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mavicaste

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Everything posted by mavicaste

  1. Yes, I will be using a 24-port patch panel so as to reduce the clutter and we are still exploring around on how best to house the patch panel and switch in the study. For the other rooms with just a couple of points, they will be terminated with faceplates. As for the TV console, I may be using a 6 or 8-port patch panel (if I can find one) instead of the faceplates and have it integrated into the console. I am no networking guru by any standards but I am taking this as a learning opportunity to pick up a skill.
  2. They offer a VPN service which allows users to access content restricted to IP addresses native to a particular country only. https://secure.myrepublic.com.sg/add-ons/teleport.php
  3. I have yet to decide on the ISP but SingTel is definitely out as I have been boycotting them for a few years now. In fact, I have yet to do my research on the options available and will only do so when its time to apply for one. Both my parents' and in-laws' home are using StarHub cable and it has served us well so I presume their fibre internet service should be just as satisfactory, if not better. From what I know, they are already testing pay-TV services over fibre so that is another consideration. Another requirement that I have is that they should be offering VOIP phone line together with internet access since I do not intend to have a SingTel phone line. I have heard raving reviews about MyRepublic's Teleport VPN service and will definitely be looking into what they have to offer as well.
  4. Loves how a little DIY adds so much to character and individuality to the decor. You have just inspired me to start on something small.
  5. :good: Thanks for taking the time to write this up. Nobody can now use the excuse of the lack of information online during consideration for their home networking plan.
  6. Hi cooknchill, Welcome to Renotalk. You have a similar concept to mine and since you have gotten your keys first, I can probably look to your blog for pointers.
  7. To put it simply, the ONT converts optical signals into raw electrical signals which is then converted by the service provider's modem into electrical signals that network equipment such as routers, LAN adapters and switches are able to work with. The ONT is part of the OpenNet infrastructure and is only available when you sign up with a service provider. I am not sure if the functions of the ONT and modem can be merged into one device in the future or is it already happening at the moment. All of a sudden, this feels as if we are in a tech thread in the HWZ or VRZ forums.
  8. From what I gathered, the average is between $70 to $90 per point. For the $40 quote, you may wish to clarify if it is indeed a new point and cabling altogether or whether it is for the conversion of existing telephone points. The latter is only applicable for newer flats using cat5e/6 cables for voice network wiring.
  9. You basically got everything right about what and where to install. The ONT is a must if you are using fibre based services. It will be connected between the OpenNet TP and the service provider's modem/set top box.
  10. Thanks for your help. Let me try to explain in details to the best of my knowledge. OpenNet runs on optical fibre network and ends in each home in the form of a TP (Termination Point), which is highlighted in purple in the photo above. Each home requires only one TP even if you subscribe to multiple services such as internet and pay-TV with different service providers. For new BTO homeowners, the optical fibre is already nicely concealed in the wall and there will not be any drilling of entry point and surface trunking above the main door into the unit. From the TP, a optical fibre is connected to the ONT (Optical Network Termination) as pictured below. The ONT converts the optical input signal into an electrical signal in the form of LAN ports. The ONT is then connected to a modem provided by your service provider which usually has built-in wireless router functions. As claypot has stated, the connection hierarchy will be TP > ONT > Modem > Wireless Router/Switch Each service provider will only be allocated a specific LAN port. For example, you may subscribe to internet from service provider A, pay-TV from service provider B and they will be allocated port 1 and 2 respectively. If there is a LAN port (highlighted in blue) provided in the distribution box, you have the option of housing the ONT within the distribution box using the power point (highlighted in red) provided and then connecting it to the LAN port. The other end of the concealed LAN cable is located at the TV console area along with the coaxial cable and telephone points. You can then placed the modem at the TV console or reroute it to another location by laying your own network cable. For my plan, I will either lay my own optical fibre from the distribution box to the TV console area and house my ONT at the TV console area for easy monitoring and reboot, if necessary. From there, the ONT will be linked to the modem in my study using additional network cabling.
  11. As far as I know, the newer homeplug network adapters are rated up to gigabit or 1000Mbps but what is available locally are up to 500Mbps. From the feedback I have gathered at hardwarezone forums, the actual throughput is largely dependent on the condition of your electrical network and averages at around 10% of theoretical speed. Depending on what you use, the actual throughput may actually be lower than a good wireless-N or AC connection. In the case of using network cables, the main advantages are that it is very reliable (unless there is a major cockup during termination) and that you need not invest in adapters, as in the case for homeplugs and wireless networks, since every modern desktop or laptop computers already come equipped with gigabit LAN ports. Gigabit switches are mainstream at the moment and even if 10-gigabit equipment suddenly become mainstream, cat6 cables are still able to support the bandwidth at lengths of up to 37m per connection in the worst case scenarios. Of course, the kiasu ones can choose to lay cat6a cables for future proofing.
