Advice please - thick walls, ethernet cables - trying to extend wifi

Netwit

New Member
Hello, I'm Netwit which explains a lot.
I live in an old farmhouse which was refurb'd a while ago - ethernet cables were added from the room the internet router is in to other rooms i.e. hardwire. The router's wifi is not powerful enough to reach other than the next room and I want to get a wifi signal at the other side of the house so I have comeup with this solution (i think) can anyone confirm this would work please ?
Incoming BT port connects to router - I propose to connect a gigabite switch to the router and plug in the ethernet cables to each room. To the other end of the ethernet cables I propose to add a wifi hub (non intelligent) which should provide wifi at the switch speed/router speed in the appropriate room.
Is this correct or is there a simpler way ?
Apart from the switch I would need 4 wifi hubs - where's best to buy them if this proposed system would work?
 

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
If noone answers by the time I get home from work I'll post specifics on what you need to do to get wireless where you need to but you are on the right track.
 

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
Do you need more cables to the rooms then the router would supply? If so, then you would need a switch. You could run the cables to cheap access points in each room. I'm thinking something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...c-5fec-585d-bac0-5993b5eff9dc&pf_rd_i=1194486

Or if the area isn't that big then you can just run 1 cable to a router and just use it that way. You would have to connect ethernet cable to one of the lan ports and not the wan port and do some minor configuring in the router. without seeing some sort of diagram of your home and where you want wireless signal its kinda hard to tell you what you really need.
 

Netwit

New Member
I think the router has four 'ethernet' ports but might need some more so hence switchgear. However really interested whether I need a 'hub' or a router attached to the other end of the ethernet cables. Thanks for your advice so far but I'm keen to buy the kit - the homeplug solution seems unwise since the cables are already in?
 

Cromewell

Administrator
Staff member
You should only need one router at the entry point. At the other end of the cables to each room a switch is fine, if needed. Then WiFi APs as needed for coverage, they will need an ethernet line connected to them.

Whether you need a switch in each room depends if you have more than one device in there that needs a physical connection. You can connect the ports on the router to switches without issue.
 

Trizoy

VIP Member
Also note, if you setup these Access Points with the same nane/SSID and security level/password your phone/other devices will autoconnect as you walk through the house.
 

thewhiterabbit

New Member
Another way of doing it without the need for switches and to keep the speed you are getting at the main modem is to use the MOCA system. Most Cable Broadband Providers have devices like this and they are actually being produced for consumer use as well. MOCA stands for Media Over Coaxial Alliance. You install the Main modem/router (gateway) with MOCA capabilities at the entry point. After this it is as simple as running Coax to any room you want wifi and installing a MOCA adapter (extender). The adapter will communicate over the Coax with the main gateway and automatically configure itself to your correct SSID and Passphrase, security, WAN config, firewall and so on. It is akin to installing a second or 3rd modem so no drop in speed and no need to run a bunch of ethernet cables.
 

Cromewell

Administrator
Staff member
I'm pretty sure whatever they were going to do is done now.
It is akin to installing a second or 3rd modem so no drop in speed and no need to run a bunch of ethernet cables.
But you run a bunch of coax cables instead. You shouldn't lose speed by using a switch, you will get a tiny latency hit, but nothing compared to what you see on the WAN side anyway. Seems like an equivalent solution.
 
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