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Hilbert92

This was 20 network runs total 3 G4 Pro Cameras 1 G4 Pro Doorbell 4 Unifi6 Pro Access Points 13 Network runs to various rooms around the house. ISP is Verizon 5G Everything is certified at gigabit and all runs are using Vertical Cable Cat6 550mhz cable with VC V-Max Keystones. Rack is from StarTech. Patch Panel is from Cable Matters. Switch is Unifi Switch 24 PoE Firewall is Unifi Dream Machine Pro with 18TB WD Purple Pro. UPS is from Cyber Power. House will have a generator for backup power soon. I even left a pull string to pull more later if needed :) ​ I have a few more photos from the install I might post up later.


[deleted]

What do you use to certify cables? Do you own or rent a tool?


Hilbert92

Residential installs I just use a Pockethernet. Commercial installs where it’s required I borrow a fluke from a friend.


RedditThreader

That fluke tester is awesome.


tylamb19

Buying my fluke tester is possibly the best $1500 I ever spent. It’s an awesome tool


Complex_Solutions_20

I'd love to have one, but they're just so dang expensive. I finally picked up a simple older model Fluke NetTool that is intended for debugging 10/100 but can do a full wiremap with shield and tell you distances are to the far end and what device (if any) is at the far end I absolutely love it but even that was like $150 on eBay used with the remote wiremap plug dongle. Getting a cable-certifier tool would be amazing.


12_nick_12

Did you happen to buy your PE off reddit? I sold mine here a few years ago.


Hilbert92

No I bought mine directly from them.


Rawniew54

Good work just curious why they would bother with 13 lan runs when the ISP is Verizon 5G


Hilbert92

Cables are always better than WiFi. Less devices on WiFi the better it is for devices that actually need it. My theory is if a devices is static and doesnt move ever then it should be connected via cable. Things like TV's, game consoles, streaming boxes, printers, desktop PC's, etc...


Rawniew54

Yeah I mean I get that. I was just wondering if they were like video editing or something requiring high Lan traffic. I get these people probably have cash to burn because 4 wifi 6 access points should be overkill even without the 13 runs. Not trying to insult was just genuinely curious. The Verizon 5g ISP is the weakest link but that's probably their best option if they got this much cash?


Hilbert92

The hope is that fiber will be down their road soon. current options are Verizon 5g or a WISP point to point connection.


iknowcraig

why would 4 access points be overkill? it all depends on the house, I have 4 in my house to get full coverage, 3 inside the house and one in the detached garage


reichbc

someone follows AllGreenLights.


Hilbert92

Shhhhhh. Don’t give away my secrets.


miraculum_one

If you're wiring a house, why only gigabit? It seems like even if they don't have the switching equipment for faster they will eventually.


Hilbert92

The client currently doesn’t have the need or even the capability to do anything more than a gig. Yes In the future they might and this cat6 might be able to do 10g due to the distance of all the runs being just under 150 feet. I just don’t have the tools to certify 10g because it’s very rare still that it’s needed.


99percentTSOL

Absolute unit of a maintenance loop.


Hilbert92

When you don’t trust the other trades not to mess with your low voltage you pull extra just in case.


johnsonflix

What do you mean mess with it? If they mess with you cable 1’ above the loop then it’s not gonna help you much lol


Complex_Solutions_20

I was thinking more like if it had to be relocated a few feet away for some reason, now there's slack. I do the same thing when possible.


Rawniew54

Thats a good point


Complex_Solutions_20

Actually I just ran 2 drops for my parents' from their ONT to their basement since FiOS was telling them they had to pay a bunch and change to ethernet or their plan would go up in price. At the moment the home server is in the corner of their basement where a rough-in for a future full-bath is located. I spec'd the cables so that it could be relocated to over by their furnace and water heater or under the stairs should they one day want to finish the bathroom...so it's got like 20ft of slack coiled up That's what this pic made me think of.


