Skip to main content

Modernizing old house network wiring - Part 12 - PoE Power!

 I started to spend a bit more money and help things come together.

PoE Switch

I found a great deal and ended up buying a 10-port PoE switch.

First, before we get all excited, only 8 of the 10 ports support PoE.  Secondly, it is "only" a 10/100 switch, so no gigabit for me.  I'm OK with that.  The switch was under $60, and I can always upgrade later.

Laying out the Backboard

I started to mount items on my backboard, including the new switch.  It took me a long time to figure out where to put the equipment: I wanted enough room to lay it all out neatly and comfortably, but I also want  efficiency.

 I also want to be able to connect and disconnect items without a lot of effort.  And of course I want to be able to see status LEDs without resorting to mirrors or uncomfortable behaviors.

After much trial and error, I found out that the best starting approach is to place all terminating equipment based on the building cabling.  One reality of my baseboard is that Coax and Ethernet come from above the baseboard, and I made the choice that electric power will come from the bottom.  Everything lays out based on those building cables and how the cables can drape.

Coax and its Splitter

I started with the Coax, as Coax cables are heavy, stiff, and the most difficult to manipulate.  My bundle of Ethernet cables is far easier to shape and position.

Considering that coax cables are heavy and stiff, a fairly healthy radius is needed to ease them into position.  I have a rather large ~9 port powered coax signal splitter, and all building Coax cables terminate there.  I placed the Coax splitter at the top corner of the board in order to ensure that the building coax cables stay as much out of the way as possible.  I mounted the splitter so the ports point to the left - that way the cables can come in from the left side of the board, where there is useless space.

Ethernet and its Switch

After the Coax was in place, things started to fall into place.  Ethernet was next, and all my building cables were to plug into my new PoE switch.  I wanted to be able to see the status lights, and of course I wanted the cabling to be need and tidy.

My PoE switch has mounting holes that are designed to have the ports face up or down.  This doesn't work for me, because then I wouldn't be able to see the status lights easily.  So I mounted it so the ports face to the right, and then used a screw to captivate the switch onto its mounting screws.   As you can see, I have the building ethernet bundle coming down the center of the backboard and into the switch.  Given this, the ethernet and the coax do not impeed one another.  If I see a bigger switch, I can place a "taller" one in the same position, or I can mount a second one on the right.

Power

Power is easy, it goes on the bottom area of the board.  I am starting with a power strip, but I will likely replace it with a mountable UPS in the future.  I suspect that a small UPS will be needed, as I plan to minimize power draw of the equipment.

Other Stuff

Now that the fundamentals are on the board, I can start attaching other equipment.

Cable Modem.  This goes in the top corner, close to the Coax switch and close to the Ethernet switch.

Router.  No router yet, but this will be non-wireless.  It will go under the cable modem.

 

 

the top center, and power comes from the bottom.



Popular posts from this blog

Fixing a SodaStream Jet, part 1: Disassembly Guide

I've had my SodaStream Jet for years, and once in a while something has gone wrong. Disassembly is the first step to repair.  Start with this article to see how to disassemble the SodaStream, and then once you have that down, scroll through my other articles to see how I repaired specfic SodaStream problems. SodaStream Jet Disassembly Guide Tools Required Flat head screwdriver Phillips head screwdriver 1. Remove the Carbonator.  Duh. 2. Remove the black panel lever The front big black tilt lever needs to be removed first. Removing this panel is tricky, but it isn't impossible. Looking up at the bottom of the black panel, there are two tabs, one on the left and one on the right. These tabs fully secure the panel in place. The trick is to use a flat-head screwdriver under the plastic to gently lever the tabs out of the way.  Note in the pictures how I approach these tabs with my screwdriver.  I usually release the left side first, and then I release ...
Read more

