Upgrading the Home Network
Time to put some pep back into my network. After several years of mostly reliable service, I’ve thrown out my old Linksys router. An AirPort Extreme Base Station [Amazon Link] has taken its place and for expandability, I’ve attached an HP ProCurve 8-port gigabit switch [Amazon Link].
Why the upgrade? Well, I’m tired of my MacBook occasionally losing its Wi-Fi connection. I’ve also added a PS3 and Roku to my network, so I need more connectivity options. And finally, that 10 megabit WAN side connection is primitive by today’s standards.
This marriage of Apple and HP works great. After several weeks of heavy use, performance remains fast and consistent. MacBook Wi-Fi issues have disappeared and I have plenty of extra gigabit ports. Eventually, I’ll get some kind of home server (hurry up, Apple!) so I can stream videos to my HDTV.
If you’re wondering why I went with the HP switch, it mostly comes down to reliability. I was considering something from Linksys or D-Link but the reviews were lukewarm. The exterior of the HP has a sturdy old school feel and with all things considered, it’s not overly pricey. I’ve had zero performance/reliability issues with this switch.
With only two devices and some cables, my computers, home theater equipment, printer, and Nintendo DSi all work in harmony. If you want a reliable/simple home network, you might consider going with a similar setup.
[Pic from Apple.com]
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Got the PS3 in there? I actually use http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/ to stream HD movies from my laptop. Don’t really recommend doing so via wifi though. things get a bit st-st-st-stuttery. non-hd works great over 802.11g … need to update my router so it has n support