mhm4b
join:2006-12-04
Philadelphia, PA
1 edit | [northeast] Can I put the ActionTec next to the ONT? (A long
I am new to the forum and want to thank everyone for their wisdom. I hope to contribute my experience over time. I am no tech genius, but I know what I know and admit when I don't. I have a (possibly basic) question that turned into a long post. I appreciate your input.
Background: I just had FIOS installed last week. We don't have FIOS TV available in our area yet (Philadelphia Center City Southwest, 19146), but since it seems like it's coming and it will carry CSN (famous last words, twice), I want it over my current Comcast TV. I have a new construction rowhouse with Cat5 throughout. All the internal Cat5 and coax runs go to the same place in the garage, where the Verizon-installed ONT is.
Here is my current setup, post-FIOS install:
ONT in garage. As part of the Verizon install, there's a terminal (a series of posts) to which all the internal cat5 is connected.
One cat5 (data) from left side of terminal to 3d floor guest bedroom. This is evidently the data run, they told me when they installed it the router could only go in one place in the house and I chose that room for maximum wireless coverage, if not aesthetic appeal.
All other cat5 (voice, I guess) from right side of terminal to internal runs to other rooms.
Separate internal coax runs to garage, where they are consolidated via splitter to Comcast (don't start me) from outside.
The data cat5 goes to the guest bedroom, where both the ActionTec and Belkin are at the moment. I have the ActionTec radio disabled (192.168.1.1) and the Belkin wired to LAN port 1 (192.168.1.2) functioning only as the WAP because its coverage is better. I have no problems with this setup. We have two laptops and a desktop, all of which have wireless cards. We also have a wired print server, not presently hooked up, which can go into the same room as the Belkin WAP if necessary.
The issue: I am thinking of setting things up to prepare for FIOS TV. Does anyone see problems with the following setup?
Voice:
Four cat5 from right side of ONT terminal to internal runs. This is unchanged from what I have now.
Data:
ActionTec router, with radio off, mounted in garage next to FIOS ONT. I have adequate AC power to put it there.
One cat5 run from left side of terminal (the existing data line) to ActionTec WAN port.
LAN Port 1 on the ActionTec connected to cat5, running to one of the rooms in the house (run is at least 30 feet and may be 50+), connected to a Belkin 54g router functioning only as the WAP for the entire house.
Cable:
Coax run from hub (I gather I would have to have Verizon come to do the 'outside to ONT to coax' connection) to Actiontec.
Actiontec to coax splitter.
Splitter to coax internal runs, so that I have FIOS TV to all runs, presumably with STBs there.
The main difference from our current configuration is the length of cat5 from the ActionTec to the Belkin WAP, from the provided 6 foot yellow cable to a 50+ foot cat5 cable built into the house.
The actual questions:
Is the above setup going to kill my speed or otherwise cause problems?
Does the ActionTec->Belkin need to be crossover?
Will Verizon get upset if I revise their (very nice and competent) techs' hard work?
Can I hook a wired print server (I'm a print server novice) to a router functioning only as a WAP, as above, and have it work?
Ideal situation: If I were to upgrade the Belkin 54g WAP to a Pre-N or something stronger so that I can get speedy coverage anywhere, I would put the WAP and the wired print server in the first floor office along with a printer. I would then get good wireless to the fourth floor. I realize that a wireless print server would make this a non-issue, but if I can work with what I have, so much the better.
Thanks in advance folks. |
|
buckingham
Buckingham Pa
join:2005-07-17
Buckingham, PA
 ·Vonage
1 edit | I don't see any reason why you can't mount the AT router where you intend to put it as long as it's out of the weather (indoors as it will be) and you have things hooked up in the correct places. You are not going to have any kind of "distance" problem in your townhouse...the limit for wired Ethernet is 100 meters end-to-end max. (Including patches) In fact, is sounds like putting the AT router in that location is nearly ideal given you don't intend to use it for the wireless side. |
|
BTDT
join:2006-01-25
Flower Mound, TX | I was told by an installer last week that the ActionTec router tends to be sensitive to such things as heat and humidity. It may work just fine in your garage over the winter, but may start degrading in the heat of summer. |
|
lhoner
join:2006-10-26
1 edit | said by BTDT  :I was told by an installer last week that the ActionTec router tends to be sensitive to such things as heat and humidity. It may work just fine in your garage over the winter, but may start degrading in the heat of summer. i'm very interested to see how this works out because i've set things up in a similar fashion. all of my hardware is in the garage. the installers agreed to mount the actiontec in the garage and expressed no concerns.
ONT & BBU
actiontec router
coax splitter
d-link 16port switch
16 port patch panel where all data lines are terminated |
|
acvthree
@verizon.net | reply to BTDT
My router is installed in the garage. The installer didn't blink an eye. I had the impression he does it that way all the time.
Al |
|
car54wheru
join:2002-07-31
Annapolis, MD
 ·Comcast
1 edit |  reply to mhm4b
Just be mindful of environmental concerns. Garages are notoriously bad environments for sensitive (running) equipment. The Actiontec literature that comes in the box states: 32 - 104 deg F operating range and no more than 95% non-condensing humidity range. Not saying that the router will not work outside of these parameters, but service life will be effected.
'»www.actiontec.com' |
|
Light Guy
join:2006-05-12
Somerville, NJ | Unless you plan on connecting other cat-5 data wires to the Actiontec, it can stay where it is. As long as there is coax available there.
Coax to the router does not have to be a homerun. |
|
mhm4b
join:2006-12-04
Philadelphia, PA
1 edit | reply to mhm4b
Awesome, thanks for all the responses. I have a wireless temperature/humidity monitor, I'll put it in the garage and see how cold it gets out there. The Comcast guy did a rather sloppy job, so I need to spend some quality time redoing some of his work; I may move the router when I do that and figure out something when it gets humid in the spring. I'd really prefer to keep this thing out of sight since it's gigantic, so if it has to be inside, I'll run cat5 into a first floor closet or the laundry room and put it there.
For those who are interested, I will run speed tests before/after and post the results. That's really as technical as I get other than "The internet works vs. the internet's down," if anyone wants me to run other before/after tests please point me to them. |
|
vzfiostech1
join:2006-11-10
Danvers, MA | On alot of the instaals i have done i have put everything together and have had no problems |
|
jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to mhm4b
I don't think you have to worry too much about the humidity unless you have an unusually damp garage, one with an active ground water condition year round.
And even if it goes a little below freezing I wouldn't get too concerned.
--
~Help Find a Cure for Cancer~
~Proud Member of Team Discovery ~ |
|
