Cmon, Show Us Your Network!
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

Here's mine:

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Re: Cmon, Show Us Your Network!
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@JonnySachs wrote:

 ... a logical diagram of your network?  I'm curious b/c I just moved into a new house with Cat5e run throughout and am trying to figure out how I need to lay it out...


When this house was built in 2003, I ran combination cables (2 RG6 and 2 Cat5e) from a "control panel" in the basement to approximately 18 "stations" throughout the house.  Later I terminated all cables with the appropriate RG45 and coax fittings at each station and at the panel.  Then I collected each "bunch" (video,  data, audio, etc.) using various boards to organize the control panel.  This took some time and a few specialized tools, but not much money as these things go.

Currently the feed from outside is a single optical cable to the ONT.  This box feeds various video distribution panels and splitters, and of course the FiOS router.  It also feeds the VoIP panel.  The FiOS router is placed ahead of a secondary router (Asus RT-N16) that I use for wireless service and an LAN hookup to a 24-port Gigabit switch, which feeds all the "stations.". There is another WAP on the main floor of the house.  I also maintain a copper POTS line for fax and alarm service, and there are several two-line phones in the building with access to each phone line.  The copper POTS line was kept despite pressure from Verizon to eliminate this line.  We eventually came to terms with a mutually satisfactory result.

I have individual wiring diagrams for each part of this rig, but no single overall diagram.  The big advantage to this complexity (if there is any) is that since 2003 I have made countless modifications, but in general these physically involved merely plugging and un-plugging various cables at the control panel, and then making new connections.  This was particularly helpful when we recently moved all our services to Verizon, having formerly used four separate providers.

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Re: Cmon, Show Us Your Network!
JonnySachs
Newbie

Looks good -- any chance we can get a logical diagram of your network?  I'm curious b/c I just moved into a new house with Cat5e run throughout and am trying to figure out how I need to lay it out...

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Re: Cmon, Show Us Your Network!
jackmcgann
Specialist - Level 1

I'm particularly struck by the Analog Clock.... WTG

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Re: Cmon, Show Us Your Network!
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@jackmcgann wrote:

I'm particularly struck by the Analog Clock.... WTG



It's actually a nano-technology-based cesium-regulated mechanism similar to that deployed on the Hubbell telescope.   One possible reason for your not recognizing this immediately is that my 94-year-old grandmother, the principal design and engineering manager on the project, decided to add an LCD face for presentation.  She later modified the screen software to show an analog appearance as wallpaper.  The moving hands technique is of course open source.

Don't know about you, but I have always been impressed with how certain seniors manage to stay current with the latest developments.

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Re: Cmon, Show Us Your Network!
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@JonnySachs wrote:

 ... a logical diagram of your network?  I'm curious b/c I just moved into a new house with Cat5e run throughout and am trying to figure out how I need to lay it out...


When this house was built in 2003, I ran combination cables (2 RG6 and 2 Cat5e) from a "control panel" in the basement to approximately 18 "stations" throughout the house.  Later I terminated all cables with the appropriate RG45 and coax fittings at each station and at the panel.  Then I collected each "bunch" (video,  data, audio, etc.) using various boards to organize the control panel.  This took some time and a few specialized tools, but not much money as these things go.

Currently the feed from outside is a single optical cable to the ONT.  This box feeds various video distribution panels and splitters, and of course the FiOS router.  It also feeds the VoIP panel.  The FiOS router is placed ahead of a secondary router (Asus RT-N16) that I use for wireless service and an LAN hookup to a 24-port Gigabit switch, which feeds all the "stations.". There is another WAP on the main floor of the house.  I also maintain a copper POTS line for fax and alarm service, and there are several two-line phones in the building with access to each phone line.  The copper POTS line was kept despite pressure from Verizon to eliminate this line.  We eventually came to terms with a mutually satisfactory result.

I have individual wiring diagrams for each part of this rig, but no single overall diagram.  The big advantage to this complexity (if there is any) is that since 2003 I have made countless modifications, but in general these physically involved merely plugging and un-plugging various cables at the control panel, and then making new connections.  This was particularly helpful when we recently moved all our services to Verizon, having formerly used four separate providers.

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Re: Cmon, Show Us Your Network! - Updated
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@armond_in_nj wrote:

@JonnySachs wrote:

 ... a logical diagram of your network? ...


... a "control panel" in the basement to approximately 18 "stations" throughout the house ... the feed ... is a single optical cable to the ONT [then to] various video distribution panels and splitters, and ... the FiOS router ...The FiOS router is ... ahead of a secondary router ... for wireless service and ... a 24-port Gigabit switch ... The big advantage ... is that ... [changes involve] ... merely plugging and un-plugging ... cables at the control panel ...


Since the initial FiOS install in March 2012 there have been minor changes in services and wiring.  I replaced an existing VZ copper POTS line (fax and home security) with a second VZ Digital Voice line, and addressed minor issues in the telecom distribution panel.  Updated photos are below.
The first photo shows the "FiOS side" of the main control panel, including the VZ equipment, a second router, the Gigabit switch and Ethernet panels, and a 3 TB network storage device.
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The next photo shows the coax video distribution panels.  The splitter on the left feeds the Actiontec router and all the "primary" video stations that are equipped with either STBs or CableCards.  The ChannelPlus unit on the right gets video from the QIP 7232 DVR coax output and distributes it to several TVs (in SD).  It also provides multiplexed IR remote signals that allow any connected TV in any room to control the DVR, a DVD-R/ VHS player, and a BluRay player in the main home theater installation.
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The next photo shows the telecom distribution panel.  Two separate VZ Digital Voice lines from the ONT feed the punch-down boards using Cat5e cables.  There are telecom stations throughout the house, and each station is capable of using either or both phone lines.  The telecom panel also provides connections for home security devices, lighting and home automation control devices, etc.
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Finally here are a few photos of the home theater installation with a detailed shot of the VZ QIP 7232 setup.
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I readily admit that this post is long-winded and quite boring for many readers.  Please bear in mind that it was not much fun to write, either (smile).