Hardwiring a network and adding a NAS for HTPC and WDTV

[Flynn]

Firstly hello. Sorry my first post is a question, but Ive been lurking on here for a while and done some reading. Was hoping for some guidance before I take the plunge and start buying stuff.

I have poor wifi coverage upstairs and as well as putting an extender upstairs I would like to add a NAS and a wired network. I have some limitations in where I can wire and will have to follow a cetain route.

Ive done a couple of diagrams. Can you tell me if this will work, or is it overkill. Please bare in mind I cant wire direct from router to living room. I already have a CAT5 cable going to the Office. (does this need replacing with CAT6?) Wiring from the office to the living room and upstairs bedroom is the only option.

Is there a better place to put the NAS or switch? Will I need CAT 6 cables? Is there an easier way to go about this? Any limitations? Do I need another switch If I want to hard wire the PS3 and 360?

Thanks in advance

Current

Proposed

 

[Flynn]

Attached the piccys as tags didnt work

 

[stevech]

Firstly hello. Sorry my first post is a question, but Ive been lurking on here for a while and done some reading. Was hoping for some guidance before I take the plunge and start buying stuff.

I have poor wifi coverage upstairs and as well as putting an extender upstairs I would like to add a NAS and a wired network. I have some limitations in where I can wire and will have to follow a cetain route.

Ive done a couple of diagrams. Can you tell me if this will work, or is it overkill. Please bare in mind I cant wire direct from router to living room. I already have a CAT5 cable going to the Office. (does this need replacing with CAT6?) Wiring from the office to the living room and upstairs bedroom is the only option.

Is there a better place to put the NAS or switch? Will I need CAT 6 cables? Is there an easier way to go about this? Any limitations? Do I need another switch If I want to hard wire the PS3 and 360?

Thanks in advance

Current

Proposed

In lieu of cat5, consider...
1. HomePlug AV devices. This bridges your WiFi router's LAN port to a different room via the home power wiring. At the far end, you can connect an ethernet switch for multiple wired devices. And/or a WiFi access point for strong signal WiFi in that area. Can work well (beware plugging them into a power strip with filters)
2. MoCA - same concept as above, but uses TV coax instead of power wiring.
3. WiFi bridge that links to your WiFi router. The bridge outputs cat5 to feed a device or a switch, as above. This is the least desired of the three approaches, but can work OK if the bridge has a good antenna.

There's a HomePlug and MoCA forum here on the website.

 

[Flynn]

In lieu of cat5, consider...
1. HomePlug AV devices. This bridges your WiFi router's LAN port to a different room via the home power wiring. At the far end, you can connect an ethernet switch for multiple wired devices. And/or a WiFi access point for strong signal WiFi in that area. Can work well (beware plugging them into a power strip with filters)
2. MoCA - same concept as above, but uses TV coax instead of power wiring.
3. WiFi bridge that links to your WiFi router. The bridge outputs cat5 to feed a device or a switch, as above. This is the least desired of the three approaches, but can work OK if the bridge has a good antenna.

There's a HomePlug and MoCA forum here on the website.

Thanks for the reply.

1.I have used Homeplugs before, and didn’t have much luck. Have they improved much? As Ive said, running cables as in the diagram isnt going to be difficult.

2.Had a look at MoCA, and correct me if I’m wrong. If I’m going to run cables, I may as well use CAT6? I can run cables quite easily, but only as outlined in the original post

3.Wifi Bridge won’t help me stream large movie files.

I was looking more at the setup and if that would work, or any way to amend it to either work better or more efficiently

 

[Flynn]

Just had a thought.... Dont need an additional switch. I could just move the DIR 685 and use that as the switch.

Your thoughts please

 

[stevech]

Looks OK at a glance.
In the prior post, it looked like you couldn't run the cat5 between more rooms.