Structure Wired Home

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 4

Thank you for those that looked at this post previously. I checked my patch panel it is very basic. I will have to buy 2-3 components to make it work properly. If anyone knows a brand or site to get structured components, I would appreciate it.

Also, plugging the RJ11 from Phone1 on the Linksys router to the closed network (Line 1 in my house) enabled all wired Line1's int he house.

***Initial post***

I have looked through some of the threads on hard wiring my house with Vonage. I have not needed to do this in the past, but I will be going to DirectTV this Fall and it is going to be required. My house is designed slightly different than most homes. I paid to have structured wiring installed (all cable, telephones get are routed to a main panel).

1. I know the main telephone line needs to be disconnected from the network. In my case, all I should have to do is disconnect the external telephone line from the main panel. Logically, is this correct?
2. I move my cable modem to the main panel. Connect a cable feed to the modem and then the modem to the Vonage router.
3. I connect the phone line from the Vonage router to the main telephone port in the panel

If I understand correctly and my wiring is correct, this should provide phone access on all telephone ports in the closed network in the house. Is this correct?

Cable -> Cable Modem -> Vonage Router -> main phone in = all ports active

Posts: 187 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 14, 2007 Posts: 187

What manufacturer's structured wiring system do you have installed? Components are not interchangable between mfgr's

Coule you post some pictures and/or diagams of how they set things up? Lots of different ways to install a structured wiring system, even using a single mfgr's equipment.

Mark

PS - I tell people my structured wiring system is by Georgia-Pacific since that's who made the sheet of plywood to which I attach discrete components from a variety of mfgrs :-)

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 4

My system is by USTec. I tried to figure out the single component from their product list that is inside the enclosure. I could not find it. It is very basic and will be replaced. I have 8 coax cables for one input, 8 coax cables for another input, 8x cat 5 for voice and 8x cat 5 for data. The unit only distributes 5 of the voice lines and 4 of the coax lines. The rest are sitting loose inside the enclosure.

I may replace the entire enclosure as well since it is quite small. This is all the info I have at the moment.

Posts: 187 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 14, 2007 Posts: 187

According to their web site, USTec only sells thru "qualified distributors". Translation - high prices.

Their product line looks like most others (Leviton, P&S, OpenHouse, ChannelVision, etc).

Structured wiring doesn't mean you have to lock yourself into someone's fancy panel and modules. You have the hard part done - stringing the cables. Consider "rolling your own" with commodity parts (patch panels, video amplifiers, gateway routers etc) mounted on some sort of backer board.

You don't want to cover it up with a door on a cabinet - done properly it should be a work of art that adds to the decor of your home :-)

Mark

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 4

Thanks for the feedback. Exactly what I thought. The wiring is standard. I thought about replacing the enclosure and going with the components I think I need. I am sure I will be able to get Vonage to work through the panel without issue. The main part of my entire problem is centralizing the Audio/Video distribution. For what I want to do, it looks like it is going to be expensive to do that.

What I need:
1. New enclosure
2. 2x 1x8 ethernet component modules (or a 2x16)
3. A/V central distro unit (only one I have seen recommend thus far is $2000)

Posts: 187 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 14, 2007 Posts: 187

What function(s) are you wanting #2 and #3 to provide?

Mark

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 4

#2 will over the active telephone ports and data ports in all 8 rooms it is routed to.

#3 is to have a centralized audio/video setup. This will be one location for HD-DVR, xBox360 (HD-DVD primarily), Blu-Ray, and audio. I think I need a matrix switcher for 4 rooms so each room can watch independently of another room.

Posts: 187 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 14, 2007 Posts: 187

for #2 I'd eliminate all distinction between voice and data. It's all cat5
so you should be able to activate any jack as voice or data.

I'd terminate all your cat5 in the central location with something like this:

http://www.provantage.com/tripp-lite-n050-012~7TRPA107.htm

Place your cable modem, router, Vonage adapter etc all at the central location. Patch cords from your router to the patch panels are used to activate jacks for data.

For phone lines, you can terminate your incoming landlines (and the Vonage line out of your adapter) into this:

http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/hubbellpremise/datasheet.asp?PN=BR256066A&FAM=CrossConnectBlocks

then use patch cords to activate jacks for voice, just like for data.

I'm sure Leviton and others make something similar - the idea is to get a bunch of "bridged" jacks, each with your phone line(s) appearing on the same pairs.

I can provide more detail on how two use two of those hubbell units to provide ultimate flexability for making any phone line appear on any pair on the jacks.

Mark