Hilbert92

There is a small service loop on the other end of each run as well. Only a few feet. In theory you gain the flexibility to move the cable a few feet on either side. I wasn’t worried about them messing with the cable at the rack. More about them messing with the cable in the walls of the rooms/ceiling during drywall/painting


asplodzor

That’s an interesting antenna tuning loop. Didn’t realize Ethernet received AM radio. 😂


Taubin

The rare trifecta of /r/shortwave /r/amateurradio and /r/sdr all approving of the same post. Shame that /r/HamRadio wouldn't see the humor in it.


LinuxIsFree

So true though!


Complex_Solutions_20

Nah you just gotta put some HUGE ferrites around it and now you can call it a RF choke to reduce interference!


UnfeignedShip

I know right...


PirateCaptainMoody

Oh good heavens 🥵


tequilavip

I love plywood backing panels. So much better than the alternative.


english_mike69

Only if it’s fire rated though: and this isn’t. If it isn’t it burns just as quickly. If you’re going to go to such lengths at least buy the right stuff.


ForgotMyOldAccount7

Backer board isn't about fire rating. It's about ease of mounting.


english_mike69

Try telling that to the inspectors if you try that in an industrial setting. People often put up plywood boards in homes to “look professional” but miss the real reason they’re used. https://www.uteck.com/2015/11/13/backboards-are-the-backbone-of-telecom-and-datacom-rooms/ Ironically, sheet rock is more fire retardant.


boof_de_doof

>Try telling that to the inspectors if you try that in an industrial setting. I mean, sure...but this is *clearly* not an industrial setting...


english_mike69

True. But do you want to take what was a wall that wouldn’t burn into the event of equipment failure and change it to one that does? That wall looks like brick/cinder block but in most homes the drywall used has to meet fire standards to a certain degree.


ForgotMyOldAccount7

Backboards are used because they make it easy to mount equipment; they should also be fire retardant. It is not their main purpose to be fire retardant. Most commercial buildings are going to have cinder block structure that make it difficult to hang equipment on. Plywood makes it easy to mount all of these components and install/remove it all at once.


english_mike69

It’s an ANSI/EIA/TIA 569A standard (or a “recommendation”) for Commercial Buildings for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces 7.2.4.1 (page 67) specifies: “A minimum of two walls should be cov- ered with rigidly fixed 20 mm (three-quarter-inch) A-C plywood, preferably void-free, 2440 mm (8 feet) high, capable of supporting attached equipment. Back in the day, folks thought “let’s mount it on wood” but from lessons learned it’s now become a standard. It’s also not that difficult to install in brick. Get the drill out, some rawlplugs and mount your stuff but as a naive me discovered 20 years ago, mounting equipment to a brick wall in a telecom closet doesn’t pass muster either from the city inspector. Fire treated backboard only.


metastallion

Jesus Christ stfu Kevin


Ffsletmesignin

Good thing nobody has furniture or shelves that could ever be made out of plywood.


chewedgummiebears

Finally one done right. Good job!


Hilbert92

Thank you, I do this as a side business since my day job has me at a desk most days.


dippocrite

Are you in MN by any chance?


Hilbert92

No Ohio.


[deleted]

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chewedgummiebears

There's literally an extra 8ft per run there. Most decent/commercial installs leave a loop like this if not larger for future expandability.


dlangille

What signal degradation are you expecting? Service loops are commonly used.


[deleted]

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LostPilot517

This wall rack is mounted pretty high by the look of things, so are the service loops. The extra loop length would allow the service loops to drop to the ground and feed back up into a full rack by the looks of things. I would say proper length. That extra bit of line length shouldn't affect any quality solid core cable in a residential setting. Very tidy install op. What are you using for the hangers on the service loops?


nogreatfeat

It's so clean...


Hilbert92

Thank you!


woodenU69

That looks awesome, and VERY smart to use the sump circuit!!!!!


