[SLUG] Home Network

[Jim Clark <clarkj@nospam.auss.sop.dec.com>]

This question may be _slightly_ off-topic, but I am
sure there are many of you out there have much
experience in setting up a network.

I am in the process of building a new house, and
I would like to put in a network while it is relatively
easy to do (ie, before the gyp-rock goes onto the
walls).
What I had in mind was to run Cat-5 (solid core)
from a central patch panel (conveniently located
under the stairs) to most of the rooms in the house.
The idea being that any of the RJ45 outlets scattered
around the house could then be configured as an
Ethernet, phone, or video outlet (I just found that
Jaycar sell baluns to convert from video on coax to
RJ45 on Cat5, so I figure I can do away with separate
coax cabling).
I am also figuring on putting power outlets near (not
too close) to the patch panel, so that a hub, active
video splitter, etc can be powered up there).

Does anyone have tips/suggestions for what I should
consider when putting in this network?

Any recommendations for places to buy all the bits and
pieces I may need? (Jaycar sell 305m rolls of Cat5e - $255,
and 24point patch panels - $149 - but I don't know if there
are better places to buy).

Does anyone know if Cat5 would work as a replacement for
TV aerial coax (is that 75ohm?) - with appropriate balun? - 
I would like to be able to use a tv/computer/vcr/dvd or whatever
comes out next year, just using the same cat5 cabling...



ObLinux: Of course, the computers on the network will all
be running linux! (my 4 year old son is already demanding
that I replace 'crappy windows' on his computer with linux!
- and I will as soon as win4lin supports sound and DirectX
(so all his games and educational software still run)).



-- 
Cheers,
Jim.
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