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Ks Toh

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Everything posted by Ks Toh

  1. Ks Toh
    May I know why you are laying 6 or 8 cables to the TV console area? Instead of say 2 cables plus switch if needed?
  2. Ks Toh
    Noted. From the fact that you are supplying the cable plus doing the termination yourself, it is clear that you are far more knowledgeable in this area! I myself tried to replace several broken RJ45 plugs and it was a disaster. At the distribution point where all the cables terminate, may I now whether you are installing a patch panel (is this what it is called?) or leaving the wires dangling? All my wires are just dangling there.
  3. Ks Toh
    Your RG, like most typical wireless routers, will have 4 network ports at the back. If you have laid only 4 network cables to this location, then you can just plug the 4 cables to these ports. Otherwise, you need to buy a switch, which is essentially something like an extension power cord, from one to many points. Some people buy those big 24 port switches. In my case, I just buy a simple 8 port switch. Together with the 4 ports in my RG, it is enough for me. But I did buy a Gigabit switch, which I understand means very fast speed. This is the set up in my utility room. Yes, I know it is rather untidy. I did not dare to photo the messy wires behind. The D-link device in front is the StarHub supplied RG. The ONT is on the right. The 8 port switch is at the back.
  4. Ks Toh
    When you sign up with any ISP, the ISP will arrange for Nucleus Connect (NC), which is the company operating the OpenNet network, to install the Optical Network Terminal (ONT). This ONT is connected to the TP. Your ISP will also supply a Residential Gateway (RG). The ONT converts optical signal from the TP into electrical signals for your RG. This is the Huawei ONT which was supplied to me: In the picture above, the green cable on the extreme right is the optical cable coming from the TP. This plugs into the Optical port on the ONT. From the ONT, only Port 1 is active. You cannot use the other ports. Reserved for other service providers. From Port 1, use Cat 6 and above cable to connect to the RG. The RG is essentially a wireless router and the model varies considerably from ISP to ISP. Some supply very good ones. Some, like the D-link model which was supplied to me by StarHub, is hopeless in its WiFi capability. The RG is connected to all your devices in all parts of your house via the structured cable network.
  5. Ks Toh
    How do I conceal the fibre cabling to the TP? Your contractor can lay concealed trunking from the telecom riser outside your property all the way to your desired TP location, then put a string or wire inside. When the OpenNet contractor comes, he will just use the string or wire to pull the fibre cable into your house. This is a standard procedure which your contractor must know. If he does not know, then I don't know what to say. I read in one of the blogs here that in some recent HDB flats, this wire is pre-laid. Please check if yours is one of these. It seems that some contractor are not aware of this at all and they hacked and laid ugly surface trunking when it was totally unnecessary. Read here. In very new condos and HDB flats, I am sure they would now have come pre-installed with OpenNet TP and structured network cabling to all the rooms. This is now the iDA requirement.
  6. Ks Toh
    Ok, where do I lay all the structured network cables? This is the most important decision which you yourself have to make. Don't rely on the ID or contractor. All the network cables ending in the rooms must emanate from a single central location where your router/switch will be located. Typically this is in the hall near the TV/SCV point, the utility room or your study room. This is the starting point from where all the services will be distributed throughout your home. If you are using OpenNet, the Termination Point (TP) should be installed here. This what the TP looks like. This TP would have been installed by OpenNet contractors when they were doing the free installation in the past few years. If you had missed the opportunity, you would have to pay now. I had to pay for mine. Having this TP simply means you are OpenNet ready. You need to sign up with any ISP to get a fibre broadband connection. You need only one TP per property. The fibre connection is only up to the TP. From here, you use structured network cabling to your rooms.
