Smart Technology in my New House

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]