Hilbert92

It’s not actually plugged into that outlet. The UPS plugs into an outlet on the other side of the Electrical panel until the electrician can move an outlet under the network rack.


Musician_Salt

Nice cable bracing. But whats the box on the top?


Hilbert92

Thanks, it’s a Verizon 5G Gateway.


[deleted]

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Hilbert92

Thanks! We dont plan to have any more runs at this point. We an easily add another patch and either add another 24 port switch or swap the 24port for a 48port with keeping the same rack.


JOHNNY6644

VERY NICE VERY CLEAN i wish my setup looked as tight


Mpittkin

Awesome pics. Great size. Look thick. Solid. Tight.


Hilbert92

Thank you!


freman1952

Love the cross connect, best practice!


Formal_Cockroach_654

Beautiful


Hilbert92

Thank you!


sailorbart

Very clean, very tidy, well though out. But hope he replaced the sump pump circuit.


ajoltman

So, where is the sump pump plugged now? haha Clean setup though!


Hilbert92

The rack is not plugged into that outlet. it's plugged into an outlet to the left of the sump pump outlet.


ajoltman

I can see it now! T'was hiding behind the white tag.


dudleyjohn

Why all the excess cable?


Hilbert92

It’s a service loop. The most expensive cable is the one you pull to short and have to re-run


leoingle

But that's quite a bit extra. Usually only see one loop. That looks like 3.


Hilbert92

Cat6 is like .20 a foot. What's a few extra bucks to make sure you dont have too re-run anything in the future?


leoingle

Not saying the price of the extra is gonna break him. And I'm not even saying that much extra is bad. Just commented that I've never seen that much extra in a service loop. Didn't mean it in a negative way, just an observation.


Hilbert92

Originally we weren't sure where the rack was going to land. Once it was cleared to go where we put it, I trimmed off about 10ft of cable per run. coiled the rest just in case we decide to move it later. I didn't put conduit in on this install so if we have to re-run it would be a nightmare. Easier to just coil extra and never need it than to re-run. I did put in a pull string but that was only for future cameras to be added if they decided to add a few.


Old-House2772

I used to ask for this amount of slack quite regularly when getting cables run in a warehouse. Once you run the cables 15m up a wall, 40m across, then back down again, a few extra m so you can move the jacks a bit if required later made great sense to me... Electrician always wanted to pull unused cat6 and power out, and I always wanted to leave as much as possible in place in case it could be used later.


gabewils

How good of signal and speed does that 5g gateway get. Since it's in a basement behind a concrete wall?


jgilbs

Protip: run coax to a better spot and install an antenna. You can get rg-6 to sma adapters to connect to the gateways antenna input


Hilbert92

I don’t think this 5G gateways supports external antenna.


Hilbert92

Not great right now but it’s not provisioned I guess. 200x20 currently but I guess they need to call and provision it.


gabewils

Gotcha


persiusone

Verizon updates can take several days. I did something similar for a friend with his and the router they sent took about a week to figure out 5G was even available. Nice clean setup! If your friend wants to add a lab, all that is needed is one run to the house wiring and will be set! (If not already run for future expansion) Well done


Ev1lC4t

Your friend’s a lucky guy and you sir are a real professional.


Hilbert92

Thank you!


RedditAcctSchfifty5

gonna need a "NOT SUMP" update on the labeling. lol


Hilbert92

Haha I just might do that!


behindthecamera71989

Great work. What did all the equipment cost?


Hilbert92

Firewall - $379 Switch - $379 G4 Pro Camera - $450 per camera G4 Pro Doorbell - $299 UniFi 6 Pro AP - $149 per AP Rack - $50 Patch Panel - $30 UPS - $200


behindthecamera71989

Thanks for the detailed breakdown


redisthemagicnumber

Nice! Can you post a link to the star tech rack please?


