Looking for home/office network specialist to tweak my network

[macnmotion]

Hi. I'm suffering from slowdowns at times at our home office. Between office and home use there are often more than 20 devices connected to the True business class internet service (computers, routers, Sonos, Apple TV, etc.). I'm currently using the True router to manage IP addresses, then an Apple Airport Extreme in bridge mode with two Airport Expresses around the home to extend the network. The Airport Extreme goes to a switch which feeds everything else. I have a feeling I would do better using the True modem in bridge mode, managing the IPs with the Airport Extreme (at least that's what the tech from True told me).

I'm looking for someone who is capable of setting this up quickly, without disruption during office hours. I also need ethernet cable properly installed from the point of entry to several spots around the two-story home.

I am open to alternative suggestions on how to improve overall connectivity here.

Can anyone recommend someone who can handle these items for me? I live on Ekamai. Feel free to private message if desired.

Thanks. Andy

Edited May 24, 2016 by macnmotion

[KittenKong]

The True tech was right. Put their modem into bridge mode and use the Airport Extreme for the routing. Better still, buy a proper gigabit router that doesnt have Apple written on it.

Also you need to reduce the number of wireless devices on that network to a minimum, especially if the Airport Expresses are merely extending the same network rather than creating their own.

That switch should be a gigabit model too, if a lot of devices are connected to it.

So as you say it would be best to run Cat6 cable to a few strategic points from where you can use the Airport Expresses as access points with their own network ID. Even better: connect as many devices as possible by cable rather than by wifi. For example, Sonos devices can be connected by ethernet and having done so you can turn the wifi transmitters off completely with a hidden command via their web interface. I turned the wifi off on my Sonos units when I bought them and have never turned it back on.

[macnmotion]

Hi, and thank you for your input.

I'm happy to change from the apple router to something else, but I already own the extreme and 2 expresses, it would be a shame to toss those without trying the other solutions first. (Although, if I use another router for the initial routing, can I still add on the Airports for their own networks?).

Our switch is a D-Link 16-port gigabit switch.

So in short, you recommend as first steps:

1) True router into bridge mode

2) Apple Extreme for routing

3) Apple Extreme into switch

4) Wire as many devices as possible directly from the switch (including the expresses)

5) Change my expresses from extending the network to creating their own network

In order to do this, I still need someone who can do all the wiring. I could buy ethernet cables but can't make it look good. I'm still hoping to get some recommendations on someone who can come to the home and help out. It would also be great if this person could help properly set up all the various components and tweak settings.

[KittenKong]

Actually I'm being slightly facetious about the Apple devices. It's just that when I buy a device I prefer to be paying for what's inside rather than a fancy case and box, not to mention the massive profits generated by the manufacturer! Also I find that Apple things never seem to work quite how I want them to, but maybe that's just me. To answer your question: if you do decide to get another router (and you dont really need to) then the Airport Expresses will work with the new one.

Anyway, Apple-bashing aside, the Airport Extreme will do a much better job of routing than the True modem will. Your switch, being gigabit, is also up to the task. The Airport Expresses can be connected to either the switch or the Extreme (doesnt really matter which) using ethernet cables with the Extreme still being their router. Apple call this a roaming network: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202056 and it is easy to set up.

So yes, your list is correct.

Any competent electrician can fit your ethernet cable. It's not very different to running a power extension or fitting a light switch, and a lot safer. Up to you whether they bury the cables in a conduit and replaster or use plastic surface trunking. You can even fit the cable without any trunking or conduit if you want.

Electrical and DIY shops should sell cable by the meter or in rolls of various lengths depending on how much you need.

Push-fit wall RJ45 sockets of various designs are readily available in the same shops, and these require no special tools for terminating the ethernet cable, and the wires are colour coded.

For future proofing try to use Cat6 (6e) sockets and cable if you can, though over the short distances you need the world wont end if you have to use Cat5(e).

http://www.binbert.com/blog/2010/05/differences-between-cat5-cat5e-cat6-and-cat6e-cables/

If you care to post full details of what your devices are and where they are situated I will give you some suggestions as to the most efficient way to connect them, though to be honest it wont make a vast difference as long as you follow the guidelines given above.

Do I know any electricians in Ekamai? No, sorry.

Will I get off my fat arse and go there from Jomtien? No.

Edited May 26, 2016 by KittenKong

[macnmotion]

I've gotten through a few items on the list.

The True modem cannot be placed into bridge mode. I verified this with True. In order to get equipment from them that can be put in bridge mode, I would have to significantly change my monthly account with them. Not worth it.

However, I was able to turn off the router from that modem. I am now providing IP addresses from the Airport Extreme. Because I cannot turn off NAT on the router, I have the Extreme in Router Only mode (not Router + NAT mode). While in general this doesn't make a difference to me, it does have an impact in that I cannot use port forwarding on the Extreme in Router Only mode, and the forwarding is required for proper setup of our internal development server. We can get around this modifying our hosts files so this wasn't a deal breaker.

Our next step will be to get the wiring done. I had someone take a look at the requirements last week, I'm waiting for a quotation. However, I think we may just do it ourselves.

Here is the current plan:

- Airport Extreme to 16-port Gigabit switch (located first floor next to modem and Extreme)

-- Switch to all employee computers on first floor (7 devices)

-- Switch to personal computer on second floor directly above this switch (1 device)

-- Switch to Sonos Boost (1 device)

- Airport Extreme to 8-port Gigabit switch (located on first floor, other end of home, with wiring around the outside of the home)

-- Switch to supply management computers (2 desktops permanent, 2 laptops from time to time, 4 devices total)

-- Switch to Airport Express nearby (1 device)

--- Airport Express to Apple TV in same location

-- Switch to Airport Express on second floor directly above this switch (1 device)

--- Airport Express to Apple TV in same location on second floor

With this setup, there will be 9 devices hooked up to the 16-port switch. We are hiring so this allows additional employee computers to be attached, or visiting clients if they want.

And there will be 6 devices hooked up to the 8-port switch, with 2 of those devices (the Airport Expresses) each connected to an Apple TV.

Total devices on the system at this time would be 17.

We would use the Wifi networks to handle mobile and tablet traffic, wireless network printer, and laptop traffic when we want to move around. This could bring the total devices driven by the Airport Extreme to about 22.

The Sonos system seems to work just fine with its own SonosNet network, independent of our home Wifi, so I'll leave it like that for now.

Fun stuff. :-)

[KittenKong]

If you cant use the True router as a simple modem then it all becomes a bit doubtful. That is quite a big list of devices.

What sort of connection is this from True? How fast is it (supposed to be)? It may be that with all those devices you are just using up all the available bandwidth, in which case no amount of wiring or routers or switches is going to help you.

[macnmotion]

No, it's not that all the bandwidth is being used. I have a Cable 50/5 package. I am suffering wifi issues at night when nobody is around, just feeding data from my computer to the apple TV, both connected via wifi to the network. Can't replace the router without moving to a full on business account, many times what my current package costs. I'll try the above with the rewiring. If it won't work, my fallback is to get a second similar connection to the house. Divide and conquer. Still many times cheaper than switching to the business account.

[KittenKong]

The above solution should sort it then.