Netgear Gigabit Switch

In part two of this article I am going to be talking about each piece of networking equipment and how it interacts with the network and its importance.

The basic goal for any network is to create a reliable, fast and easy to maintain infrastructure. Our network had the following criteria:

All Television, Telephone, and Internet is to be powered by Time Warner Cable (TW).

• Telephone via TW VOIP, Using the 66 block all house phone jacks work.
• Television via TW Digital Cable, our house has two High Definition, and two Standard Definition TV’s.
• Internet via TW High Speed Internet, by setting up a simple network we can share this with our 6 computers and have network enabled backups.

In the last article we talked about our goals for the network and outlined the network map. Below we talk about each device and what it does.

Cable Modem

• A cable modem is a type of modem that provides bi-directional data communication via radio frequency channels on a cable television (CATV) infrastructure. Cable modems are primarily used to deliver broadband Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking advantage of the high bandwidthof a cable television network. They are commonly deployed in Australia,Europe, and North and South America. In the USA alone there were 22.5 million cable modem users during the first quarter of 2005, up from 17.4 million in the first quarter of 2004.

Voice Over IP / ATA

• An analog telephony adapter, or analog telephone adapter, (ATA) is a device used to connect one or more standard analog telephones to a digital and/or non-standard telephone system such as a Voice over IP based network.

Patch Panel

• Patch panels offer the convenience of allowing technicians to quickly change the path of select signals, without the expense of dedicatedswitching equipment.

Network Switch

• A network switch is a computer networking device that connectsnetwork segments.
• The term commonly refers to a Network bridge that processes and routes data at the Data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model. Switches that additionally process data at the Network layer (layer 3 and above) are often referred to as Layer 3 switches orMultilayer switches.
• The term network switch does not generally encompass unintelligent or passive network devices such as hubs andrepeaters.
• The first Ethernet switch was introduced by Kalpana in 1990.

WiFi Router

• Wi-Fi (pronounced /?wa?fa?/) is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance for certified products based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. This certification warrants interoperability between different wireless devices.
• Wi-Fi is supported by most personal computer operating systems, many game consoles, laptops, smartphones,printers, and other peripherals.

Apple Airport Express

• AirPort and AirPort Extreme are local area wireless networkingproducts from Apple Inc. based on the IEEE 802.11 standard (also known as Wi-Fi).
• AirPort and AirPort Extreme in common usage can refer to theprotocol (802.11b, and 802.11g and 802.11 Draft-N, respectively), the expansion card or the base station.

Now that we know what each device does I will explain how each one is connected to each-other.

Starting with the feed coming into the house, we have a single RG6 drop from the utility pole and from there it goes into the garage utility room where it is then split off into its appropriate places. It first goes into a 3 way -5.5db splitter where it goes to the Cable Modem, Telephone ATA, and Television Amplifier.

Television Splitters and Amplifier.

Television

The signal coming into the 3 way splitter is low to begin with and is causing some of our HD channels to come in pixelated at times, so the only way to combat that was to install a Multimedia Drop Amplifier that has a +20db output signal. After the amp I have a 8 way splitter with 5 rooms connected, leaving 3 ports free, on those 3 I put terminators on to prevent signal loss and interference. With the new amp and splitter installed, the televisions are all now working much better and very rarely do they go blocky.

Phone

66 Block

Since we are using VOIP for our phone service I wanted to have the phone signal going though to all the wall jacks just like a normal POTS (Plan Old Telephone Service) does I decided it was best to use a 66 block and by using the new wiring I installed previously I was able to connect every room that has a phone to the VOIP service. This also allows for us to easily upgrade and add additional lines of phone and or digital extensions if we decide to install a PBX phone system.

Ethernet

Patch Panel

I connected the Cable Modem to the Patch Panel where it then goes up into the office and is connected to our Belkin WiFi Router, I setup the WiFi with a secure WEP password and MAC address authentication. I then connected one of the LAN ports to the second ethernet wall jack returning to the Patch Panel, this is where I have my 5 port Gigabit Switch located, from the Patch Panel I have one port as the uplink and then the four remaining ports plugged into the three remaining rooms and the fourth connected to my Ubuntu File Server (Future Article).

You may be wondering why I decided to place the Belkin Router up in the house? Well I did that because as with most consumer networking equipment, it will randomly lockup and need the occasional reboot and by having it in the house it saves a trip down to the garage.

In one of the bedrooms I then have a AirPort Express connected to the ethernet wall jack, this is used for printing and wireless music playing. One advantage of having two WiFi routers is the possibility of setting up a Guest Network, with this we can have it open and not secured, but we can isolate the WiFi network from the Physical Wired Network and Computers.