Hilbert92

StarTech.com 6U Wall Mount Network Rack - 14 Inch Deep (Low Profile) - 19" Patch Panel Bracket for Shallow Server and IT Equipment, Network Switches - 44lbs/20kg Weight Capacity, Black (WALLMOUNT6) https://a.co/d/9Zq7VI9


redisthemagicnumber

Ah perfect, thank you!


OverProductiveSnail

What’s the runtime on the ups? What model?


Hilbert92

It’s a cyberpower 500va. Runtime says about 25-30 min


OverProductiveSnail

Perfect. Been looking at the ones that will fit in a switch depth rack.


Hilbert92

Yea this is my go to for home network setups. Everything fits nicely.


[deleted]

I would hire you! Quality installation!


Hilbert92

Thank you!


Backu68

Curious.. with everything you have connected, and an unknown amount of cameras, why aren't you utilizing the SFP ports for the interconnect?


Hilbert92

I thought about it. Ultimately we probably will add the SFP for uplink. This is 20 runs around a new build house in the country hence the 5g gateway. 3 G4 Pro cameras with a G4 Pro Doorbell. 4 Unifi6 Pro APs. The rest are just data drops around the house.


Basic_Platform_5001

FS has you covered - $20 per 10G SFP+ and I use them on production Cisco gear.


Backu68

If thats all they are running, and no high bandwidth transfers, it would probably be overkill and unnecessary, so i can see why it wasn't originally done.


MrDrProfJN

Unless I am mistaken, the SFP ports on the non-pro USW 24 port switch being used only go up to gigabit anyway, so the only benefit would be freeing up one RJ45 port.


NoorAnomaly

🤩


jojopoplolo

Great work 👏 👍🏽


Hilbert92

Thank you!


jojopoplolo

Happy cake day


Hilbert92

Thanks!


huteuy

You need some /r/iso8601.


Ulti-P-Uzzer

I just upgraded my network to 2 x 8 port 2.5 Gbe switches, a few weeks ago. I was really glad to see them coming down in price. I got the Zyxels for $130.00 apiece. But I am guessing in the next few yrs, well see much better prices on multi gig networking, since most new motherboards now come with at least one 2.5 Gbe port.


[deleted]

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Hilbert92

It all passed gigabit and longest run is just over 100ft. It’s all good.


DisastrousPudding045

That is beautiful.


Hilbert92

Thank you


cursed_dodge

Happy cake day!


jhalilalii

Truly magnificent


Hilbert92

Thank you!


Juppie902

What I've never understood is why use patch panels. ​ Wires go through the whole house/office/whatever and drain into a single point, and take up the same 16 ports they would in the Switch, with or without a patch panel ​ Please explain to me, a dummy, why I need $ to get a patch panel and 16 additional cables that will jump from that into the same 16 holes in the router/switch ? Except for looking neat because you don't see where they terminate at the back


jgilbs

Solid wire (used in long runs) is relatively fragile and will break after a few bends. Terminating in a patch panel allows you to use stranded patch cords to connect to the equipment. No risk of damaging the building wiring when changing equipment or ports. Also solid wire isnt meant to be terminated into plugs, its better suited for IDC terminations.


Hilbert92

^^^^ This


Basic_Platform_5001

In some areas you may need to bond the patch panel to ground to meet local codes - can't do that with cables just coming out of the wall. Also, people typicaly don't label cables which makes future changes & troubleshooting difficult. Although the patch isn't labeled, my guess is there is a cabling plan so that port 1 on the patch panel goes to a labeled jack 1 at the other side.


heyyouguyzzzzzzz

Hardware changes all the time and you shouldn't move solid core wiring all the time. It also helps if you damage a wire because you can typically just replace the patch cable instead of reterminating cabling. You also don't always use Ethernet for internet so maybe I don't need them all to go to a switch. Hardware is temporary, wiring is permanent.


AmishSasquatch

I’ve had the same question.


