Making a wired network with my wireless network?

479 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by AV8R, Dec 17, 2010

fran

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2010

I currently have a wireless network with my cisco m20 router. I want to run cat 6 cable to my living room (LR) and 3 other bedrooms. This is what I think I need to do. Please tell me if I'm AFU.

1- Run a cat 6 cable to my LR from one of my free ports of my wireless router.
2- Buy a switch or router? and route that cable to the switch or router and run the 3 other cable to the other BR's

Or

Should I buy the switch or router and connect it to my computer and move the wireless router to the LR (center of the house) and run cable from the wireless router to the other Br's

Thanks

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RedDawnTheMusical

· #2 · Dec 17, 2010

From a WiFi perspective, a central location for the WiFi router makes sense if you have computers, gaming consols, smartphones, etc. that need to share the device from multiple rooms. To expand the wired ports on the WiFi router, you just need a basic switch. Also, you don't need category 6 (CAT6) cabling - CAT5 is cheaper and completely sufficient for home networks. Also note that the CAT5 cabling can be purchased in bulk (250, 500, 1000 feet, etc.) and there are different types (CAT5e, plenum/CMP grade, etc.) You will be fine with regular CAT5 and don't need plenum grade. For switches I recommend that you look at the Netgear boxes that are made from metal (something like this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=234660&CatId=2796). I've seen these survive lightning storm after lightning storm is residential areas whereas other switches pickup electrical noise or spikes and get zapped - they look like they are working, but the network ports go dead. For whatever reason, the netgear boxes seem to survive time and time again without issue.

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AV8R

· #3 · Dec 17, 2010

RedDawnTheMusical said:
From a WiFi perspective, a central location for the WiFi router makes sense if you have computers, gaming consols, smartphones, etc. that need to share the device from multiple rooms. To expand the wired ports on the WiFi router, you just need a basic switch. Also, you don't need category 6 (CAT6) cabling - CAT5 is cheaper and completely sufficient for home networks. Also note that the CAT5 cabling can be purchased in bulk (250, 500, 1000 feet, etc.) and there are different types (CAT5e, plenum/CMP grade, etc.) You will be fine with regular CAT5 and don't need plenum grade. For switches I recommend that you look at the Netgear boxes that are made from metal (something like this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=234660&CatId=2796). I've seen these survive lightning storm after lightning storm is residential areas whereas other switches pickup electrical noise or spikes and get zapped - they look like they are working, but the network ports go dead. For whatever reason, the netgear boxes seem to survive time and time again without issue.

THIS. Simple switch, CAT5e, and place your wireless router so all your wireless devices can get good signal strength.

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