Prepping for install.....Your thoughts..

xjfan · ‎11-04-2009

Hello to everyone... Sorry if it's been asked before, just want to make sure I have this right.

After reading many posts and seeing how other were happy I made the switch from DTV. Hope to have luck and have a smooth installation.

I'm still not sure how it all goes connected. Let me know if I have this correct. Will be using Cat5e or Cat6.

First question, where is the best place to have the RG installed, by the computer or the main TV?

Here's my understanding of the installation.

-One wire from the NID to th RG.

-One wire from the RG to the TV's in the house.

-One wire from the RG to the computers. (well computer, just have one for now)

How about wiress? I've got a wiress westell dsl modem. Would I have to make a special request or does the RG have wireless capability?

Planning on running all the cables and have them terminated before the install. I just don't want any YaaHoo in the house making a mess.

Once again, best location for RG?

Thanks, Joe

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

The RG has wireless, but if you can wire the computer, you'll be better off, faster and always connected. In my case I have my RG on a table in the living room where my cat5e comes in from the NID. DVR is hooked w/a 12' patch cable about 8' away and my laptop is connected w/another 12' patch cable on a table in the next room about 10' away. Works good for me and no problems. Tech should have any 12' patch cables you would need too. Good luck w/your install and the tech will love that it's prewired for him, very easy-plug and play.

Chris

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition
YRMV IMHO

TexasEd · ‎11-23-2007

Actually, you'll have at least two wires to the RG, a phone line and coax (?) from the NID. Here's a pic of the back of the RG. Also, look through the posts locked at the top of this page for some super hints and info thanks to Spd2Demon, randyl and a bunch of other regulars. I recently saw a great diagram of the whole installation, I think from randy, but I can't find it right now. I think you're better off with the RG next to your main computer. The RG communicates with the STBs through your Cat5/6 or coax and, as Chris said, also provides wireless connections to other computers/devices (like printers). Some folks with much more knowledge than I may be along later with some other ideas -- if something doesn't make sense, just ask. There are some very sharp and friendly people here, who have even abided many stupid questions from me!

Message Edited by TexasEd on 05-30-2009 04:09 PM

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

TexasEd, don't think he will have any coax as he's going to prewire cat5e or 6 for everything. Also the NID to RG line will be truncated in a small 2 jack box and the green phone line (twisted) will connect to the RG. All outputs will come from the 'local ethernet' or a switch plugged into the same.

Chris

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition
YRMV IMHO

TexasEd · ‎11-23-2007

Thanks for the rescue! My system has coax from the NID all the way around my house; comes in the back where the computer and main tv are. Do some installations run Cat 5/6 from the NID into the house? Mine was left coax 'cause it was already installed (time-warner).

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

Mine is cat5e from the NID to the RG that I helped my installer, Joe, put up as there was no coax on my side (I would've made sure there would be none if it was there). Many installers just use the old coax that is left over from cable, but much of that is RG-59 and not RG-6 (cable's been using this the past few years) which Uverse technically needs. TexasEd, I'd say if you ever start getting pixelation or picture freezes, the first thing to suspect is the coax NID to RG run.

Chris

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition
YRMV IMHO

xjfan · ‎11-04-2009

Thanks for the replies... I do have coax but will not be using it. Going to re-cable the house. 2 cables per drop... Will have some spare..

I think I follow correctly...

So the the HD TV's (only have one at the moment) should connect directly to the RG.

It doesn't really matter were in the home the RG is physically install, as long as a wire is connected to the HDTV, right?

The standard-def will connect to the rest of the vacant ports.

As for the game console, I wonder if connecting it directly to the RG would be advantageous? Or if it could go directly connected to the switch provided? Will it make a difference?

Let me know if this is correct.

RG port 1 - HDTV
RG port 2 - Game Console
RG port 3 - SDTV 1
RG port 4 - SDTV 2

External switch (Don't know how many ports this has)
Port 1 SDTV 3
Port 2 SDTV 4
Port 3 SDTV 5
Port 4 Desktop PC

I also have a laptop, is the RG provided wireless? Or will I need to connect one of the RG ports to an AP (access point) or wireless router? Maybe I could make the vacant drops hot and just connect a patch cord when using the laptop..

Thanks for the reply..

Joe

Message Edited by xjfan on 05-30-2009 06:44 PM

gofer6064 · ‎07-30-2007

I have two cat 5E and one coax from the nid (coax and one cat 5E existing from when the house was built six years ago) to the spare bedroom, which we turned into a computer and tv room, i have the RG located in this room below one of computers, i prewired the DVR in the family room with a new cat 5E, and at that time i ran a new cat 5E from the nid into this room along with the cat 5E from the DVR, just in case i ever had any trouble with the existing cable, i had to crawl the attic for DVR run anyway, so it was just as easy to run and an extra cable at the same time, both computers use patch cords from the RG, (no wireless) cat 5E run to the DVR is a straight run, RJ11 connectors on each end no wall boxes, DVR located in entertaintment center below the tv in the family room, AT&T furnished the patch cords in the computer room. This set up has worked out good for us, in the fifteen months we have had U-VERSE we have never had any trouble at all.

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

Joe, the switch (6 or 8 port) will come out of one of the 4 RG ports, game console shouldn't make a difference. As long as the line from the RG to the HDTV is less than 110 meters, you should be okay. As to the laptop, you could go wireless w/the2wire's sometimes buggy, flaky not network friendly unit or go wired for better speed and constant connection. I think you now have a pretty good idea of what you need to do before your install, good luck.

Chris

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition
YRMV IMHO

xjfan · ‎11-04-2009

I think I finally got it...

On the connecting list.. Forgot to make on of the ports from the RG an uplink to the external switch provided.

As for the computers, a uverse tech make a comment of a device the plugs into the electrical outlet were the RG will go, then the same device is plugged in the other rooms.

Patch cord from RG to outlet device...

Computer Room...Patch cord from outlet device to PC.

I still think home run will be the best bet.

Thank for everyones replies...

Message Edited by xjfan on 05-31-2009 09:03 AM

ScottMac · ‎08-16-2008

xjfan wrote:
I think I finally got it...

On the connecting list.. Forgot to make on of the ports from the RG an uplink to the external switch provided.

As for the computers, a uverse tech make a comment of a device the plugs into the electrical outlet were the RG will go, then the same device is plugged in the other rooms.

Patch cord from RG to outlet device...

Computer Room...Patch cord from outlet device to PC.

I still think home run will be the best bet.

Thank for everyones replies...
Message Edited by xjfan on 05-31-2009 09:03 AM

The powerline networking is not a supported config. I'm not saying it won't work, but if you have problems (blocking, freezing, fuzz, stutters ...) then try a long cable.

If you're talking about using them only for computer/Internet, then they should be OK.

The issue is how they handle the traffic (encapsulation, straight bridging, etc), and how intact the original Ethernet frame will be at the output (it must maintain QOS/COS markings, and respect them ... or your video suffers).

FWIW

I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.