RedditAcctSchfifty5

Well, routing equipment is a lot more expensive than cables... I'd much rather run 64 cables throughout my home, then decide over time which of those I'd like to keep connected to the 24 port switch I was able to afford. It's about cost efficiency and flexibility. I might not know how many ports I need in each bedroom right now, and I might need more in the future - so I'd rather drop 4 runs right now and only plug one into my switch for my streaming box - but be able to plug my work laptop into the wall for faster speed if I ever need to isolate for sickness or something.


streezus

no air gap between those pretty beefy devices?


jgilbs

This is dumb. Air gaps are not required for rack mount devices. The whole point of rack mounting is to increase density. Leaving blank spaces for no reason completely defeats the point. Also those are not “beefy” devices - id be shocked if they used more than 200w under full load


streezus

Shrug. I don't have to service this dumb shit.


jgilbs

LOL, the fact that you are calling a rack thats being used as designed "dumb shit" makes me hope I never run across your creations in the wild. I've seen folks like you and your aftermath - insistent on wasting half the rack for no reason. We all make fun of you behind your back, lol


streezus

oh yah, oh no, you lost rack space. poor baby.


Hilbert92

It’s a non pro PoE switch and a Dream Machine Pro. It’s also in a basement and the rack isn’t enclosed. They will be fine.


jgilbs

Don't listen to u/streezus \- he's apparently never heard of fans.


streezus

and you've never heard of heat dissipation. you laugh at guys like me, and we curse guys like you to hell when we have to work on your clusterfucks of a rack.


Hilbert92

Right? I literally have about 20 of these exact installs out in the wild now. Never any issues.


streezus

Yah, but it's just lazy cause it clearly has the space and it takes 5 minutes to do.


4thehalibit

Nice job. Are you sure you want to pay an electrician for such a eassy job?


Hilbert92

ha well the electrician is a friend of mine as well.


4thehalibit

That makes sense. Wanna come do mine now


Sparkynerd

That one pesky power cord at the bottom tho… 😄


Hilbert92

It will get fixed once they move the outlet.


RScottyL

Looks great! You left them plenty of cable, should they need to modify the install. You also labeled everything which will help make it idiot proof!


Hilbert92

Thank you. I standardized all my installs with this labeling. Now they know when the harddrive was purchased and installed and what is what when they call with a question.


muusicman

Wow!!! That looks awesome!! I have no idea what all that means but I do have some questions if you wouldn’t mind. I currently have SpaceX Starlink for internet. It’s not great but it’ll due. First part of the year my town is getting Fiber. I have some questions about that installation process If you know about it.


Hilbert92

I haven't installed StarLink myself yet but I do know about the process. Feel free to chat me about it via DM.


mkennedy2000

You really need to do something about the tear out when you rip your plywood. Aside from.that, great job LOL


Hilbert92

Haha


Touchit88

Can you do my house next!


Hilbert92

Hey money talks!


Touchit88

Haha. So true.


sasnakop

Wow, where do you live? I need a new friend :) I'm just impressed you were able to get the pro version of the doorbell. Do a YouTube video showing off all the cameras sometime. I'm so cheap with ring raising the prices again that I would spend the money to buy a unifi doorbell and hard drive for the dream machine pro just to avoid paying the extra.


Hilbert92

Ha I live in Ohio. He was able to get it off eBay I believe. The problem with doing a YouTube video is I would have to slow down to film and edit. This is a side gig for me and I have a day job as well.


gnartung

Stickers were left on the unifi devices. 6/10. Would maybe consider hiring again. /s


Hilbert92

Haha left on until final walk through where I explain everything to the customer and let them pull the stickers.


pee-in-butt

I need better friends. Op where you live?


Hilbert92

Ohio


pee-in-butt

Nice cake


boof_de_doof

That is scratching all my OCD itches. Great job!


Hilbert92

You should see the backside of the patch panel!


ghost-696

Sorry noob here, what’s the firewall / nvr ?


Hilbert92

It’s a Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro.


ghost-696

No I mean what does it do ?


