I received a call from a new client and we scheduled a meeting. When I arrived we both looked familiar to one another and discovered that I had prewired his home almost 25 years ago while I was working for someone else.
Get the equipment rack cleaned up and back into the closet
In the lower level he had a media area with a control4 remote that had stopped working so the rack of equipment needed to be pulled out and the doors left open to make controlling the system possible.
I suggested we update the control system, clean up the rack and get it back in the closet.
A bunch of networks!
Over the years many people will keep adding components to their networks. In this case they ended up with 3 routers in a row. All broadcasting Wi-Fi. Creating 3 separate networks in the house. Nightmare!!
I removed the 1 of the routers completely. Re configured the modem to only be a modem and not both modem and router. And finally set up the Linksys devices to route and provide Wi-Fi through out the house.
Power Struggle
Power where it belongs: there was a UPS next to the rack with everything plugged into it. This means that when the power goes out not only are the critical network and security devices drawing power but the audio equipment as well. This would only allow a few minutes at best of up time after a power outage. I separated the audio equipment out and plugged it in separately.
Surround Sound System Update
We wanted 4k on the beautiful flat screen but the old surround receiver wouldn’t pass it. We swapped that out with a new 4k/8k receiver and switched the old hdmi balun that was going to the tv with a new HDMI cable capable of 4 and 8k. Also, the subwoofer had died at some point so a new sub was added.
Surveillance System Update
The nvr had become disconnected at some point so I reconfigured it and the router so the client could once again view his cameras at home and remotely.