  7. Ks Toh
    If I only need Internet Access, can I just rely on WiFi? Yes you can. But note that WiFi has limitations. Even in a small flat, sometimes the wifi connection is lost once you turn a corner. It can be due to many reasons: solid wall, interference from other WiFi networks etc. If you use a single WiFi router, it is commonly located in the hall. Quite often, the connection is bad in the room furthest away. If you had laid structured cabling to that room, you can put another WiFi router in that room (in bridge mode) to extend your WiFi coverage. When you lose your WiFi connection, your phone will automatically switch to 3G/4G connection. With the data cap in place by many telcos these days, the last thing you want is to burst your data cap and be charged for excess data usage. Often we do not realise the huge amount of data we consume these days. You will easily cross 2GB within a month if you do not have WiFi. If you are a hard core gamer, relying on WiFi to play your game is out of the question. It is simply not fast enough. What other devices can possibly require internet connection? You will be surprised at the number of equipment that presently require internet access. Smart TVs, sound bars, printers, scanners, internet cameras now all require internet connection. Although many of them can work with a WiFi connection, this is often unreliable. To fully utilise their functions, you need a wired connection and this is only possible if you had laid structured network cabling to the location where the devices are situated. In the not too distant future, if it has not happened already, your refrigerator, oven, washing machine etc will probably have a network connection too. To view recipes from the internet etc. Imagine buying the latest Samsung Smart TV from Best Denki only to find that you cannot use most of the features because you have no internet connection to the TV! This is my Philips TV playing from Youtube via a wired internet connection. I don't need Internet at all Even if you don't need network cabling at all, may I suggest that you still do it as it enhances the value of your property. In the future, when you want to sell your property, I am 100% confident that your network ready property will be far more saleable. That happened to my previous property. Many buyers were impressed by the fact that I had laid network points to every room including my helper's room! I am sure the increase in value will be many times the amount you spent laying the cables. So, even if you absolutely do not need fibre broadband and network points in your rooms, be sure to make use of the opportunity during renovations to do the following:- - Get your house OpenNet ready. Make sure fibre cabling is done up to TP (see below) - Lay structured network cabling from the TP area to all your rooms. You may not need it. But how about your kids in the future, your tenant, or the new buyer of your property?
  8. Ks Toh
    Are you referring to Power Line technology such as the Aztech HomePlug? This is an alternative to WiFi if you are unable to lay structured cabling. You plug the first device into a power socket near your Residential Gateway (modem from your ISP) and the second and subsequent devices into other sockets in other rooms. The device will use your power line as the network cable. Experiences vary. My experience has not been good for the following reasons:- 1. All the powerline devices must be on the same electrical circuit for this system to work 2. Connection is unstable and easily terminated due to interference from other electrical devices 3. Speed is not fast 4. You need to leave all the devices switched on, consuming electricity 24 x 7 Considering the above, it might be far better to just lay the structured network cabling one time if you can do so.
  9. Ks Toh
    Do I really need Structured Network Cabling? If you are doing renovations now, you should do it or you will regret later. What is Structured Network Cabling? Basically, this means laying computer cables to every room, ending with a faceplate like this in one of my rooms: This is very common in offices, where you can plug your desktop PC into the faceplate and be connected to the office network. In the faceplate shown above, the network point (RJ47) is on the right while the telephone point (RJ11) is on the left. Why would I need Structured Network Cabling at home when I can use WiFi to access the internet? While internet access is the most common use, structured network cabling serves many other present and future purposes. Under Singapore's Next Generation NBN (Nationwide Broadband Network), not just internet data but voice, video, TV, gaming, education, health and all kinds of services will be delivered via the NBN. Many of these services cannot be carried via WiFi. For example, your fibre broadband connection reaches your hall. If you want Mio TV in your room, it is not possible unless you had laid structured network cabling from your hall to your room. In the future, if you need video conferencing in your bedroom for medical video-conferencing or your child needs to have a video lesson with his teacher from the study, it will not be possible.
  10. Ks Toh
    Network Cabling Part 1 Even though on the first page of my post, I had strongly recommended that everyone should lay network points to every room, I have yet to explain my reasons for saying so. It was only when I read the spirited discussion on mavicaste's blog that I realised that this is something many people overlook. Many of us pay attention only to the floors, walls and furnishings. IDs and contractors generally are aware of network cabling but many of them do not bother to advise on this because it can be troublesome, or it might inflate the cost. I have done structured network cabling for both my previous and present place, and this is my experience. To make this easy to read, I will simplify things.
  11. Ks Toh
    The workers dug out the existing ceiling wax palm. To our horror, the main incoming water pipe was right in the centre of the intended planting location. No choice. We shaved off parts of the root and squeezed the tree in between the pipe and the concrete. Hope my water pipe does not burst one day! The frangipani tree was lifted by crane into position. It is currently being propped up and restrained by ropes. The winds at my place can be very strong at times. I hope the tree stays upright!