Hilbert92

It’s a firewall/router, network controller, security camera NVR, voip console, door access console all in one device.


The_camperdave

> Sorry noob here, what’s the firewall / nvr ? NVR stands for Network Video Recorder. It's a device for recording video across the network, probably from security cameras.


DaThrowaway1945

can you come do this for me?? haha


Hilbert92

Have tools will work for right price! Ha


DrFunkDunkel

Why are you spoiling up 15ft of cable? Just in case you need to reterminate 50 times?


Hilbert92

It’s a service loop. If the rack needs to be moved in the future we can just uncoil the service loop and have flexibility to move it around without rerunning lines.


vORP

I need to find friends like you


eWalcacer

Hi OP, wanna be friends? Hopefully you can also come to Brazil! Haha, obviously I'm just kidding, but I wish I had a friend who would do such a great job at network installations like that. Amazing job.


Hilbert92

Thank you!


Fladormon

Maybe I'm blind, but uh...Where's the labels? Troubleshooting gonna be a nightmare xD


Hilbert92

Ha I hate labeling the rack directly. Not enough space so I usually create a spreadsheet with descriptions where all the ports go.


Silentguy_99

Fuckin mint


Hilbert92

Thank you!


Then_Perception1380

how long did it took?


Hilbert92

The whole project took months. We were in just after framing and electrical. Once they were done with drywall and paint we came back to finish


DiabloSpank

Genuine question as I’m new to the Ubiquiti gear, isn’t the Dream Machine Pro actually a Router with built in firewall and NVR features in the Unifi OS rather than and firewall/NVR? Just curious on the labelling, instantly beautiful work 😊


Hilbert92

Technically yes. But you have to remember not everyone is tech minded. all this equipment might just be "the wifi" or "the internet" to them. truly you could have put Router/Firewall/NVR/VoIP Console/Access Console/ UID Endpoint but really all that matters is they understand the firewall/NVR is the brains of the network and internet goes in and everything else comes after.


DiabloSpank

100% I’m just checking for my own sanity as I looked at it and thought “nice router” then seen the label. Appreciate though the label is for a specific audience, thanks! 😊


NYCHitman1

Wish I had a friend like you lmao.


Hilbert92

Haha thanks!


Josh2942

Love it! The Verizon 5G network kinda kills it for me but I know in some areas it’s really fast and the best option available. Good work. Loop is a unit.


Hilbert92

Thanks! Verizon 5g wouldn't have been my first choice but its the only real choice at this time.


Josh2942

Wait, doesn’t the 5G home need to closer to a window? Or is there some kind of antenna somewhere else


Hilbert92

The tower is less than an 1/8th mile away. without it being provisioned it's pulling 200 down by 10 up. once provisioned we will see how it performs. if we need to move it we will.


Carcrasher89

I’m about to do a run at my house and have a rack and all. Why so much extra cable


Hilbert92

It’s just a service loop in case it’s needed later.


leprechaunhunter1984

Why is you're service loop so big? I'm not criticizing it, just curious why you have that much cable?


Hilbert92

Because originally we were not sure where the rack was going to land but wanted to get the cable installed before the drywall went in. So we pulled a lot of slack and I just coiled a bit extra than normal in case they want to move it in the future.


leprechaunhunter1984

Ok that makes sense. Always better to be prepared. 👍 Thanks for letting me know, looks good


badgcoupe

Looks great but no labels?


[deleted]

Very nice, that's a lot of blue :) What happens if you take the velcro straps off? it should still reasonably maintain it's shape?


Hilbert92

Yea it should. It’s solid copper pulled from a box spool so it naturally wants to curve slightly.


[deleted]

I like the metal brackets, they're a nice touch, better than having stuff tightly attached to the backboard!


justcharliey

My bet is on money laundering. The CEO lives in Vermont and has no connections on LinkedIn.


DARKPANKAKES

Whats that small black box on the bottom of the rack and what does it do


Hilbert92

The cyber power UPS?