klinemj
Emo VIPs
Honorary Emofest Scribe
Posts: 14,740
Member is Online
|
Post by klinemj on Mar 5, 2019 12:02:57 GMT -5
And, yes, I'll admit to being a bit pedantic when it comes to network descriptions and details.... That you are... However, what I told bonzo still applies. He's over-buying for some possible future need. I wouldn't do that. The way technology advances, what he buys today may or may not be what he eventually needs - if he ever does need it. Knowing what little I know about him, the "what if's" you describe are not likely big factors. He doesn't even need POE right now. He might in the future. More ports and more performance including POE add a lot of extra cost. I'd skip it for now. So, go ahead and write your thesis about this response. Or surprise me with a shockingly concise response like "hmmm, good point..." Mark
|
|
KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,926
|
Post by KeithL on Mar 5, 2019 12:38:10 GMT -5
Actually - I agree... And I agree about POE as well - I wouldn't bother with it unless I had a specific need for it.
The only thing I would probably spend extra on would be Cat6e cable. The price difference between Cat5, Cat6, and Cat6e is so tiny compared to the aggravation of installing it I would always spend a little extra on the wire itself.
And, yes, I'll admit to being a bit pedantic when it comes to network descriptions and details.... That you are... However, what I told bonzo still applies. He's over-buying for some possible future need. I wouldn't do that. The way technology advances, what he buys today may or may not be what he eventually needs - if he ever does need it. Knowing what little I know about him, the "what if's" you describe are not likely big factors. He doesn't even need POE right now. He might in the future. More ports and more performance including POE add a lot of extra cost. I'd skip it for now. So, go ahead and write your thesis about this response. Or surprise me with a shockingly concise response like "hmmm, good point..." Mark
|
|
|
Post by wilburthegoose on Mar 5, 2019 14:01:52 GMT -5
I do InfoSec for a living, and I prefer WiFi these days. More secure (if you're using RADIUS authentication), and can be just as good, bandwidth wise, as wired.
|
|
KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,926
|
Post by KeithL on Mar 5, 2019 14:25:26 GMT -5
I'm inclined to disagree - although it's probably more than good enough for home use. For whatever sort of security you can use with a WiFi hookup... you can use the same thing with a wire... and add the fact that you also have a secure physical connection. And, yes, a wireless link CAN be just as fast as a wire... but there are a lot more practical problems that can result in that not being true in a specific situation. It's much easier to get consistent reliable good performance with a wire than with a radio signal.
Sure, with proper encryption, your data will be safe from pretty much anything... so, in a sense, physically securing that data becomes unnecessary.
But it's still pretty easy to jam that wireless connection (a lot easier than it is to find and cut a wire inside a locked building).
I do InfoSec for a living, and I prefer WiFi these days. More secure (if you're using RADIUS authentication), and can be just as good, bandwidth wise, as wired.
|
|
|
Post by Bonzo on Mar 5, 2019 15:06:59 GMT -5
|
|
KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,926
|
Post by KeithL on Mar 5, 2019 15:58:39 GMT -5
Looks like an excellent choice.....
- good brand - fast backplane - metal enclosure - internal power supply (no wall wart) - no fan
|
|
|
Post by Bonzo on Mar 5, 2019 16:39:24 GMT -5
Looks like an excellent choice..... - good brand - fast backplane - metal enclosure - internal power supply (no wall wart) - no fan
Wow, both KeithL and klinemj approved! How often does that happen? Write this day down. So I guess this is a decent choice then. Save a little green, get some future proofing, but hold on off POE until I need it. It appears not all POE is created equal, and certain devices require different levels of POE. So waiting until I actually need it will allow me to choose the devices I want, then the POE switch that works well with them. (If I guess at a switch with POE now, then I'm stuck with finding devices that definitely do work with it, limiting my choice of devices). Thanks for helping me figure this out guys. And if I find this switch doesn't cut it for me, I'm not out a small fortune, and can only go up from here. Also a thanks to the others who helped and suggested the Ubiquiti stuff. When I get to choosing the new router / WAPs stuff, that brand is going to get some strong consideration if I decide to use WAPs. KeithL - what exactly do you do when typing your posts that makes every single break have a (div) - (/div) show up? It makes it a royal pain when editing your posts for replies. I don't see it on anyone elses posts here. It's strictly a KeithL thing.
|
|
|
Post by audiosyndrome on Mar 5, 2019 16:48:53 GMT -5
I’ve scanned this thread which in my opinion is way over complicated but anyway, did anyone mention swapping out your cable company’s modem / router for an aftermarket device leaves you on your own if a problem arises?
