The Home Improvement Thread

[Oswego]

I need put in a alarm system at the new house, any suggestions? Leaning towards ring pro system.

You know my stance. I'd upgrade all hard security first. Reinforcement of all entries and windows is key.

Whatever wireless system you go with I'd insure it's not one of the ones that can have its signal jammed using a simple hand held ham radio (most of them on the market).

I'd be sure to never advertise what system you go with by utilizing some silly sign in the yard. If having posted signage provides you more rights in your local I'd simply post a non descriptive non branded signage.

 

[Oswego]

One room 100% done less flooring and swapping out outlets that I'll do later today before putting cover plates back on. Six more to go

 

[Taco Loco]

You know my stance. I'd upgrade all hard security first. Reinforcement of all entries and windows is key.

Whatever wireless system you go with I'd insure it's not one of the ones that can have its signal jammed using a simple hand held ham radio (most of them on the market).

I'd be sure to never advertise what system you go with by utilizing some silly sign in the yard. If having posted signage provides you more rights in your local I'd simply post a non descriptive non branded signage.

The security threat is low, but there's always that potential, I did notice a DPS trooper and local cop lives in the neighborhood, agree with hard wired system, that's how my current house is, for the exception of wireless IR motion sensors, but that's a huge cost and requires a lot of time, would have best it was done during the construction phase.

 

[Taco Loco]

You know my stance. I'd upgrade all hard security first. Reinforcement of all entries and windows is key.

Whatever wireless system you go with I'd insure it's not one of the ones that can have its signal jammed using a simple hand held ham radio (most of them on the market).

I'd be sure to never advertise what system you go with by utilizing some silly sign in the yard. If having posted signage provides you more rights in your local I'd simply post a non descriptive non branded signage.

The Laundry Fairy thinks the neighbors across the street from our new house works this at this company. So I might find out what kind beer this guy drinks and ask if he wants to go shoot some hogs.

 

[PSU Taco85]

How Much Does a Home Security System Cost? (2025)

A home security system costs $199 to $900 for an equipment package with professional installation. Monthly monitoring fees range from $25 to $50 per month on average.

homeguide.com

https://support.ring.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026250452-Works-With-Ring-Compatible-Devices

What Garage Door Opener Works with Ring? - Smart TechVille

Looking to get a garage door opener that works with the Ring Alarm Security system? See smart garage door openers compatible with Ring.

smarttechville.com

Ring Security Compatibility and Equipment for 2025 | SafeWise

From video doorbells to smart TVs, dozens of popular devices from Ring and third parties work with your Ring home security system in 2025.

www.safewise.com

the problem I see with is the more you connect security online the more a hacker can fuck with you. I don’t have any signs out front but I welcome friends with a beer and enemies with a 12 gauge. The more the government can track you the more they can come in and fuck you, if they know you’re not home by statues of cell phone that data can be hacked and transmitted to some computer basement dweller.

 

[PSU Taco85]

The security threat is low, but there's always that potential, I did notice a DPS trooper and local cop lives in the neighborhood, agree with hard wired system, that's how my current house is, for the exception of wireless IR motion sensors, but that's a huge cost and requires a lot of time, would have best it was done during the construction phase.

A hard wired system is easier to defeat. Jumpers can quickly disable a sensor. Wireless sensors can get messed with sure but the average monkeys can’t or don’t want to learn how to do so. Especially encrypted signals.

 

[tx_shooter]

the problem I see with is the more you connect security online the more a hacker can fuck with you. I don’t have any signs out front but I welcome friends with a beer and enemies with a 12 gauge. The more the government can track you the more they can come in and fuck you, if they know you’re not home by statues of cell phone that data can be hacked and transmitted to some computer basement dweller.

Great system when you are home. What happens when you are not home?

 

[PSU Taco85]

Great system when you are home. What happens when you are not home?

well in the 6 years I’ve been at my house there has not been a problem and it’s just me here. I guess look for a good neighborhood when purchasing a house, and have neighbors that are looking out for you. My neighbor next door is a volunteer firefighter and has more guns than Biden left in Afghanistan. He has come over to BS with me and let me know he keeps an eye on the area, and his wife works at home so there’s always somebody around. I guess if you aren’t that fortunate, you either deal with it after the fact or pay for a good security company.

 

[PSU Taco85]

Another thing I have learned over the years is that even with a good security system, it will just deter a thief. If they really want what’s in your house they will get in and take it. A nice guard dog and a half assed alarm system go a long way to deter 99% of thieves who are just looking for a quick smash and grab. Same with car thieves, the guy across the street from my parents house got money stolen from his car about a month ago. He did two things wrong, left the damn car door open and left money in the car.

a nice let’s go Brandon sign also can’t hurt to leave out either, keeps those liberal pussies at bay and let’s them know you probably have some firepower if things get ugly

 

[MatthewMay1]

Question for the group…

I have a detached shop from the house that I want to install wifi in since the metal building blocks the cell phone signal. There is a buried conduit from the house that carries electricity and cable coax out to the shop. The Spectrum folks told me I can’t get a second WiFi modem to plug into the cable coax without adding a line to my monthly plan. That would be too easy, go figure.

What are the chances of me being able to successfully use a real long snake to pull an ethernet cable through that buried conduit and install a router in the shop? I do not want to dig a trench and bury a new line if I can help it. I plan on installing a wifi mesh network in the house and have found kits that come with three routers so I was thinking I would install two in the house and one in the shop to get seamless wifi coverage with one network name.

