In this comprehensive video walkthrough, we take you inside a fully configured smart home network as of April 2021. From inside the crowded network panel to connected devices throughout the home, you’ll get model numbers, wiring advice, and hardware recommendations. If you're setting up your own smart home, this guide gives you a real-world example of how it's done—successfully.
Here’s a closer look at all the equipment used in the network panel and beyond:
Additional Connected Devices Around the House:
The network is built entirely with Cat6 Ethernet cables (except the incoming fiber). Device locations are optimized for performance and access, and the structured wiring supports fast speeds across the home. Check out the Ultimate Home Networking playlist for over 40 videos of step-by-step upgrades.
All Products in our Smart Home Network Tour:
In the last few months, we've had many viewers asking for an updated tour of our home network. Over the past two years, we've created dozens of videos covering our network setup, especially the panel configuration. Be sure to check out the “Ultimate Home Networking” playlist at the end of this video to see where it all started.
This is a complete tour of our home network as of April 1st, 2021. We'll include every device inside the network panel, as well as some located outside. As a bonus, we’re sharing model numbers, pricing, and links in the video description.
Every network cable is Cat6, except for the fiber cable entering the modem. We've received constructive feedback about our cable management and device placement, and we appreciate all your suggestions!
Starting at the bottom of the panel: The fiber optic modem is a Calix GigaPoint 803G. It converts simplex fiber into standard Ethernet. The modem has a fiber input, power input, and Ethernet output. From this, we get 940 Mbps download speeds.
The Cat6 cable from the modem connects to a Linksys wireless router’s LAN port. The router’s LAN outputs then connect to a Ruckus ICX PoE switch and a Western Digital 2TB cloud drive. Two LAN ports remain available for future expansion.
On the left side: A Ring Elite PoE injector powers the doorbell through a Cat6 cable, which then connects to a TP-Link 8-port switch. The panel only has four outlets—many with bulky bricks—so two extra power strips were added.
TP-Link 8-Port Switch: Connects four Cat6 lines to different rooms: office, bedroom, living room, and kitchen. One Cat6 also connects to the ICX switch.
Ruckus ICX Switch: This PoE switch powers multiple devices. It connects to a hallway Ruckus R610 access point, the NVR system, and three key smart devices:
Additional Components: An HDMI-over-Ethernet adapter allows NVR camera viewing on our living room TV using an existing Cat6 line—saving us from running an expensive 60-foot HDMI cable.
Other smart components in the home include: Six Reolink PoE cameras, three smart thermostats, an Alexa Show, several Echo Dots, a Sonos speaker, and automated shades for the sliding glass door. All of these are connected to the network.
This wraps up our full 2021 home network tour! For more videos, check out the full playlist and consider supporting us on Patreon. Every member gets a personal shout-out in the next video.
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