Extend Wifi

[Edwin]

Your Virgin cable is coax. That’s totally different to Ethernet. You don’t need to touch the coax at all.

One of your white Virgin coax cables should be screwed into the back of the Virgin “Superhub” device they gave you (it may be a Superhub, Superhub 2 or Superhub 3, but they’re broadly the same thing).

The Superhub acts as a modem (connecting to the wider internet through the coax) and as a router (connecting devices on your network to the internet)

In other words, you can think of the Superhub a bit like a customs post. On one side is the internet. On the other side is your private network. The Superhub provides the means to bridge the two.

You need to connect the outdoor Ethernet cable to your Superhub router or to an Ethernet switch (what some people call a “hub”) if you have installed one. Depends on if you have any spare Ethernet ports on your router or not.

Normally, there should be 4 ports on the Superhub, so if you have less than 4 things plugged into it via Ethernet cable you should have spare ports.

If you have no spare ports, and no switch, you’ll need to buy the latter (probably £20-25 for a decent 5 port Gigabit switch) You can then unplug one of the things connected directly to the router, and plug it into the switch instead. You then connect the router and the switch via another Ethernet cable. Finally, you plug the outdoor Ethernet cable into the switch.

Hope that makes things clearer!

 

[philiporchard]

Wonderful. Yes, 2 spare slots on the hub, so looks like that should do the trick!

Thanks.

 

[Edwin]

You're welcome.

BTW, just as a FYI, your network will generally be as slow as its slowest component. Now your Superhub (of whatever flavour) should hopefully offer Gigabit Ethernet, but you also need Gigabit Ethernet or faster capability in the devices you're connecting to it. And if you buy an Ethernet switch in future (to expand the number of connections further) it also needs to be Gigabit Ethernet (you can still buy cheaper 100Mbps switches, but then everything connected to the switch will run at 100Mbps maximum).

 

[martin-s]

100% agree about running multiple cables - and you should also run power cables separately, with a gap of at least 6 inches and any crossovers ideally done at right angles.

Cat 5e is fine.

 

[philiporchard]

Thanks Ed. Useful to know as we currently get over 200mbps, so I wouldn't want anything limited to 100Mbps.

Interesting about the power cables as I was thinking they could be run up to the pod together when the electrician runs the power up there next week. Possibly I'll run the data cable myself up the other side of the garden then.

 

[Edwin]

Are you planning on burying them? Beware of rogue lawnmowers if not...

 

[philiporchard]

The electrical cables and data cables are both armoured, so hopefully they will be fine against the fence sitting in flower beds!

 

[dee]

The electrical cables and data cables are both armoured, so hopefully they will be fine against the fence sitting in flower beds!

Probably obvious, but the pod is on its own supply / breaker yes? You're not just running a long plug socket or anything daft ?

 

[philiporchard]

Yes, the pod will be properly supplied on it's own breaker (separate to main house) and will have it's own board as there will be a hot water heater for kitchen unit, underfloor heating, lights and sockets etc...

 

[dee]

Yes, the pod will be properly supplied on it's own breaker (separate to main house) and will have it's own board as there will be a hot water heater for kitchen unit, underfloor heating, lights and sockets etc...

Cool. I've seen far stranger things so thought it worth a mention.

 

[monaghan]

Yes, the pod will be properly supplied on it's own breaker (separate to main house) and will have it's own board as there will be a hot water heater for kitchen unit, underfloor heating, lights and sockets etc...

They'll never get you out of there with all those home comforts

 

[philiporchard]

Here is pic of Glide Pod.

Just to say the Cat 6 cable worked a treat. We ran the electrics down one side of the garden, the Cat 6 up the other side and the drainage and water down the middle.

I now need to find the good wireless modem for running our gear off in the Pod. I'm guessing there's not much between them?

 

[dee]

Wow...what a garden. That looks fantastic. How long did the install take ?

 

[philiporchard]

It took 2 weeks to install. Some days there were 4 of the team on site - electricians, joiners and plumbers. Excellent team of joiners. Highly recommend.

 

[martin-s]

How much for the pod Philip? Looks great.

 

[philiporchard]

I think prices here: https://www.pod-space.co.uk/pods/glide-pod
We had a kitchen unit as well so a bit more than the standard list price.

it will give us at least 3, if not 4 extra desk spaces - so good value I think.

 

[dee]

Would love to see inside pics when kitted out

 

[philiporchard]

Has anyone got any recommendations when it comes to buying a wireless router for a small office?

we'll only be running 4 macs, a printer and a Vonage VOIP phone.

I've taken a look on Amazon, but prices seem to range from £30 - £300, so I'm guessing there's a big difference between them?

 

[dee]

Ive always found link sys stuff to be good. Maybe something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0727Y698S/?tag=acorn06-21

Only four ethernet ports though if you wanted to cable the macs. Its tri band though so should get better simultaneous connections over wireless

good price at mo

 

[Sound]

Hi Phil I have a spare Linksys WRT1900ACS only used for two weeks then we moved house and can not use with Plusnet PM if interested