Russ
|
|
KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,926
|
Post by KeithL on Mar 5, 2019 17:43:48 GMT -5
Interesting..... (re the div /div showing up)..... What you're seeing is specific bits of the HTML code for the text.
I can see that, and all the other HTML code, when I'm typing by selecting the "BBCode" tab in the ProBoads editor.... And I don't see any of it if I pick the "Preview" tab.... But I don't see it when viewing my own posts or anyone else's in normal mode.... It seems as if your browser is failing to parse that particular HTML command properly (and, because it isn't being parsed, it is just shown as-is).
I'm using Firefox on Windows 7 here at the moment. (Version 65, which is probably the most recent version for Windows 7.)
Looks like an excellent choice..... - good brand - fast backplane - metal enclosure - internal power supply (no wall wart) - no fan
Wow, both KeithL and klinemj approved! How often does that happen? Write this day down. So I guess this is a decent choice then. Save a little green, get some future proofing, but hold on off POE until I need it. It appears not all POE is created equal, and certain devices require different levels of POE. So waiting until I actually need it will allow me to choose the devices I want, then the POE switch that works well with them. (If I guess at a switch with POE now, then I'm stuck with finding devices that definitely do work with it, limiting my choice of devices). Thanks for helping me figure this out guys. And if I find this switch doesn't cut it for me, I'm not out a small fortune, and can only go up from here. Also a thanks to the others who helped and suggested the Ubiquiti stuff. When I get to choosing the new router / WAPs stuff, that brand is going to get some strong consideration if I decide to use WAPs. KeithL - what exactly do you do when typing your posts that makes every single break have a (div) - (/div) show up? It makes it a royal pain when editing your posts for replies. I don't see it on anyone elses posts here. It's strictly a KeithL thing.
|
|
KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,926
|
Post by KeithL on Mar 5, 2019 18:01:43 GMT -5
Good point... and I suspect different cable companies may be more or less helpful in helping you figure out "common problems" with your equipment. From my personal experience, XFinity seems to try to be very helpful, but their support personnel vary widely in terms of knowledge.
I would also suggest that your comment brings up a very important point. A basic Ethernet switch is really a very simple device - and most of them require no configuration whatsoever; you just connect them and they work. (There's actually quite a bit going on inside - but they figure it out on their own.) So, for example, you can connect a switch to one of the ports on your cable modem, and run wires to other rooms. You can then connect equipment to those wires, or connect more switches to them if you need more ports in those other rooms. However, either way, you won't have to configure any of those switches.....
In act, they probably won't even include instructions...
(Which means that they should just work - and you won't have to worry about configuring them correctly.)
Routers and Wireless Access Points tend to be more complex- they must be configured to work the way you want them to.
This means that they give you more options and more flexibility. But it also means that you have more opportunities for them to NOT work if you configure them incorrectly. So, if you prefer to keep things simple, switches are by far the safer and simpler choice.
(And, other than replacing them if they break, you're unlikely to need any sort of help with them.)
