[Robotgroup] Home Networking, WiFi, etc. WAS: hit my limit

[Bruce Waters]

Don,
    I can fabricate network wires (RJ45 modular
connectors on cat 5e wire).   If you can punch 
holes with a #2 Philips head screwdriver to 
where you need drops, I could come over (with 
your directions to the site) and fabricate cables 
from the wires you run to those places.   I have 
gray and blue wire (sounds like Civil War colors) 
and RJ45 plugs to fasten to it.  Wired networks 
are more reliable and more secure than wireless.
     If you want to roam around while using your
laptop as opposed to establishing a network
connection with a wire when you get there, I
also have Motorola WR850G routers which
could talk to your laptop wireless if you have
or get 802.11g (or b but not n) pcmcia(or
usb or other) wireless on your laptop.    These
850s have wan and 4 lan RJ45 ports probably
similar to your Gigafast (assuming fast means
10/100 and not 10/100/1000).  
   If you do not have wireless for your laptop,
I could provide two of the WR850G routers 
to wirelessly stitch together two wired chunks 
of network.  I think the Motorola firmware is 
supposed to be able to make that kind of stitch
and if you flash OpenWrt onto these routers 
you are supposed to be able to get all kinds of 
(normally high dollar router) function into the 
850s.  I flashed an older version of OpenWrt 
onto a couple and my kid has flashed the latest 
OpenWrt(kamikaze) on to a some other ones 
so I know (or at least knew at one time) how to 
get OpenWrt onto the 850s.
     I also have switches/hubs which have many 
more ports for plugging network wires for many
more drops (star configuration, not daisy chain).
So, you could have drops all over the place if
you want (all 10/100).   Most of the stuff is 
NetGear, SMC, Motorola, or other well 
known brand names and fairly random samples 
of it have worked well for me for long periods 
of time.   I have no formal training (except some
ancient history SNA classes I took many decades
ago) nor am I in the network business but I have
been rather successful in creating my own home 
network and I am also making progress with 
various network experiments I have been using to 
build up infrastructure for my ferrocement plotting 
robot quest.  Networking documentation on the 
web is quite extensive.   If we get into a rut I am 
sure Vern or some other CNA/CNE/... (highly 
credentialed: whatever alphabet soup says it)
network guru can nudge us toward success.  
    If we use up a lot of stuff I actually need, 
I may want some cost recovery but most likely 
I can handle your needs without seriously 
denting my stock.   Everything is asis and 
with no warrantee of any type.   You agree
by your participation to hold me harmless
for any damage or liability regardless of how
hazardous the things are I provide, how 
foolish the things are I recommend, or how
ridiculous the way I implement something 
might be.   If you cram a screwdriver through
your ceiling and catastrophically discover
some electrical power behind the sheet rock, 
do not blame me.   Just because I said I did 
it and lived does not mean you will.  Most
of the equipment I have came from auctions,
GoodWill, or Ebay with zero provenance.
The equipment could have been totally
nonfunctional or even radioactive as far as I 
knew when I purchased it but I have been 
very pleased with how the stuff I have 
actually put into service has worked for me,
YMMV.
     Maybe we can keep the load off of Vern
and avoid making the "hit my limit" joke come
true.   We might even do some collaborating
on improvements to our respective robotic
projects at the same time.  I can show you
how to fabricate network cables and if there
is a "next" wired network project there will be 
at least two of us who can do it.   Remember,
the ground for the green goes on the other
side of the blue pair or your longer cables
will not work well even though they show 
correct continuity on those cheapo testers !

Bruce Waters