MBPassion
2021-11-02 20:20:43
- #1
I can tell you about our experiences (major renovation) and give a few recommendations. We had two installation cables laid in every room (each with a double socket; I would say that in most cases a single socket is enough, because more and more is solved via WLAN). For that, you should know or have an idea of where the devices and desks will eventually be placed. Additionally, we had individual lines laid at the following locations:
In total, 23 installation cables lead to a patch panel in a small storage room in the basement. There is also a 19" network cabinet where I consolidate the rest of the infrastructure:
From my point of view, it is very important that the access points are well distributed, precisely because WLAN is becoming increasingly important. We now have a Unifi Access Point nanoHD on each floor and are very satisfied with them. We no longer need the FritzBox’s WLAN and have disabled it.
For the DECT signal of the phone, the reception from the FritzBox in the basement (in the server cabinet) to the attic is actually sufficient. Of course, you could also rely on a DECT base station in a central location, such as the Gigaset Pro N670 IP DECT for about 100 euros. (Other alternatives would have been to extend the DSL signal via an installation cable and return it to the network via a second installation cable; have the TAE socket installed directly on the ground floor by the electrician; use a DECT repeater; or use a second FritzBox.)
Regarding the access points, I can only advise you to have installation cables laid directly into the ceilings for these. This looks good (or unobtrusive) and offers good coverage. You should instruct the electrician to use a deep flush-mount box for this because the terminated installation cable then still needs to be connected to the access point with a short patch cable.
The brilliant thing is that the access points already get their power from my switch via PoE, so a single installation cable is sufficient. Besides Unifi, there are also good solutions from other manufacturers.
For the installation cables, CAT7 is usually used today in Germany, which should be future-proof. I wouldn’t go lower than that for the installation cables, since Cat7 is even better shielded than Cat6, and you either can’t change the installation cables anymore (without empty conduits) or don’t want to change them anymore (with empty conduits). I even chose Cat8 installation cables — but that is too expensive for most people. From the network sockets to the devices, Cat6 patch cables are sufficient for the short distances — they are at least a bit more flexible.
What you should consider/know about this setup:
Such a large switch naturally also consumes more power than a small one. So if you already know that you won't use 90% of the LAN ports anyway, it would be more economical to operate a smaller switch. (But I just wanted to have such a setup.)
The access points each draw about 5W and unfortunately cannot be conveniently switched off, e.g., at night. That bothers me because it unnecessarily consumes power.
Unifi operates its devices using a so-called software-defined network, meaning the devices themselves contain no controller or administration interface; instead, they are managed by a central controller. This is needed for the initial configuration but does not have to be running all the time. I currently have it running on my NAS in a Docker container.
My setup is certainly at the upper limit for a pure private user. It can easily be scaled down by one size. What’s important is that you become aware of what will be hard to change in the future — and then install a very good and sustainable solution there. Switches and FritzBoxes etc. can always be replaced. Good cabling possibly cannot be replaced at all anymore.
[*]Next to the front door for the Doorbird outdoor station
[*]On the ground floor at the staircase for the Doorbird indoor station
[*]In the hallway on the 1st floor
[*]In the hallway in the attic
[*]3 x on the ceilings on the ground floor/1st floor/attic for three access points
In total, 23 installation cables lead to a patch panel in a small storage room in the basement. There is also a 19" network cabinet where I consolidate the rest of the infrastructure:
[*]24-port PoE switch (Unifi USW-Pro-24-POE)
[*]A FritzBox (WLAN disabled)
[*]A NAS
[*]A Doorbird I/O controller
[*](sometimes a Raspberry Pi or Jetson Nano) :)
From my point of view, it is very important that the access points are well distributed, precisely because WLAN is becoming increasingly important. We now have a Unifi Access Point nanoHD on each floor and are very satisfied with them. We no longer need the FritzBox’s WLAN and have disabled it.
For the DECT signal of the phone, the reception from the FritzBox in the basement (in the server cabinet) to the attic is actually sufficient. Of course, you could also rely on a DECT base station in a central location, such as the Gigaset Pro N670 IP DECT for about 100 euros. (Other alternatives would have been to extend the DSL signal via an installation cable and return it to the network via a second installation cable; have the TAE socket installed directly on the ground floor by the electrician; use a DECT repeater; or use a second FritzBox.)
Regarding the access points, I can only advise you to have installation cables laid directly into the ceilings for these. This looks good (or unobtrusive) and offers good coverage. You should instruct the electrician to use a deep flush-mount box for this because the terminated installation cable then still needs to be connected to the access point with a short patch cable.
The brilliant thing is that the access points already get their power from my switch via PoE, so a single installation cable is sufficient. Besides Unifi, there are also good solutions from other manufacturers.
For the installation cables, CAT7 is usually used today in Germany, which should be future-proof. I wouldn’t go lower than that for the installation cables, since Cat7 is even better shielded than Cat6, and you either can’t change the installation cables anymore (without empty conduits) or don’t want to change them anymore (with empty conduits). I even chose Cat8 installation cables — but that is too expensive for most people. From the network sockets to the devices, Cat6 patch cables are sufficient for the short distances — they are at least a bit more flexible.
What you should consider/know about this setup:
Such a large switch naturally also consumes more power than a small one. So if you already know that you won't use 90% of the LAN ports anyway, it would be more economical to operate a smaller switch. (But I just wanted to have such a setup.)
The access points each draw about 5W and unfortunately cannot be conveniently switched off, e.g., at night. That bothers me because it unnecessarily consumes power.
Unifi operates its devices using a so-called software-defined network, meaning the devices themselves contain no controller or administration interface; instead, they are managed by a central controller. This is needed for the initial configuration but does not have to be running all the time. I currently have it running on my NAS in a Docker container.
My setup is certainly at the upper limit for a pure private user. It can easily be scaled down by one size. What’s important is that you become aware of what will be hard to change in the future — and then install a very good and sustainable solution there. Switches and FritzBoxes etc. can always be replaced. Good cabling possibly cannot be replaced at all anymore.