New Build - Home Networking Help

ribze1 on 07/05/2024 - 16:16
Last edited 07/05/2024 - 16:43 by 1 other user

Hi everyone,

Going through planning for a duplex build and I'm up to the home networking stage and would like some help form the OzB community.
Family of four, with two under four but they will obviously grow and will have their own IT needs over time. Wife and I WFH 2-3 days each per week, we stream and I casually PC game. Relatively basic needs but I want to future proof as much as possible at the build stage, and have reliable internet. Wifi is weak in some rooms of our double brick house right now, and doesn't give us the full FTTP NBN experience. I've had to use EOP in my old unit, which were fine but want to avoid bandaid solutions.

  • The Hills Home Hub (this was came via the electronics contractor pack) https://hillshomehub.com.au/product/hills-home-hub-400-serie…
    - Do I need this? It sounds like i do, but do i need this exact product?
    - I'll need to add my own switch, i'd use one with POE to power the two access points. Any recommendations?
    - I have a TP-Link Archer AX55 router at the moment, can I continue to use this?
  • Data points will be in place behind each TV, and in the two locations where we will have WFH set ups.
  • One access point upstairs and one downstairs for wifi (see plans at bottom). Both roof mounted
    - Is this sufficient?
    - Any recommendations?
  • Door bell with camera - can someone recommend?
  • Watch alot of YouTube on the TV but cop the ads, whereas i have ublock on my PC. I remember reading that via networking there is a way to have ublock effectively applied to YT on my TV, is this right?

Notes
* Will have FTTP NBN
* No home theatre requirement
* No security camera requirement
* Internal walls are gyprock with R4.0 insulation
* When the kids are older we don't want computers in their rooms, or needs to be on wifi so we can control it, hence no data points in their bedrooms
* Guest room downstairs (per label) is really a second tv room and home office
* Cat6 cabling
* Completion likely 2025

Floor Area - only my side of the duplex
Ground floor: 94.36m^2
First floor: 67.85m^2

Plans - marked up to include the above

Ground floor: https://ibb.co/zb8GWjd
First floor: https://ibb.co/9Y4J1ZB

Thanks,

ribze1

Computing Broadband FTTP nbn TP-Link Wireless Router

Comments

  • Duckie2hh on 07/05/2024 - 16:22
    +3

    No security camera requirement

    are you sure?

    Door bell with camera

    I am happy with my google doorbell. Fingers crossed for nest premium to be included with google one subscription

    Data points will be in place behind each TV

    Include a point in each kid's room for future planning. Run cat 8 cables.

    • ribze1 on 08/05/2024 - 14:22

      Cameras - we're in a safe area and at least the door bell camera covers some of the front. We're on a budget so my wife is looking at the opportunity of it.
      Cat8 - i'll enquire on costs, i'll ask about cat7 as well.

  • spackbace on 07/05/2024 - 16:35
    +2

    When the kids are older we don't want computers in their rooms, or needs to be on wifi so we can control it, hence no data points in their bedrooms

    Good luck to not letting them have PC's, that seems short-sighted.

    Most decent routers give you family settings to block certain traffic, doesn't matter whether wired or wireless it'll still go through the router

    Watch alot of YouTube on the TV but cop the ads, whereas i have ublock on my PC. I remember reading that via networking there is a way to have ublock effectively applied to YT on my TV, is this right?

    Youtube premium can be bought cheap and save you all the hassle

    • ribze1 on 08/05/2024 - 14:23

      Ok thanks for this, good foresight.

  • geekcohen on 07/05/2024 - 16:45

    Go Ubiquiti. Will be good for Router, Doorbell, Security Cameras everything. If you go Ubiquiti, you won't have to mix Ring, Google, TP Link etc. It might be a little costly, but well worth it.

  • pinchies on 07/05/2024 - 18:31
    +2

    Why not put ethernet in every room just in case? Less devices on wifi, means that the ones that are will be more reliable, and the ones on ethernet will be rock solid. You can have a networking patch box somewhere, and just not connect the ones you don't want active.

    • AndyC1 on 07/05/2024 - 19:10
      +1

      Agree ethernet in every bedroom and lounge room or room that is bigger than a bathroom with the possible exception of the kitchen.

  • ratoloko on 07/05/2024 - 18:35

    Asus RT-AX53U

    I also WFH, IT for the matter, and cannot stand slow network, I do have 1G plan.

    That Asus is a dual WiFi 6 router, don't waste money buying WiFi 5 gear. Hardware are starting to come WiFi 6 approved and WiFi 7 is already under development.
    I have similar speed over WiFi on my laptop with WiFi 6 card as the cable.
    Your TP-Link isn't bad but you are gonna need more to have a decent coverage and set in mesh mode.

