We've been using this for 9 months now to reach 700' to our neighbor's T1 line and it works great! Far more reliable than our previous satellite internet and I think faster; no 0.7-second speed-of-light latency or signal dropouts. Have had a few problems, mainly with documentation, setup and IP address conflicts:
1) It runs a bit hot, wish it had a fan. Don't cover it up!
2) The manual needs work. Lots of settings, not much documentation and some is of the useless "IP Address: the IP Address" sort. Which IP Address? How do you pick one? I'd like to see better explanations of what settings are and what they do and a web site for user problems and solutions.
3) The far end Gefen box locks up every few months and/or we have IP address conflicts; there are several users at the neighbor's using who-knows-what settings and sometimes we see IP-address conflicts. Could really use detailed instructions and examples for setting e.g. the DHCP provider IP when: our laptops talk to our wireless router plugged into the Gefen near-end box hooked via coax to the Gefen far-end box plugged into the neighbor's router plugged into the T1 modem.
Notes:
1) Keep notes on settings!
2) If you get an (apparent) lockup, the Gefen setup software can do a software reset of the far end. Saves wandering into the neighbor's basement at 2AM.
3) When running coax it's standard to run a second coax simultaneously. Saves lots of work if the first one dies or is damaged during installation.
4) Running hundreds of feet of conduit is a big job. Use machinery to dig. Plan your route.
5) Call the call-before-you-dig number! You want THEM to find the underground power line, phone, water, gas, etc.
6) Use a fish tape, plenty of wire-pulling lube, a helper, big-enough or oversized conduit (there's a lump where you attach the fish-tape to the coax, especially if you fold double coax over), good duct tape to taper the lump so it won't catch and good-quality coax. Do a good job of attaching the coax to the fish tape.
7) Aim conduit junctions all the same way, so when you pull the lump will slide on the tapers instead of catching on edges.
8) Add junction boxes to allow pulling in limited-length segments (10' shorter than your fish tape) and limit conduit curves to 270 degrees per segment; 180 or 90 is better. Lots of friction at curves.
9) Don't kink coax, it permanently damages it and reduces the signal quality. Plan to cut several feet off the pulled end when done pulling.
10) Worth it, though.
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