Networking!
So the time has come to install the Ethernet cables in my house, I was hoping to avoid it with wireless, but come on, wireless just isn’t going to reach the performance of a wired connection. I’m going to use cat5e so that in the future the network can easily be upgraded to gigabit. I’ve determined the need for at minimal one jack in each of the rooms, so that comes to 6 connections at least. So the trouble comes in that my router only has 4 wired ports. However, I have an UNMANAGED switch that is 24 ports… So I can go with a 24 port switch, but I think it’s bit of an overkill in my house at this time. And I’m not sure exactly why I ended up buying a 24 port switch and an unmanaged switch at that. My other option is to use just one router, but split off the connection at the other end of the house using some type of “splitting device” which will probably be a wired router acting as a switch. (2 routers on the same network equal bad results!)
Actually I’m thinking the latter option is best, because I can literally daisy chain off the router with other networking devices. It’s all making sense now because I can run one cable to the other end of the house and run cables from whatever device to the 3 rooms instead of running 3 separate cables to that end of the house… Though I still do feel a bit limited by just the 4 ports… I’ll have to make some measurements and see what will work out….