  12. Ks Toh
    On structured cabling, my experience has been quite different. Since the launch of OpenNet, iDA has been encouraging all homes to lay structured cabling. New homes now come pre-installed with structured cabling to every room. All the IDs/contractors I have used know how to lay structured cabling. It is almost like laying telephone wires. In fact, for some time now, contractors have been laying structured cabling for use as telephone wires. So, I would be very surprised if your ID or contractor lacks knowledge in this area. If you are laying electrical or telephone wires, it is just like laying another wire. No rocket science. The problem arises because you the home owner must tell the ID or contractor where you want all your wires to terminate i.e. utility, hall, study or one of your rooms. This should also be where your OpenNet fibre cable terminates. The other problem is the cost. More expensive than normal electrical points. So your ID or contractor may be reluctant to include in their quote or the total cost may appear high. For me, I laid structured cabling to every part of my house including the porch, yard and roof! Will post a network diagram at my blog when ready.
  13. Ks Toh
    Frangipani Tree After viewing a number of trees, we settled on the one we liked. That was yesterday. This morning, the tree was transported to my place by lorry.
  14. Ks Toh
    Pioneer Landscape is a relatively big nursery. They have all kinds of equipment including an excavator. To see the frangipani trees, we were brought around in a golf buggy.
  15. Ks Toh
    Nurseries at Jalan Lekar (Lim Chu Kang) For some time, we had been thinking of planting a frangipani tree. We looked at many nurseries but the best collection is still at Pioneer Landscape located at 80 Jalan Lekar in Lim Chu Kang. Side track a little, further down the road at No. 71 is Qian Hu Fish Farm where you can find lots of aquarium fishes and Kenny Yap's press articles. If you are hungry, you can eat something at Qian Hu cafe while viewing some recorded TV interviews involving Kenny Yap. You can catch a free Bus Plus service from Choa Chu Kang bus interchange to QIan Hu. Even further down at No. 45 Jalan Lekar is Nippon Koi, where they sell expensive Japanese koi.
  16. Ks Toh
    I am using an Electrolux 7 kg washer and Electrolux 7 kg dryer. Both are inexpensive and good. No complaints. For the dryer, one notable feature is that it can reverse tumble. My helper says it is good, forgot why it is so. If you have space, buying a separate washer and dryer is better. When you have a heavy load, you can start drying your first load while washing your second load. Otherwise, you have to wait for the first load to dry before you can start to wash your second load. In a combination washer/dryer, sometimes I see the wash load as 7 kg but drying load as 5 kg, so I wonder what you do with the 2 kg? If you don't have space, stacking the dryer on top of the washer is a good idea. But best is if you can wall mount the dryer such that you create a space in between, to put your laundry basket etc. For those who are not aware, when you wall mount the dryer, the dryer is mounted upside down! That is why for the dryer, either the face-plate can be inverted or you are supplied with an inverse face plate.
  17. Ks Toh
    After fixing the Clothes Bar, I used Wall Putty to seal up the holes. I will paint over later. This time I hope it stays! This is my laundry area. The stainless steel table over the washer and dryer is a Udden console from Ikea. Fits perfectly. The iron and ironing board holder I think I bought from Howard's.
  18. Ks Toh
    My helper returned from her 3 weeks home leave and started ironing. She must have hung a lot of shirts on the Ikea Mulig Clothes Bar that the whole thing came off from the wall. I think my first case of DIY installation failure. I think I used too small a screw. I used 1 1/2 inch screw with 5 mm wall plug. Went to the hardware shop this morning and bought all kinds of wall plugs and screws. Decided to use 2 1/2 inch screw with 8 mm wall plug instead.
  19. Ks Toh
    It seems to me that you have to buy their special type of accessories?
  20. Ks Toh
    Not sure if this answers your question, but you have to Sign In before you can quote.
  21. Ks Toh
    use www.photobucket.com
  22. Ks Toh
    I accept your compliments for the first part on sharing. On the taste and colour, I must confess they came from the wife. According to her, I have no taste and colour sense at all. Everything I buy (which I will share shortly) is based on practicality only.
  23. Ks Toh
    I have never heard of using this method to install the bathroom accessories. Wouldn't they drop off in due course? But I can tell you there is no problem drilling into marble, granite or tile. I have done it countless times and your contractor would know how to do it too. Here is my DIY guide on how to do it.
  24. Ks Toh
    I hope you did thorough research on your Fujioh hood. I had a very bad experience with one of their higher end Ariafina model, which boasts of being able to capture "almost 100% of smoke and fumes from all directions". You can read all about it here. Maybe you can let us know after you start using whether the Fujioh hood is indeed as good as it promises to be?
  25. Ks Toh
    Of course you paint before you move in the furniture and you touch up after you move in the furniture. Touch up simply means minor touch up of little scratches here and there caused by the moving in. Mainly for the walls. There is no need to shift or cover the furniture or move out.
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