Cheapest Fastest Ugliest Wireless Router Antenna Mod with Primestar Dish

I have been assembling a home server rack for about 3 weeks and needed to test out my router with the server outside in my garage. After testing I did not want to move the router but could not get Wi-Fi inside my house with my laptop and TiVo. After searching the internet i tried the pop can reflector antenna mod, but that did not help. After looking around I took out my old Primestar dish. I thought i might be able to use it in the same way as the pop can mod. Now I know this ugly but it Really Works. What I did was just tie strap the router to the Primestar Dish and That’s It!

The signal went from  10% to 90% after testing and pointing the dish.

2 Post server rack with 10 IBM eServer x300 servers

I have a friend that installs server systems and has a lot of spare parts that businesses replace or upgrade. He gave me a truck load of stuff and said “here you go have fun”.

After looking at all the stuff he gave me I thought about what we could put together.  This is a list of what I have to work with.

2 – 13 inch monitors 1 Packard Bel, 1 Samtron

1 – Hubble Premise Wiring model: MCCPSS19 Hubbell 19″ Rack Mount Power Distribution Module -1×10

Power Distribution Module Features:

• Mounts into 19″ racks and cabinets
• On/off switch
• Power on LED indicator
• Surge suppression
• Built-in circuit breaker
• 1 rack unit (1U) high
• 10′ power cord

1 – Belkin Omni View PRO 4 port KVM switch (model: F1D104-OSD) ver. 1.9a

Manufacturer’s product description:

The OmniView PRO2 Series KVM Switches deliver reliability, performance, and centralized control necessary for today’s
enterprise environment. This series of KVM Switches enables you to control multiple platform servers from a single Console. Available in the desktop-style, 4-port, and the 19-inch rack-mountable 8- and 16-port models, the OmniView
PRO2 Series KVM Switch expands easily for full control of as many as 256 CPUs through dedicated daisy-chain ports. Video resolutions of up to 1600×1200@65Hz are supported through a 400MHz bandwidth. On-Screen Display allows you to name and select attached servers using an on-screen interface. Switch between ports by using hot key commands or direct-access port selectors. The Omniview PRO2 Series KVM Switches use standard cables for easy installation; include a 12-Volt DC, 1-Amp power supply.

2 – KVM Cables

1 – SMC EtherEZ Hub 16 port model 3616TC

Manufacturer’s product description:

This SMC’s EtherEZ hub is a 16-port model that features a set of bandwidth utilization LEDs and also contains two additional ports: AUI and BNC. SMC’s EtherEZ hubs offer easy access to an Ethernet network. They’re Plug and Play, so there’s no configuration necessary. And, the price is very affordable, so they’re ideal for small workgroups. These standalone 10BaseT hubs feature a comprehensive array of link, traffic, partition and collision LEDs to simplify installation and troubleshooting. And, for convenience, each hub also features a daisy-chain port, so you can easily cascade them as your network grows.

Networking:

Ports Qty: 16 x Ethernet 10Base-T, Ethernet 10Base-2, Ethernet AUI
Data Transfer Rate: 10 Mbps
Data Link Protocol: Ethernet
Connectivity Technology: Cable
Status Indicators: Port status, link activity, collision status, power
Compliant Standards: IEEE 802.3

Expansion / connectivity

Interfaces:

* 16 x network node – Ethernet 10Base-T – RJ-45 – 16
* 1 x network host – Ethernet AUI – 15 pin D-Sub (DB-15) – 1
* 1 x network host – Ethernet 10Base-2 – BNC – 1

Power:

Power Device: Power supply – integrated
Voltage Required: AC 110/220 V ± 10% ( 50/60 Hz )
Power Consumption Operational: 20 Watt
Compliant Standards: UL

1 -  3Com Super Stack 24 port model: 3C16980 Super Stack 2 Swtch 3300

1 – Cisco Systems Catalyst 2950 series 24 port switch.

Manufacturer’s product description:

The Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series Switch is a fixed-configuration, stackable standalone switch that provides wire-speed Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. This switch offers two distinct sets of software features and a range of configurations to allow small, midsize, and enterprise branch offices and industrial environments to select the right combination for the network edge. Standard Image Software offers Cisco IOS Software functions for basic data, voice, and video services. For networks with requirements for additional security, advanced quality of service (QoS), and high availability, Enhanced Image Software delivers intelligent services such as rate limiting and security filtering for deployment at the network edge.

1 – Cisco Systems IAD2400

Manufacturer’s product description:

The Cisco Integrated Access Device family offers excellent integration of data, toll-quality analog or digital voice, security and wireless services for a customer premises equipment (CPE) solution. The products have been designed for current and emerging multiservice needs of competitive local exchange carriers and other service providers and help them offer managed integrated services to small and medium customers to keep their users within their domains, enhance customer loyalty, reduce churn, and potentially increase their ARPU.

2 – APC Power strips

12 – IBM eServer xSeries 300 8672 rack servers.

Product description:

MPN     8672
Key Features
Form Factor -Rack-Mountable

Processor – Pentium III 1 GHz
Processors Qty. – 1
Installed Memory – 512 MB (SDRAM)
Platform – PC
Processor Manufacturer     Intel
Processor Type -Pentium III
Processor Speed – 1 GHz
Installed Qty – 1
Max Supported Qty     1
Processor Upgradability – Upgradable

Memory
Installed RAM – 512 MB
RAM Technology – SDRAM
Maximum RAM – 1.5 GB
Hard Drive – 40 GB SCSI 10,000 RPM
2nd Storage Controller     IDE / EIDE
Networking – Yes
Networking Type    - 2 10/100 ports
Network Adapter
Data Link Protocol – Ethernet • Fast Ethernet
Motherboard – MS-6388
Installed L2 Cache Memory – 256 KB
Video Output Interface – PCI
CD / DVD
CD / DVD Type     CD-ROM
Read Speed – 24x (CD)
Floppy Type     3.5″ 1.44 MB floppy
Audio – on-board
Max. Video Resolution     1600 x 1200
Installed Video Memory     8 MB
Dimensions
Width     17.34 in.
Depth     25.73 in.
Height     1.73 in.
Weight     28 lb.

1 – 7ft Relay racks or 2-Post Rack with 7 different shelves.

3 – ps2 Keyboards

1 – old DSL modem

1 – Systemax computer

In the next post I will show you what I was able to come up with. One thing is I want to try a Quake 3 server and FTP server to test my home internet upload and download speed. With 2 of the servers I might run my home network. Check back to see what useless monster we come up with.