Windows

Smart Technology in my New House

Posted by on Dec 12, 2006 | 5 Comments

I’m meeting with Bill Gates tomorrow (no joke). I wonder if he has to deal with any of these problems? Nah, he probably pays people to deal with the problems – and then hires people to deal with the people who deal with the problems. I’ve got too much to do, and I can’t wait to get it all done. It’s difficult to attack one room at a time, as our movers did a horrible job at moving us.

  • Configuring the Linksys Wireless G Range Expander (WRE54G) has been nothing short of fruitless. I can’t seem to get ‘er to work. Mind you, the signal isn’t terrible in the furthest corners of my new house, but it’s always nice to have the extra boost when and where you can get it. I cranked up the gain on the antennae, so here’s to hoping that’ll be enough.
  • Shopping for home office furniture is probably one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. The room’s layout is rather unique, and a corner computer desk / hutch combo is out of the question this time (primarily due to aesthetics and placement of a small plasma TV elsewhere in the space).
  • I must learn how to crimp and cut my own Cat 5e cables. I’ve got tons of lengthy wires from earlier home network adventures, but this pre-wired house has largely eliminated the need for anything over 7 feet. Same goes for coaxial cabling. Of course, most of my cables are black – where white would work better.
  • I was never really a cable concealer kind of geek – but all that changed when I set up the television with a Comcast HD DVR side-by-side with my Xbox 360. I had more cabling than I knew what to do with, and it all looked pretty nasty being filtered up through a series of shelf grommits. Cheap plastic tubing (black) saved the day. You’re crazy not to use it instead of having to stare at a nest of wires all the time.
  • I wish I had properly labeled all the AC adapters I’ve ever owned! That will change from this point forward. Some manufacturers stamp their brand directly on the warning label, but I’ve got dozens of “lost” adapters just waiting to be paired with the proper device. A little label would have saved me a ton of heartache – and I’ve already got a perfectly awesome Brother label maker.

I don’t mind dealing with new tech scenarios in fresh locations, but finding momentum to complete each challenge is a bit overwhelming. I need another geek in the family. Then again, Ponzi is doing a wonderful job in our new kitchen.

[tags]home tech, home, house, house tech, home technology, smart home[/tags]

  • Mike Weiler

    Hey about all your Power supplies that you have left over from your move…i can help you most likely with how to identify the objest that might be needing the plugs. First off do not get rid of any that you have as you will just end up either having a piece if equipment uncovered later as you unpack/move items around and be missing the power supply for them. Ok now that you have all your power supplies in one box as you find the equipment it belongs to (or attempt to ) Look on every item that needs a plug it will have a voltage rating that it needs (say 12 DC) Now find all the power supplies you have that may be 12 Volts DC and put them aside from the rest. Now on the device should be a picture that looks simlilar to the plug type that will fit into the end of the device. you will c something like this (O.

    The outside ( is the outside of the plug edge you are looking for and the O is the inside of the plug. Both will either be marked + or _ Ok again look at the plugs and get rid of any that do not macth EXACTLY to the device and plug. Now all yo should have to do is look for one that matches tightly to the hole you need. if you have more than one at this point you must again look at the device. It should read voltage (which we already looked at) and also should mention something about amperage (or watts) needed. Try to find a power supply with more AMPS or wattage then what the device says. You can use ANY brand plug with any device as long as you watch voltage/polarity (+ and -) and wattage…..

  • Dave Nickason

    Wireless range extenders consume half of the available wireless bandwidth, and as you’ve seen, they’re a pain. Better if you have wired ethernet would be to put in a second WAP connected to the wired LAN. Use the same SSID as the primary WAP, and put them 5 channels apart (1, 6, 11).

  • Alan Grant

    Regarding your troubles with the WRE54G Wireless Expander… I had the same problem outta the box, the thing would just not work properly. I would get a link, an IP address from my DHCP server, but couldn’t get on the local network (much less the Internet). It wasn’t until I upgraded the firmware that I was able to get it to work properly. Hope this helps.

  • Dean Johnson

    Yes, I have a WRE54G too, and it’s sitting back in the box. Couldn’t do a dang thing with it… and yes I did upgrade its firmware. Must be the Devils Toy.

  • D McQuitty