Friday, October 12, 2012

Jordan Springs Community on Facebook

Just a quick post, I didn't start this but I think it's a great idea. If you're living in Jordan Springs or you will be then join up. We can stick together and try to tackle any issues that may come up or use it as a way to get to know each other.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/269493343088950/


My Internal Opticomm Fibre Cabinet - Hills Hub Setup

Just sharing some pictures for my fibre connection in case it helps anyone. One thing I recommend is asking your builder to install a double power point in the hills hub. I added one to mine afterwards as I didn't even think it might be needed but it defiantly will be.

My hills home hub is in the wall. The first shot shows the hub with the backup power supply for the external ONT. This power supply keeps a phone line up (If you don't go with VOIP).

The second shot shows my BOB lite modem in the box in front of the switch I bought. My data incoming port goes into number 1 on my BOB lite, so expect to lose one port for the incoming. The telephone cable goes into my phone point. I then have one patch lead going out of the modem into the switch.

The third shot shows the switch. This is a gigabit switch which allows everything connected to it to talk at 1000mb. You need to ensure you use CAT 6 everywhere for that to work and your PC's etc will need a gigbait network card to get full use.

The modem came from iinet, and the switch and cables came from ARC Computers in Penrith. The small Cat 6 cables cost about $2-$3 and the switch was $36.

http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?gid=23511&pid=41812&p=product

I used this setup as I had hard wired 8 ports around the house, otherwise I'd suggest what Ian used, the Asus RT-N56U. (http://www.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Routers/RTN56U/#overview)

I'll be buying a wireless extender as well as the BOB lite picks up ok but because its behind the metal box I get crappy signal as soon as I shut the box. I may pick up the Asus and use it as an extender and can use it for a small switch as well. :)

So far I'm loving the fibre, cloudy days, perfect reception on my TV. Oh and the net is crazy fast!!! I'm stoked how good it is!




Retaining Wall Woes - Some Advise

I thought I'd post what I've been up to and it might give some others some ideas. Sadly I've seen a lot of retaining walls being built by builders in the area and sadly they're not done to last. One or two I've seen would be lucky to last 6 months. Mine included hence why I ripped it down and decided to do it again and do it properly, rather then trying to dig up half the lawn, trees, and the neighbours yard in the future.

In total it cost me about $350 for the materials. A big thanks for my dad for helping me out with some of the tricky parts.

This was the old wall. The wall wasn't straight and the posts were only in 150-200mm in the ground, retaining about 700mm, the pressure from the soil behind would have pulled it over. Also there was an ag-pipe behind the wall but it was just surrounded by soil. The pipe would have clogged by the soil after the first rain fall and never worked again.


These shots show me digging it all out and digging the wall back to give me room. Took me a few hours to do this.


These shots show some of the work a fair bit down the track. I dug the retaining wall posts down 700-900mm based on the string line of the top of the fence. My posts were a lot deeper. I used about 2-3 bags of concrete per hole. The fence posts are extended at 3m, they also went just as deep.



These photos show the ditch I dug from the retaining wall to my sewrage pipe. I'll be tapping into it with some 90mm pipe, there about $12 for a 6m length. This really helps with the water problems. You should run the ag-pipe to a pipe in your yard to carry the water away. I know it seems your doing it for them but trust me your not. If I can take most of the water away then I save it soaking my backyard. Make sure you put one of these in. I dug the ditch about 200-300mm deep.




And last but not least, the ag-pipe should have about 150mm of blue metal drainage (or equivalent) on top of the ag-pipe. Then on top of this use something to filter the soil so the soil doesn't get into the pipe. You can buy the ag-cloth or use weed mat. Put this on top of the gravel and you shouldn't have to many dramas.