I’ve scanned this thread which in my opinion is way over complicated but anyway, did anyone mention swapping out your cable company’s modem / router for an aftermarket device leaves you on your own if a problem arises? Russ
|
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Honorary Emofest Scribe
Posts: 14,740
Member is Online
|
Post by klinemj on Mar 5, 2019 18:02:09 GMT -5
what exactly do you do when typing your posts that makes every single break have a (div) - (/div) show up? It makes it a royal pain when editing your posts for replies. I don't see it on anyone elses posts here. It's strictly a KeithL thing. He gets paid by Emotiva based on how many characters are in his posts, so he's padding his pay. Mark
|
|
|
Post by Bonzo on Mar 5, 2019 18:31:46 GMT -5
(div)Interesting..... (re the div /div showing up).....(/div)(div)What you're seeing is specific bits of the HTML code for the text. (/div) (div)I can see that, and all the other HTML code, when I'm typing by selecting the "BBCode" tab in the ProBoads editor....(/div)(div)And I don't see any of it if I pick the "Preview" tab....(/div)(div)But I don't see it when viewing my own posts or anyone else's in normal mode....(/div)(div)It seems as if your browser is failing to parse that particular HTML command properly (and, because it isn't being parsed, it is just shown as-is). (/div) (div)I'm using Firefox on Windows 7 here at the moment.(/div)(div)(Version 65, which is probably the most recent version for Windows 7.) (/div) Yours looks like this. (I replaced all the {} with () so they would show up. While Mark's just look like this. And, yes, I'll admit to being a bit pedantic when it comes to network descriptions and details.... That you are... However, what I told bonzo still applies. He's over-buying for some possible future need. I wouldn't do that. The way technology advances, what he buys today may or may not be what he eventually needs - if he ever does need it. Knowing what little I know about him, the "what if's" you describe are not likely big factors. He doesn't even need POE right now. He might in the future. More ports and more performance including POE add a lot of extra cost. I'd skip it for now. So, go ahead and write your thesis about this response. Or surprise me with a shockingly concise response like "hmmm, good point..." Mark
|
|
|
Post by Bonzo on Mar 5, 2019 18:40:56 GMT -5
I’ve scanned this thread which in my opinion is way over complicated but anyway, did anyone mention swapping out your cable company’s modem / router for an aftermarket device leaves you on your own if a problem arises? Russ Yeah, I crossed this path when I signed up for Spectrum (Time Warner back then) several years ago. There is an upside and a downside here. Use their equipmentUpsides - they should come out and fix it for free or replace it for free if something goes wrong or it needs replacing. Downsides - You have to pay rent on the thing, so by buying your own you end up saving money in the long run. Their equipment is typically not as good as something else you can buy, and you are at their mercy as to what they give you. Cable companies offer some of the worst customer service in the world, so I don't expect them to do the upside if I need it. Buy your own equipmentBasically the opposite of everything above. So the way I see it, the positives of buying my own out weigh the one positive of using theirs. So I bought my own "all in one" years ago, an Arris Surfboard, and all has been good and by now I've saved a bunch of money.
|
|
novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,222
|
Post by novisnick on Mar 5, 2019 18:48:50 GMT -5
I’ve scanned this thread which in my opinion is way over complicated but anyway, did anyone mention swapping out your cable company’s modem / router for an aftermarket device leaves you on your own if a problem arises? Russ Yeah, I crossed this path when I signed up for Spectrum (Time Warner back then) several years ago. There is an upside and a downside here. Use their equipmentUpsides - they should come out and fix it for free or replace it for free if something goes wrong or it needs replacing. Downsides - You have to pay rent on the thing, so by buying your own you end up saving money in the long run. Their equipment is typically not as good as something else you can buy, and you are at their mercy as to what they give you. Cable companies offer some of the worst customer service in the world, so I don't expect them to do the upside if I need it. Buy your own equipmentBasically the opposite of everything above. So the way I see it, the positives of buying my own out weigh the one positive of using theirs. So I bought my own "all in one" years ago, an Arris Surfboard, and all has been good and by now I've saved a bunch of money. I’ve been using the Surfboard long before Arris bought them out. Great choice!
|
|
|
Post by adaboy on Mar 5, 2019 19:00:41 GMT -5
I’ve scanned this thread which in my opinion is way over complicated but anyway, did anyone mention swapping out your cable company’s modem / router for an aftermarket device leaves you on your own if a problem arises? Russ Yeah, I crossed this path when I signed up for Spectrum (Time Warner back then) several years ago. There is an upside and a downside here. Use their equipmentUpsides - they should come out and fix it for free or replace it for free if something goes wrong or it needs replacing. Downsides - You have to pay rent on the thing, so by buying your own you end up saving money in the long run. Their equipment is typically not as good as something else you can buy, and you are at their mercy as to what they give you. Cable companies offer some of the worst customer service in the world, so I don't expect them to do the upside if I need it. Buy your own equipmentBasically the opposite of everything above. So the way I see it, the positives of buying my own out weigh the one positive of using theirs. So I bought my own "all in one" years ago, an Arris Surfboard, and all has been good and by now I've saved a bunch of money. Use your own bud. No rental fee, faster more reliable modem and 200% better routers. Oh and you're not stuck with the ISO's stupid setting controls. Not even funny how often I do this for paying customers. Boils down to dollars and "sense" 😉
|
|
|
Post by audiosyndrome on Mar 5, 2019 19:04:58 GMT -5
Know what you mean. My cable company gets $10 per month for the modem but zip for the router. Although pales in comparison to the $10 per month x three x 49 years for the cable boxes. 🤨 TiVo is always on my mind!
