Installation Guide

← Back to Project Overview

Installation Guide

Phase 1: The Core (Home Office)

1. Placement: Install the 16-port switch and 1500VA UPS on a shelf or desktop with airflow. Avoid closed drawers.
2. Order of Operations:
   • Wall Fiber Jack → Modem
   • Modem → Google Nest Router (WAN Port)
   • Google Nest Router (LAN Port) → 16-Port Switch (Port 1)
   • All other devices (Workstation, Plex, Printer, wall jacks to other rooms) → 16-Port Switch (Ports 2-16)
3. Plex Config: Login to your Google Home App settings. Reserve a Static IP for the Plex machine. This ensures internal routing tables remain stable.

Phase 2: The Cabling (Infrastructure)

1. Run Cat6a from the Office 16-Port switch to the:
   • Living Room Media Center
   • Master Bedroom TV wall
   • Garage (near an exterior wall facing the driveway)
2. Terminate all ends to T568B standard (industry standard color code).
3. Test every line. A simple $15 cable tester saves hours of debugging later.

Phase 3: Bedroom & Living Room Setup

1. Connect the wall jack to the local 5-port or 8-port switch.
2. Hardwire Everything: Connect the TV, Google TV Streamer, and Console to the switch.
3. Mesh Node: Connect the Google Nest Wifi point to the switch.
   • Note: The Google Home app will recognize this as "Wired Backhaul." This is the key configuration for Gigabit speeds.

Phase 4: The Driveway Bridge (The Hard Part)

1. Transmitter (House): Mount the NanoStation on the garage exterior. It must have Line of Sight (LOS) to the gate. Run ethernet from the Garage Switch → PoE Injector → NanoStation.
2. Receiver (Gate): Mount the second NanoStation at the gate.
3. Alignment: These are directional. You can't just point them "roughly." Use the LED indicators on the back or the UISP mobile app to fine-tune the alignment until signal strength is between -50dBm and -60dBm.
4. Configuration:
   • Set Wireless Mode to PtP (Point-to-Point)
   • Set Channel Width to 40MHz
   • Select a static Frequency in the UNII-3 Band (e.g., 5800 MHz) to avoid fighting your home Wi-Fi

Phase 5: The Gate Enclosure

1. Mount the NEMA 4X box on the gate post.
2. Inside the box, mount the Industrial Switch and the PoE injectors for the Camera and Outdoor AP.
3. Seal it: Use "drip loops" on cables entering the box to prevent water from running down the wire into the electronics.

Tools Required

• Cable crimper and RJ45 ends
• Cable tester
• Drill with appropriate bits
• Cable fish tape or pull rods
• Cable ties and velcro straps
• Label maker
• Screwdrivers and basic hand tools

← Back to all projects