The phone will first become available in the U.S., and a U.K. launch will follow shortly afterward. Starting Oct. 22, U.S. consumers will be able to buy the G1 for $179. Users can subscribe to a limited data plan for $25 a month or $35 for unlimited data access.

The G1 will go on sale in the U.K. in early November and in other T-Mobile European markets in the first quarter of next year.

“We believe open will drive the future of the mobile Internet,” said Cole Brodman, chief technology and innovation officer at T-Mobile USA. “From garages to graduate schools, from small towns to big cities, we believe third parties will drive the innovation and future of the mobile Net, along with partnerships with carriers and key manufacturers.”

A demonstration of the phone showed a user flicking the screen to scroll through items, in much the same way people can use gestures to navigate the iPhone. The G1, however, also supports the “long press,” where a user holds a finger to the screen to open up a menu. For example, holding a finger on a photograph opens a menu offering options such as the ability to send the photo to someone else.

The phone includes a browser built on Webkit, the same technology that drives Apple’s Safari browser, said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms at Google, who is credited with leading the Android development. He called it “Chrome-light,” comparing it to the Chrome browser that Google recently introduced.

The T-Mobile G1

In a browser window, a user can drag a small box around the Web site and the content behind the box is magnified for easier viewing on the small screen.

The phone, which the executives referred to as “G1 with Google”, features many Google applications, including Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Flickr and GTalk. It is also integrated with the Amazon MP3 store, allowing users to easily buy digital music, and it features the Android store where users can browse and buy new applications.

The phone also includes a dedicated search button. When users press it, a Google search bar pops up on the screen.

G1 users will be able to read Word, PDF and Excel documents but, initially at least, they won’t be able to sync Microsoft Exchange mail with the phone. “Currently there’s no Exchange compatibility, but that’s a perfect opportunity for a third-party developer,” Rubin said.

The device, known as the Thunder, is to be sold exclusively through Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and Vodafone PLC abroad, the Journal reported on its Web site, citing people familiar with the matter.

RIM declined to comment on the report, stating that it does not comment on rumors and speculation. Earlier this week, rumored details of a touch-screen BlackBerry surfaced on the Internet.

In February, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie said the company may bring out a touch-screen device if customers want it.

This week, Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM announced its BlackBerry Bold, a sleek smartphone with a keyboard aimed at its core base of business users.

Introducing a touch-screen BlackBerry would put RIM in more direct competition with Apple‘s popular iPhone. In the past, Balsillie has dismissed concerns that the iPhone could pose a serious competitive threat.

A touch-screen BlackBerry would also build on RIM’s continuing push into the broader retail market as it seeks to diversify its client base beyond the executives, lawyers and other professionals who have been its mainstay.

The SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier features a slim, compact design for inconspicuous installation and is powered by the vehicle’s cigarette lighter. The amplifier is bundled with an interior antenna available in two package options. The first is Wilson Electronics’ Cell Phone Cradle Plus, a cell phone docking cradle that doubles as an antenna, offering hands-free operation. The second is an Ultra-Slim Antenna that can be installed on the side of the driver’s seat or under the seat fabric. A magnet-base external antenna that attaches to the roof of the vehicle completes two of the four product bundles. The remaining two bundles do not include an external antenna, giving users the option to customize their installation to suit specific needs by using a marine, RV or trucking antenna.

The plug-and-play SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier, like other Wilson products, extends signal range and increases data rates for cellular users by amplifying signals to and from the cell tower. The Mini-Mobile Amplifier provides up to six times more power and substantially higher receiver sensitivity than a typical mobile phone. This solution improves the performance of mobile phones and data cards used in vehicles. Offering a wireless connection between cellular devices and the amplifier, the SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier supports multiple phones and data cards simultaneously, can be installed in minutes and is easily moved from vehicle to vehicle.

“Wilson Electronics provides the most effective equipment in the industry for enhancing cellular voice and data signal quality. Our new SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier significantly reduces instances of dropped calls and extends service range for cell phone users,” said Mark Evans, marketing manager at Wilson Electronics. “Whether you’re on a road trip, commuting to work, or in a boat or off-road vehicle in the middle of nowhere, the SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier ensures you have the highest quality cellular reception possible.”

Unlike some competing products, Wilson’s SignalBoost Mini-Mobile bundles contain two internal amplifier circuits that boost cellular signals to and from the cell tower simultaneously. Weak signals broadcast from a distant cell tower are captured by the roof-mounted antenna, amplified by the highly-sensitive receiving amplifier and rebroadcast with greater strength to cellular devices in the interior of the vehicle through the Cradle Plus or Ultra-Slim Antennas. Conversely, outgoing signals from cell devices in the vehicle are picked up by the interior antenna, amplified by the powerful outgoing amplifier and rebroadcast back to the cell tower.

The SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier bundles (801230, 801231, 801232 and 801233) are fully compatible with all hands-free devices such as BluetoothTM headsets or ear buds and are available from $329 to $374 MSRP at authorized Wilson dealers, including Radio Shack franchise stores. Visit the dealer locator page at www.wilsonelectronics.com for a list of stores by ZIP code or to buy the product immediately from an online retail partner.

[via - Business Wire]

The FS-5 is designed to be used with many popular HDV and DV cameras. However, it features a 50% weight reduction and a 60% reduction in size compared to the FS-4. It also features a new low-power and fan-less design providing a 3 hour record time, using one removable Li-Ion battery pack.

Other major changes include a newly designed user interface and a 320 x 240 color LCD, but like the previous models you can not play back video.

Focus also replaced the computer firewire port with a USB 2.0 port allowing the use of a network dongle (WiFi or Wired) to allow laptop users to gain access to the device via wireless connection.

The 100GB FS-5 has a MSRP of $2,195 and is expected to ship summer 2008.

If you are at NAB come to Booth SL2605 to see the FS-5 in person.

Samsung Instinctâ„¢
The Ultimate in Touch Screen Speed and Simplicity

Samsung Instinct, exclusively from Sprint, offers consumers an industry-leading user experience by combining full touch screen functionality with access to the fast speed of Sprint’s EV-DO Rev A Mobile Broadband Network. Samsung Instinct provides easy access to Sprint exclusive multimedia content, business or personal email, GPS navigation, live and on-demand TV content, full song downloads, streaming radio and an impressive HTML Web experience. Samsung Instinct offers localized haptic feedback and a new level of customization by allowing the user to access their favorite applications with a single touch. This stylish handset provides an expansive touch screen display and three navigation keys that keep all of the device’s features and applications within immediate access. Samsung Instinct offers Visual Voicemail, stereo Bluetooth® with audible caller ID, expandable memory up to 8 GB and a 2.0MP camera with camcorder.

ENTERTAINMENT/PERSONALIZATION
• Sprint TV® with an extensive selection of live and on-demand programming including Sprint Exclusive Entertainment (SEE), the industry’s only made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video
programming network
• Sprint Music StoreSM allowing users to wirelessly download full-length songs directly to their phone for just 99 cents each
• More than a dozen streaming-radio applications, including Sprint Radio with more than 150 channels
• Sprint Media Manager PC to phone transfer application
• Background music mode allowing the user to play music while text messaging, playing games or surfing the Internet
• Customizable Favorites menu

PRODUCTIVITY
• Sprint Navigation with GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings
• Live Search for Sprint, powered by Microsoft, provides easy access to directory information, integrated GPS-enabled directions, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access
• Voice to Action button providing many functions using voice activation including call, text, picture messaging, traffic, movie, sports, news and search.
• HTML Web browsing
• Visual Voicemail allowing users to listen to messages in their order of preference and manage them with a tap of the screen
• 2.0 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom and video camcorder
• Advanced Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology with audio caller ID
• Access to corporate and consumer (POP3) email including AOL, Gmail and Yahoo!
• Threaded text messaging provides a view of the full conversation
• Mobile Sync to restore contact information if the device is lost, stolen or damaged
• Phone as Modem connects the phone with a computer for Internet and email access

SPECIFICATIONS
• Dimensions: 2.17 x 4.57 x 0.49 inches; 4.4 ounces
• Display: 3.1″ TFT (240 x 432 pixels and 262K vibrant colors)
• Standard Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 5.75 hours continuous talk time*

Customers of MetroPCS pay by the month, no by the minute, and do not require a yearly contract, or deposit. Wireless plans range from $30 to $50 per month with no limit on talk time. Many of the plans include unlimited features such as voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, text and photo messaging, push email, internet, IM and 411 service.

MetroPCS plans to open 60 locations in the greater Las Vegas area, creating approximately 150 jobs by the end of 2008.

Earthlink and Google have teamed up to blanket San Fransisco with WiFi, but just last week Earthlink announced a massive restructuring cutting 900 jobs, or nearly half of the employees to reduce costs. Eathlink canceled their contracts to build the WiFi networks in Houston and San Fransisco, blaming it on the fact that the city changed the contract to eight years from the 16 years originally agreed upon.

Sonic.net, a Santa Rosa, CA-based independent ISP that uses gear from Meraki Networks (a wireless hardware company based in Mountain View, CA), is trying to promote a ad-supported MuniFi model. Sonic.net emailed its customers today notifying them that they can get a Meraki wireless mesh router at a subsidized cost, which would let the customers share up to 500 kbps of their DSL line bandwidth.

Users of the new network will see a Google ad bar at the top of the browser, Sonic.net plans to share the revenue generated by the ads with the customers that chose to place the router on their connection, and will be credited on their bill.

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