit=10&store=8&cat=109&subcat=1156

Just hang your airport express off one of the ports, the TV off another, PS3 off yet another and the cable to your router off the uplink port (if any is identified - if not, one of the other ports will be fine).

You might like to consider upgrading to a gigabit network - especially if you want to move lots of data around wired. It is a lot quicker if you have big files. As long as your cabling is Cat5E you should be fine.
Click to expand...

Excellent, just what I wanted to hear!

A gigabit network would be nice for sharing media between devices but as I understand it would require upgrading my Airport Express to an Airport Extreme and at £139 that's not really something I'm willing to do just now and also upgrading my Netgear to a faster wireless router so that's out of the equation just now. Perhaps if I move to a new house that has a slightly simpler wireless setup the cost of upgrade would be a little less!
 
pretty much what andy said.

there isnt really any reason not to get gigabit even if its for futureproofing, the cost difference isnt bank breaking :)

ive got an 8 port netgear gs108, you can pick them up for £40.
 
I bought a switch for £7 inc off CCl on ebay and put it behind my TV stand. It gives me internet to the TV, xbox, AV amp etc off of one ethernet cable in.
 
TriggerHappy said:
A gigabit network would be nice for sharing media between devices but as I understand it would require upgrading my Airport Express to an Airport Extreme and at £139 that's not really something I'm willing to do just now
Click to expand...
You don't have to run everything as Gigabit. Just the links between the main storage devices. I have an ADSL router with gigabit switch and another gigabit switch off that. You could hang the airport express off any of the gigabit ports - it's only doing wireless connection anyway which is way less than gigabit ;)
 
If you are buying a Samsung Smart TV - go for the 6xxx series or above and you dont need an ethernet cable. I just bought the 6530 and it logged on to my home wireless network with no problems at all. Just need a bit faster speed for streaming 3d movies though. Hope this helps:thumbs:
 
neil_g said:
pretty much what andy said.

there isnt really any reason not to get gigabit even if its for futureproofing, the cost difference isnt bank breaking :)

ive got an 8 port netgear gs108, you can pick them up for £40.
Click to expand...

Yeah, having looked at prices after Andy's post I was going to go for a gigabit switch for the sake of a few extra pounds.

arad85 said:
You don't have to run everything as Gigabit. Just the links between the main storage devices. I have an ADSL router with gigabit switch and another gigabit switch off that. You could hang the airport express off any of the gigabit ports - it's only doing wireless connection anyway which is way less than gigabit ;)
Click to expand...

That's what I'd assumed, sadly the primary streaming of media I'd do would be Macbook to TV and I don't want to have the hassle of cables - hence the wireless hi-fi - so for the time being it'll be of little benefit but as Neil said, the cost difference between a 10/100 and a 10/100/1000 switch is so little there's no real reason not to opt for the faster option.

Alan Sandham said:
If you are buying a Samsung Smart TV - go for the 6xxx series or above and you dont need an ethernet cable. I just bought the 6530 and it logged on to my home wireless network with no problems at all. Just need a bit faster speed for streaming 3d movies though. Hope this helps:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Sadly the additional £300 pounds for the 6530 series is just too much, especially given I have no interest in 3D television yet. Thanks though :)
 
TriggerHappy said:
especially given I have no interest in 3D television yet.
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A bit OT, but I see 3D TV as a Marmite thing. You either love it or hate it. I fall into the second category. Will be interesting to see how 3D usage evolves over time.
 
arad85 said:
A bit OT, but I see 3D TV as a Marmite thing. You either love it or hate it. I fall into the second category. Will be interesting to see how 3D usage evolves over time.
Click to expand...

I'm the same. I've seen a few 3D films in the cinema and felt the 3D added very little. I'd much rather just have a high quality Blu-ray that I can watch without the annoyance of glasses. It will certainly be a technology to watch to see how it improves though.
 
I've got a 3D TV but only bought it because the 2D picture was so good. I have watched a bit of 3D on it but do regard it as a gimmick really.
 
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RobertP said:
I've got a 3D TV but only bought it because the 2D picture was so good. I have watched a bit of 3D on it but do regard it a a gimmick really.
Click to expand...

Same here, the price wasnt much more than the 2d model so I thought I would get it just in case 3d catches on
 
Hi there,

In case you are in the market for a switch then you can get a TP-Link 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Desktop Switch for less than £14 on Amazon.

It's basic but they do work really well, bought a few of these in the past for friends & family.

Al
 
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