  12. Hi kstoh, I didn't actually pitch the idea of structured cabling to any of the IDs and contractors we met until we were signing with our chosen one. So I was just assuming how many of them would be discouraging their clients due to various reasons such as high costs as you mentioned and aesthetic reasons. My assumption is based on the observation that we don't see many homes with even a couple of additional data points around, let alone a fully networked one. If it is indeed the case, then it has to be that homeowners' lack the technical knowledge to plan for one or did not feel that it is necessary etc. In our case, AL was just curious why did I insist on using wired connections and planned to use this many points in our home. Anyway, to save costs, I am just paying a token labour fee for the electrician to lay the 16 to 18 cables. I will be providing the reel of cable as well as performing the end termination and faceplate installation on my own.
  13. I agree, can imagine most ID and contractors will also advise against large scale structured cabling siting aesthetic reasons as well as the lack of knowledge in this area. http://patnotebook.com/building-the-monoprice-patch-panel-box I chanced upon this abovementioned blog post a few weeks ago and saw that the writer actually laid his network cables on the ground prior to cement screeding. I was considering whether to do the same but decided not to after AL advised against it due to pratical reasons.
  14. We went furniture hunting today, something we have not done in a long while, and checked out the Sungei Kadut area for the first time as there were quite a few advertised sales for the weekend. We managed to cover a lot of stores including Castilla, Natural Living and Barang Barang just to name a few and were able to view their collections within minutes as most of them do not carry the style we are looking for, especially the stores located in International Furniture Centre. Scanteak were having a warehouse sale and we ended up picking up a laundry/storage box to finally make the $2500 mark for free delivery. The wife has been wanting to see what Like That One has to offer and we headed over since we were already in the north-west. Being one of those niche stores that offer very limited or even just one-off pieces, there weren't many on display and the best items usually get snapped up really fast. Their merchandise are classified under two main categories, industrial and vintage. So if these are what you are looking for, do drop by to see if there is anything you fancy. Anyway, this steel and mango wood shelf caught our eyes and it was decided within a minute. Later on, we found out that these were used for a sneaker convention at Zouk just months ago.
  15. Definitely an important point for new homeowners to take note of. Regardless of the amount of positive feedback, if you feel that the contractor/ID has difficulty clicking with you or that they are showing the "ai mai, ai mai, bo chup" attitude with their responsiveness even at this early stage, the safest bet is always to drop them.
  16. Hi Songz, dropping by to say hi. Since its a resale unit and you have the option of hacking the bathroom flooring and tiles, I feel you should take the opportunity to revamp the bathroom, give it a soothing ambience and include those wall cavities for toiletries. The kitchen and bathroom are my priorities but since my unit is new, I do not have the luxury of doing so.
  17. After a week of discussions and straw polls with the family, we have managed to pick out the interior doors, lock set and vinyl flooring as the number of choices for them weren't as overwhelming as the laminates. For that, we have picked out a couple for specific carpentry and we shall be leaving the rest for AL to make the proposals. After all, as Takaishi has pointed out, since we hired an ID, we should make him work.
  18. This will probably take months as we focus on the renovation and getting the main furniture pieces and appliances first.
  19. I am with you on the quality issue but given that there are gems out there to be discovered as the forumers have shown, we will definitely go ahead to give it a go starting with small items and accessories.
  20. Email request for quotation sent, yet to receive a reply.
  21. Hi Songz, we have started planning and conceptualising very early and thought we got most of the parts covered but upon reaching the stage where we are really going to execute the ideas, there is still a lingering feeling of trepidation. One area where we have barely done any research on would be lightings. There are just so many options out there as well as being torn between practicality and being true to our themes. Amazon is one of our favourite online merchants but Taobao is a whole new jungle to us. I consider myself very much an effective bilingual but reading technical specifications in Chinese is just a pain in the *** as opposed to glancing through the same information in English.
  22. Hi alfredt, I will likely be running the network equipment 24/7. As long as there is ventilation, I don't feel that additional cooling is required although I am currently still deciding on whether to house the switch and patch panel in a wallmount rack or custom carpentry.
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