Home networks change

Since I had such a bad time with the TrendNet WiFi router, I decided to change to an older LinkSys WRT54G router till there's a suitable (price, features, form factor, etc.) new one. 

First, let's count the devices. 

There are four Gigabit LAN devices (Desktop, 2 HD media players + NAS), three 100MBps LAN devices (VOIP router, TV, and Wii), and 10+ WiFi devices (3 laptops, netbook, printer, iPad, iPhone, another two cell phones, another media player, and an Network Radio).  In addition, both HD media players and Wii has WiFi as well. In the 10 WiFi devices, only 6 of them supports 802.11n while the rest are 802.11g. Since it's rare that I would need high bandwidth on the wireless devices (the 2 HD media player will be using wired LAN), 802.11g would be sufficient for now. 

I would like to have a Gigabit LAN connection to use the extra bandwidth when transferring large amount of data (e.g. playing HD content from NAS). Luckily (up to debate), I have two 8-port Planet Gigabit switches from an auction five years ago.  Although they are not worth as much they were in 2006, they are still useful. After checking with two friends in IT, the plan is to use the Linksys WRT54G router as the WiFi access point as well as the DCHP server. Most of the LAN devices (especially all the Gigabit LAN devices) will connect to the switch.  This will also allow all devices within a single network so files on the NAS can be read and everybody can print to the printer over the network.

After an extra trip to get CAT-6 network cables and a 12-port power strips, I set up the fully system from scratch.  This includes using a new 12-port power bar.  Given so many devices with their own AC/DC power supplies, it doesn't make sense to have power outlets spaced so tightly.  Even for the 12 outlets, commercial grade power bar, at least three of the outlets are now blocked. If I were to design a power bar, I'd at least put most of them sideways and space them out to accommodate most of the AC/DC adapters.

Anyway, after 2 hour, the network is functioning again.  So far, the WRT54G router works fine.  There's little to complain about this set up.  At the same time, I still need an utility to test large data transfer performance.