Ultimate Guide to Wiring Home Networks: Plan, Design & Install Computer, Video, Phone & Audio Systems | Perfect for Smart Homes & DIY Networking Projects

The book is the best "do it yourself guide" on planning and installing Ethernet cables inside one's house. As a result, every room has access to the internet. Here are the "good" and "bad" on this book...ADVANTAGES.1. The instructions are simple and clear..2. Colorful pictures guide the reader on a "step by step" process...DISADVANTAGES.1. The guidance makes network cabling too simple - something that anyone can do it. . . . That is the problem. Any small error can make the network useless: a crimp in the Ethernet cable, a staple that penetrated the cable jacket and shorted the interior wiring, using cheap aluminum cables, stretching the cable beyond 300', locating the cable next to a microwave oven and kitchen appliances, bad crimps inside connectors, and a host of others..I have seen many professional cable installers messed up their work. Using their experience, "know how," and expensive testing equipment, they were able to correct the errors and made the network operate. Unfortunately, the average "do it yourselfer" does not have these. If the installation fail, the only alternative is to hire a professional to redo the work - usually at a higher price. To undo the mistakes, he may have to tear up parts of the installation and make corrections by replacing the damaged wiring..2. A cheaper alternative is to "go wireless." Hire a professional to locate an Ethernet wire in the center of the house in every floor and install access points on the ceiling. This gadget will connect computers, game stations, smart phones, and other devices to the internet by using radio waves. The trade-off is internet speed - a third to a half slower than Ethernet wire, but it is adequate..Using this strategy, I was able to hire a CenturyLink cable installer to put in an Ethernet cable on the first floor for $100. The price included labor, materials, and a one-year warranty on defects and workmanship. If I did the work myself, a bulk carton of CAT5e costed $150, a combination stripper/crimper tool was $50, and staples and connectors totaled $40. After a few hours of work, there was no guarantee that everything was done correctly and the network would work...In a "nutshell," this book provides valuable insight on the work involved in planning and installing Ethernet cable. To get the job done correctly, hiring a professional may be the best alternative.