    I would have 3 or 4 of these guys running as mesh covering both floors. I do not like proprietary crappy but if that isn't an issue for you, Ubiquiti is a solution but you must run their entire ecosystem from there onwards.

    I do pay for YouTube Premium coz I see value on it plus YouTube Music coz Spotify sucks but to block ads and personal data collection on the network level I run Pi-Hole as my DNS/ADs blocker for years now, cannot live without it.

    I also run OPNSense firewall/router which is basically a miniPC with two network card running Linux.

    All these solution are DIY and have been running for years without intervention other than applying security updates here and there.
    Backup plan is a must have.

    Last but not least, avoid having everything set on a single hardware, the performance isn't great, my wireless router for example only provides radio and nothing else.

    Network is a topic where you can cut corners but it will come back later to bite your butt OR do things right once and never spend/have headaches again.

  • Jemz on 07/05/2024 - 20:43

    Went through a build knowing much less than what I know now when it comes to networking and having a hardwired backbone everywhere possible.

    Usually the builder will suggest the home hub thing and x number of data points with that particular hub. Looks like that one includes an 8 port patch panel so assume 1 will be to feed the rest of your house from the switch, that leaves you with 7 runs for Ethernet someone in the house.

    I like the others would suggest an Ethernet point into each bedroom, then wherever you are planning to put a tv.

    So that’s 3 bedrooms upstairs plus the access point in the roof. You could even have them run the one for the access point into the linen so you don’t have to get up into the roof to screw around with it.

    Downstairs you’ve got:
    Study/office x1
    Guest bedroom x1
    Family (tv data point) x1
    Point for downstairs AP x1

    So you’re at 8x getting a point wherever you could ever possibly want/need one. Agree with the other person, might as well run cat8 whilst at build stage, cost difference shouldn’t be huge.

    What’s the TV alcove near the dining? Like the access point upstairs in the linen, I’d run it into the WIP abutting the tv alcove wall so it’s hidden but easy to get to and not some disk on the roof (partner/guest approval). Worst case scenario if your downstairs AP doesn’t have enough range to the front/back of the house, you could always put an access point in the study/office or family (because you’ve got the ports there)

    Seeing as you’re at 8x points pre security cameras and doorbell (if POE) you might as well get the builder to see what “hub”/wall panel enclosure thing they can provide with up to a 16 port patch panel.

    Because then you’ve got ability for runs for security cams and because you’re prior to build stage, might as well do it before everything’s gyprocked and saving headaches in the future for whoever is snaking the cables.

    I’d get them to run an eth cable to the top right hand corner of downstairs into the eave out front of the garage. Then you can run a Reolink Trackmix POE camera, with dual 4k lens (wide and zoomed) auto tracking PTZ. Same goes with the eave outside the study/office, can have another camera there so you have full cross section of the front of the house from both sides. Then the doorbell just becomes a notifier/caller rather than being your primary recording mechanism out front so can get away with a wifi model (reolink also do one but needs to use existing doorbell wiring so might as well do POE).

    Then you could get them to do another run to the bottom left of downstairs, again into the eave, for a cam to record the backyard, again you could put a trackmix then you could put in the far corner of the eave, then use it to turn and look down the side of the house towards the water tank. The only blind spot would be at the back kitchen door

    So that adds another 3x with cams, maybe a fourth for POE doorbell taking you to 12, plus 1 from your switch to the patch panel so close to 16. Might even want to run an NVR or something else in the garage so I’d be suggesting a 16 port switch with 8 POE, net gear have some fanless high poe budget stuff.

    Feel feel to pm me

    • ribze1 on 08/05/2024 - 21:44

      Alot of good information here, thank you. I've got a bit to think about.
      The "TV alcove" is labelled wrong, should just say "alcove".

  • boomramada on 07/05/2024 - 20:58

    For new build, I would put ethernet points to every room, minimum 2 where tv going to be.
    And one to the doorbell.

    Put the hub in the garage where NBN box going to be and add extra power point there as well.

    Ask builder to open up a wall cavity to fit up a cabinet for all the network gear.

  • stickingly on 08/05/2024 - 08:30
    +2

    Having built a new house a while back, I would say put in data (and power) points wherever you can. If in any doubt, put one in. It is easy to do now and a pain later

    For example you say you don't need in the kids bedrooms. At the time it didn't seem necessary to me, but my kids are now doing projects using hardware devices that need them (arduino etc). You don't know what's in the future.

    I also like to have all fixed devices connected to cable, not wifi

    You can disable points from your patch panel if that worries you

    • ribze1 on 12/05/2024 - 19:56

      Thank you

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