Sodastream Carbonator Leakage, Usage, and Weight

SodaStream 60L "Carbonator" CO2 cylinders have a specific weight when empty, plus about 410 or so grams for the CO2 they should have when they're "full".  A little while ago I went to buy a replacement Carbonator from my local hardware store. The dealer pulled a new Carbonator out of the box and sensed it was lighter than usual.  He put the "light" Carbonator in the "empty" pile and sold me a different one.  At that moment I concluded that it would be smart of me to weigh both new and empty SodaStream carbonators.  Here are the results. Weighing a SodaStream Carbonator - for both Science and Consumer Protection.       The dealer told me that sometimes the carbonators leak after they leave the SodaStream filling facility.  That means there could be an opportunity for customers like me to get ripped off! The SodaStream cylinders I buy claim to have a net product weight of 410 grams - and that means that a full Soda Stream Carbonator shou...
Read more

Faster Internet during COVID-19

So we're all suffering with slow internet, now that we all have multiple Zoom sessions going and so forth.  Right?  A lot of you keep on asking me what I recommend doing, so here it is: Here's what NOT to do: Do NOT pay your cable TV company for faster Internet. Sorry, but even a "slow" 25 MBit internet connection is going to handle five simulaneous video chats plus streaming video at the same time, with good if not excellent quality.  It is very unlikely that you will overwhelm your ISP Internet connection.  It is very unlikely that paying for higher service will solve any problem. Do NOT get a Mesh router system. Mesh routers are expensive, and their additional radios just add to an already crowded radio spectrum.  Adding several fast cars to a grid-locked highway is not going to solve any problems despite the marketing push. Do NOT add additional network gear. Adding WiFi extenders or additional WiFi access points are only going to result in a...
Read more

Fixing my Wahl 9918 Groomsman Beard and Mustache Trimmer

Not everyone would bother repairing a $25 beard trimmer, but why not fix something for under $5 instead of spending another $25? My  Wahl 9918 Groomsman Beard and Mustache Trimmer  has admirably performed its beauty duty for many years, but the time came when the battery just wasn't holding a charge any more.  Most people would just put the trimmer in the trash and buy a new one, but I figured I could repair my otherwise excellent Wahl and save some money. In fact, even high priced trimmer and rotary shaver brands, like Norelco and Remington, can be easily repaired using a process similar to the one I used to fix my Wahl.  Read on to find out how. I opened up the Wahl by popping off the black plastic faceplate with a tiny flathead screwdriver, which revealed two screws.  By removing the two screws I was able to easily open up the unit, revealing the guts of the device. Backplate off, Revealing the screws The internals are rather simple: a motor, a...
Read more

Fix a Lightning Cable with Heat Shrink Tubing

We've all seen a Lightning cable that has started to fall apart.  They get used every day, and after enough tugs and yanks on your iPhone, they start to fray. I've seen a lot of these frayed cables, so I've started to fix them before they break with heat shrink tube.  I get my heat shrink on Amazon, like this handy and inexpensive pack.   I prefer the heat shrink tubes without internal glue - it has higher flexibility and a smaller outside diameter once shrunk. Heat Shrink Tubing on an Old, Frayed Lightning Cable In the photo here, you'll see that I slid on a 1.25 inch length of heat shrink over the lighting connector, and then shrunk it into place.  I chose a diameter that just barely fits over the lightning connector.  In all, it took about 60 seconds to perform this repair. Warning: the white plastic of the lightning cable has a pretty low melting point.  It seems to start to melt at about 125°C (or about 250°F), which is the same temperatur...
Read more

Bad Drivers

They say that 50% of drivers are better than average, and 50% are worse than average. This is meaningless, as 90% of drivers are lousy, dangerous drivers. There are a lot of cars out there, and therefore you see a lot of driving nonsense.  Drivers are texting, reading, and eating cereal from a bowl.  Drivers speed into intersections and crosswalks.  They crawl at traffic lights, they quickly accelerate and decelerate due to a lack of attention.  They ignore signs and roadway markings.  They ignorant that the pavement is wet and it's 32° F outside. In the mean time, the police really can't keep up with it.  Pulling people over for minor infractions is a pointless game, particularly because cars pulled over increase traffic and therefore increases the potential for accidents.  Furthermore, it isn't right to give someone a $100 ticket for a stupid and meaningless infraction.  Cops generally have better things to do. But when you add it all up...
Read more

Other Posts

Show more