Wireless Internet

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      When Lynn and I moved to Illinois from California, we set up our computers on a wireless network to access the Internet.  Wireless enables us to relocate computers throughout the house without worrying about access to a cable or an outlet.  Our system includes a Toshiba Cable Modem, Linksys DSL Router and a Linksys Wireless Access Point.  We also added an optional Linksys Signal Booster to optimize the wireless connections.  Each computer in the home that connects to the system also requires a wireless Network Card.

              

      Even to me, these names sound intimidating, but they are just about as easy as setting up any other Internet system.  Newer equipment on the market today combines the Router and the Access Point into one low cost unit.  For many homeowners, the only two devices they may need is the modem and the Router/Access Point.  Even at that, many cable companies offer the modem as part of their installation.

                  

           

      While living in Illinois, I put the wireless equipment in my office to ensure a strong signal to my system. Lynn's office was directly upstairs from mine and the signal was also very strong for her system.

                 

      In our new Florida home, our offices are on opposite ends of the house.  Although Lynn's computer was able to connect to the Linksys wireless equipment in my office, the strength of the signal was less than I hoped.  Therefore, I needed to select a place in the home for the equipment that kept it in close proximity to my computer and place it closer to Lynn's computer at the same time.  

                   

        I decided that an ideal placement for the equipment would be on a plant shelf over the closet in one of the secondary bedrooms in the home.  Although simply putting the equipment on the shelf was an easy task, I needed to install an electrical outlet and cable TV outlet at that location for the equipment to function properly.

               

      The final result of this project is pictured below.  Note the new outlet in the wall for the equipment.  The outlet is also shown in the photo at right.  Electrical is facilitated on the left of the plate and Cable TV is on the right side.

             

      Click HERE for details on installing new outlets and switches.

  

                            

             

        Both cables to the outlet in the wall were dropped from the attic.  The Cable TV is routed directly to the OnQ central wiring box in the laundry room.  I tapped the electrical on the same circuit that feeds the attic lighting.

              

        Now that the equipment is on the plant shelf, it no longer takes up otherwise livable space in the room.  It is located in a central location to provide a strong signal for Lynn's office as well as my office.

              

      In the photo above, you can barely see the equipment and the photo was taken with the camera raised high enough to see them.  If we choose, we can place decorations on the shelf in front of the equipment.

              

      The only problem that is created by having the equipment "out of the way" is that occasionally the equipment needs to be reset.  Essentially this simply means the equipment needs to be turned off so that it can be reinitialized when turned on again.  I didn't want to have to get a ladder simply to turn the devices off and back on again.

              

      The solution was to install a light switch behind the door in my office.  The installation was easy because the Bonus Room walls are easily accessible in the attic.  The electrical connection above the plant shelf in the bedroom is first routed to this switch.  Now, if it seems that the equipment needs to be reinitialized, all I have to do is turn the switch off for a few seconds.  

                         

        To the left is a stud-stage photo of the area that I placed the wireless equipment shut-off switch.  The doorway in the room is the opening on the right side.  Beyond the studs is the sloping roof line over the attic.  It was easy to wire the electrical to a switch on this wall from the attic after the drywall was in place.

      When I purchased our Linksys equipment, Wireless-B was the newest wireless networking standard.

                

      Now I am itching for Wireless-G upgrades.

     

      For more information about Wireless-G, click HERE.

  

Photo above from Linksys website

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photos ©2003-2005 Donald A. Thomas, Jr.