My Mac Networking Situation - Help!

For speed, security and reliability, it's hard to beat wired connections, and if you have the $ . . . fiber! Wireless is convenient, but there is a bottleneck at the router, particularly if a slower protocol (b or g) is accessing or transmitting big chunks of data through the network.

 

Fibre Optic... it's horribly expensive

 

While not yet practical for home networks, I do know of several home owners that, as part of their structured wiring, ran fiber optic cable for "future" use, likely for combined data and smart home control.

As for cost, the cable itself is about the same price as copper (depending on the spot market price for copper, that is) . . . however, the equipment for networking fiber is very pricey indeed, because it's pretty much limited to the industrial/business market.

The best you can do for household wiring is "gigabit" cabling with Cat6e, which is a bit more expensive, per foot, than Cat5e.

While Wireless 802.11n might get 100-200 Mbps . . . wired "Gig-E" can transmit within the network at speeds up to 1000 Mbps. Coupled with a fiber optic 'net provider, such as Verizon FIOS . . . it should be fast for the time being.

 

After trying to make sense of what you've done, I think I understand. Although this option is nearly the same, just simplified.

Modem Ethernet to AEBS(n) then your other N station and TC to wirelessly join that network.

The G stations, hook them up via ethernet to the N remote station and the other to the TC.

The trick after this is making sure the N talk to the G's properly.

An easier option is to get the Dual bands. That way, all the stations will be connected to the main station connected to the modem

 

What do you mean by "split ethernet wire"? You should have the modem connected directly to the AEBS WAN port, then connect the mac mini to a LAN port. This should also be the only router with DHCP and NAT running.

Be careful with your AEBS(n) and TC that they are set up to properly extend your wireless network and not conflict with one another.

 

Nonsense. Neither your computer nor your Internet connection will approach the capacity of your wireless router. Fiber can handle every Internet connection and telephone call in several states. If you attend a university, then your university's fiber backbone handles all of its data and teleconferencing traffic. In fact, one of the problems with fiber is "dark fiber." The capacity of the existing fiber in the ground is so great that it greatly exceeds the available transportable data. For lack a signal to transport, this fiber stays dark.

This is, of course, a good problem to have. Dark fiber represents an almost free opportunity to do new and innovative things with data/video transport. Officials in my state are developing uses for this available dark fiber. I am certain that other states are doing likewise.