 

[PSU Taco85]

Question for the group…

I have a detached shop from the house that I want to install wifi in since the metal building blocks the cell phone signal. There is a buried conduit from the house that carries electricity and cable coax out to the shop. The Spectrum folks told me I can’t get a second WiFi modem to plug into the cable coax without adding a line to my monthly plan. That would be too easy, go figure.

What are the chances of me being able to successfully use a real long snake to pull an ethernet cable through that buried conduit and install a router in the shop? I do not want to dig a trench and bury a new line if I can help it. I plan on installing a wifi mesh network in the house and have found kits that come with three routers so I was thinking I would install two in the house and one in the shop to get seamless wifi coverage with one network name.

i ran a 150 ft cat 6 cable from my home modem into conduit and to back shop. I’m certainly no computer savvy nerd but I bought this and it works good for me for the last 5 years.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00R92CLD6?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[PSU Taco85]

To get a new chaser pulled though, use a vacuum cleaner and a cotton ball on a string. Leave the length of string in there after pulling through so you always have a way of pulling a new line if needed.

 

[AlienXtx]

Question for the group…

I have a detached shop from the house that I want to install wifi in since the metal building blocks the cell phone signal. There is a buried conduit from the house that carries electricity and cable coax out to the shop. The Spectrum folks told me I can’t get a second WiFi modem to plug into the cable coax without adding a line to my monthly plan. That would be too easy, go figure.

What are the chances of me being able to successfully use a real long snake to pull an ethernet cable through that buried conduit and install a router in the shop? I do not want to dig a trench and bury a new line if I can help it. I plan on installing a wifi mesh network in the house and have found kits that come with three routers so I was thinking I would install two in the house and one in the shop to get seamless wifi coverage with one network name.

You will most likely get interference if the conduit has high voltage ran into, but besides that the chances of getting a fish tape through are slim at best. Did you check to see if there is a fish string left inside?

 

[tx_shooter]

Depending on what voltage was ran through the conduit and what kind of speeds you are expecting from the cable. If there is enough space in the conduit to fun shielded Cat cable then I would say for home use you are okay if the data and electrical are not pulled tight against each other. It is impressive what a little slack between them will do to cut down interference.

But the best answer would be to not do it. If necessary a wireless bridge could be put in to connect the house and shop while also covering the entire yard between the two with great service. It would require a bit of hardware but Ubiquiti makes great hardware for this kind of stuff and is pretty cheap. The throughput speeds are impressive as well. There are a lot of wireless ISPs using Ubiquiti equipment for their services.

 

[AlienXtx]

That's what we do between our buildings on my main lot. My fuel isle is totally off the wired wifi grid and is connected by an antenna.

 

[CowboyTaco]

Question for the group…

I have a detached shop from the house that I want to install wifi in since the metal building blocks the cell phone signal. There is a buried conduit from the house that carries electricity and cable coax out to the shop. The Spectrum folks told me I can’t get a second WiFi modem to plug into the cable coax without adding a line to my monthly plan. That would be too easy, go figure.

What are the chances of me being able to successfully use a real long snake to pull an ethernet cable through that buried conduit and install a router in the shop? I do not want to dig a trench and bury a new line if I can help it. I plan on installing a wifi mesh network in the house and have found kits that come with three routers so I was thinking I would install two in the house and one in the shop to get seamless wifi coverage with one network name.

You have a couple of options. How far is the workshop from the house?

Like Keith said, you have a pretty good chance of interference if you run through the same conduit as the electric. I think you can buy cat5/5e/6 with extra shielding though. Google research shows that you should have a minimum of 2-8" between power and network, but 16" or more is ideal.

Depending on which Mesh network you go with, many (if not all) of them have a back channel that allows them to communicate with each other while still acting as a repeater. This one is a really good deal right now in comparison to network speeds and cost: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/linksys-atlas-pro-ax5300-wi-fi-6-system-3-pack/6474691.p?skuId=6474691

When looking at the mesh routers, AX is the newer standard. I wouldn't buy anything that only does AC. The higher the number, the better the bandwidth.

If you just need "okay" speeds, you can do Ethernet-Over-Power. This takes two devices and basically sends a network connection over the romex cable that is already in the house. I tried this in my office and it was not sufficient enough for zoom calls. I did get a relatively constant 60mbps, so for general web browsing it was fine. YouTube and services like that tend to buffer a bit, so temporary drops in network won't impact those like a live video conference. I'm fairly sure that they need to be on the same panel to work. Not the same breaker, but on the same panel.

Options as I see them:
Run the cat 5e or cat6 cable through the conduit and put an access point or switch on the other end.
Get a mesh network and put one in the shop and one in the house as close together as you can.
Add a long range outdoor access point to the house and another on the shop in child mode.
Ethernet over Power (not Power-over-Ethernet)

 

[tx_shooter]

@tex was using an Ethernet-over-Power setup in his home office for a while. I think he was even able to use an IP phone over it.

 

[tex]

Zech is right. The set up was cheap and worked like it was supposed to.

 

[tx_shooter]

Would be worth testing before going any of the other options.

 

[CowboyTaco]

Yep. I bought mine on Amazon for about $50-60. I returned it when it didn't solve my networking issues.