Russ
|
|
|
Post by Bonzo on Mar 5, 2019 20:40:54 GMT -5
So while everyone is here, maybe someone can give me a more definitive answer to what I've already posted.
Spectrum has certified my current all in one modem / switch / wireless router as being good for 100 service.
When I first got it, I only paid for 15 service. What I got was about 17 down and 1.5 up.
Now that I pay for 100, I only get more like 80-85 down, and 15 up.
I think the 15 up is pretty good, but why only 80 down?
Is it their service, my box, or a combination?
If I bought the modem they certify for their 400 service (not available in my area), would I likely truly get 100?
If I did truly get 100, would I actually notice the difference between 100 and 80?
Does it even really matter for my uses?
If I answer these questions myself, here's my guess's.
- I only get 80 because of their service. My box is actually rated for 300. Only Spectrum dings it down to 100 certification to cover their own a$$. - A new higher rated box wouldn't do a thing, except cost me money and the frustration of having to be on the phone with Spectrum for an hour to get it running. - I wouldn't notice a difference. - It doesn't really matter for my uses.
So how did I do? 😁
|
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Honorary Emofest Scribe
Posts: 14,740
Member is Online
|
Post by klinemj on Mar 5, 2019 21:32:31 GMT -5
I doubt you'd notice the 100 vs the 80. A friend who works for them says that the actual speed does vary and that some aspect of that is somehow tuneable by them to maximize it. I don't know what they do, but the last guy who came out for installing something new measured something and said "I'll go out and make some adjustments". He went out to the main line coming in and did something, then came back in and said "ok, now you are going to get the best you can get". And, the speedtest result was a big better. I'm getting 101/11 right now. But, I have noticed it varies.
Mark
|
|
|
Post by adaboy on Mar 5, 2019 21:51:11 GMT -5
So while everyone is here, maybe someone can give me a more definitive answer to what I've already posted. Spectrum has certified my current all in one modem / switch / wireless router as being good for 100 service. When I first got it, I only paid for 15 service. What I got was about 17 down and 1.5 up. Now that I pay for 100, I only get more like 80-85 down, and 15 up. I think the 15 up is pretty good, but why only 80 down? Is it their service, my box, or a combination? If I bought the modem they certify for their 400 service (not available in my area), would I likely truly get 100? If I did truly get 100, would I actually notice the difference between 100 and 80? Does it even really matter for my uses? If I answer these questions myself, here's my guess's. - I only get 80 because of their service. My box is actually rated for 300. Only Spectrum dings it down to 100 certification to cover their own a$$. - A new higher rated box wouldn't do a thing, except cost me money and the frustration of having to be on the phone with Spectrum for an hour to get it running. - I wouldn't notice a difference. - It doesn't really matter for my uses. So how did I do? 😁 Sorry if you are repeating any of this. Approximate sqft? Where is your router currently located in home? 1st floor, 2nd floor, middle of home, up high, down low, too slow lol. Is your ISO cable broadband or DSL? Hopefully its cable preferred, but DSL works too. If its cable lets get the Arris Surfboard SB6190. Then lets get a solid router. I prefer ASUS, but I am a Netgear dealer. You will want the router located at the highest possible point and centrally located. If it isn't there are alternatives.
|
|
|
Post by Bonzo on Mar 6, 2019 17:22:59 GMT -5
Sorry if you are repeating any of this. Approximate sqft? Aprox 2550 Ranch house, slab concrete floor no basement. I just moved the "all in one" modem/router from the office to the pantry. Keep in mind where we "hang" and use our phones etc is down in the rec room where the stereo and main TV are. Only when using the bathrooms by the bedrooms do we use out phones much down there. Hence why I'm already super happy with the improvement already. Just moving the "all in one" modem/router made a big difference. See this post for an old drawing. For some reason uploading it skews the drawing some but it will give you the idea. It also lists my original plans for what I thought I'd use at each location, but that has changed some since. emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/883480/thread100 download speed cable (Spectrum). The next step up in my area is 300, but it's a lot more money. That's exactly the unit I will get when I upgrade. I currently have an Arris "all in one" unit rated at 300 (I forget the model number). Yep, the ASUS one Mark listed above is the one I would get if I upgrade. It will be on the top shelf in the pantry.
|
|