Best way to get WiFi throughout the house.
Discussion
We’re just doing first fit electrics in my refurbishment and want to make sure I don’t balls this up.
This is all in a bungalow for the avoidance of doubt.
The BT master socket is in the front master bedroom. The electrician is going to connect a data point to that (?) and take an Ethernet cable to the living room at the rear of the building where I believe the router will go so that I have Wi-fi and Ethernet ports for the tv and amp.
My questions are:
1 - does that sound correct?
2 - The router itself will be in a cabinet in the living room so does anyone know the typical strength of the Wi-fi. Would that adequately work through a couple of solid walls, or:
3 - will I need a wireless access point to the network? If so, can these be connected wirelessly or does it need a wired connection to the router.
4 - I assume a mesh network is the best option for seamless Wi-fi throughout?
Thanks
Gary
This is all in a bungalow for the avoidance of doubt.
The BT master socket is in the front master bedroom. The electrician is going to connect a data point to that (?) and take an Ethernet cable to the living room at the rear of the building where I believe the router will go so that I have Wi-fi and Ethernet ports for the tv and amp.
My questions are:
1 - does that sound correct?
2 - The router itself will be in a cabinet in the living room so does anyone know the typical strength of the Wi-fi. Would that adequately work through a couple of solid walls, or:
3 - will I need a wireless access point to the network? If so, can these be connected wirelessly or does it need a wired connection to the router.
4 - I assume a mesh network is the best option for seamless Wi-fi throughout?
Thanks
Gary
If you're at first fit I'd highly advise getting the spark to run at least 1, preferably 2 network cables from the router position to every room in the house. WiFi is good, directly cabled is great. Most routers can transmit up to about 300 Mbps, Cat5e cable is good for 1 Gbps - future proof whilst you have the chance.
Anything that doesn't move run a CAT5e/CAT6 to. eg TV points Sky boxes etc. Boiler, thermostat, doorbell.
Any CCTV?
Instead of a mesh system, I would hard wire Wifi access points, ceiling mounted. In a bungalow it's easy, just run some cables from the router into the loft, you can always drop them later. How many depends on the size of the place.
Problem is the head-end, at the router ends up a mess, so you may want to consider moving it to another position where you can have a hub. You need to ensure you run a BT feed to the main hub.
Any CCTV?
Instead of a mesh system, I would hard wire Wifi access points, ceiling mounted. In a bungalow it's easy, just run some cables from the router into the loft, you can always drop them later. How many depends on the size of the place.
Problem is the head-end, at the router ends up a mess, so you may want to consider moving it to another position where you can have a hub. You need to ensure you run a BT feed to the main hub.
megaphone said:
Anything that doesn't move run a CAT5e/CAT6 to. eg TV points Sky boxes etc. Boiler, thermostat, doorbell.
Any CCTV?
Instead of a mesh system, I would hard wire Wifi access points, ceiling mounted. In a bungalow it's easy, just run some cables from the router into the loft, you can always drop them later. How many depends on the size of the place.
Problem is the head-end, at the router ends up a mess, so you may want to consider moving it to another position where you can have a hub. You need to ensure you run a BT feed to the main hub.
Mesh system I use the BT 3 x disks, rock solid, good range thru 4 story stone house easy to setupAny CCTV?
Instead of a mesh system, I would hard wire Wifi access points, ceiling mounted. In a bungalow it's easy, just run some cables from the router into the loft, you can always drop them later. How many depends on the size of the place.
Problem is the head-end, at the router ends up a mess, so you may want to consider moving it to another position where you can have a hub. You need to ensure you run a BT feed to the main hub.
Mesh systems vary, some replace your router, some where the first node is wired direct into your router and take it from there with its own mesh( (you turn off your routers wifi) The BT disk system mentioned above is one where the first node is direct wired and the rest daisey chain from there. Other options are available
Cat5 gives max speed and stability...........if you need it, most people dont.............and I'm someone who tries to hardwire most critical things, NAS, TVs, Desktop PC, CCTV(POE)
Edited by sparkyhx on Tuesday 24th November 10:52
Edited by sparkyhx on Tuesday 24th November 10:54
As for 1.
Longer cable runs = worse internet speed generally
So adding more cable length from the master socket to the back of the bungalow before you attach the router just means your router to cabinet distance is increased further.... how much of a difference it might make, no idea... but if already fairly low speed I would try to avoid.
Its a fairly simple test if the master is live already/you have some electricity etc, if it makes a considerable difference then maybe cable back to the master, but setup router there and then stick a small switch near the TV / run mesh cables to the router in its location near the master
Longer cable runs = worse internet speed generally
So adding more cable length from the master socket to the back of the bungalow before you attach the router just means your router to cabinet distance is increased further.... how much of a difference it might make, no idea... but if already fairly low speed I would try to avoid.
Its a fairly simple test if the master is live already/you have some electricity etc, if it makes a considerable difference then maybe cable back to the master, but setup router there and then stick a small switch near the TV / run mesh cables to the router in its location near the master
TallTom said:
As for 1.
Longer cable runs = worse internet speed generally
So adding more cable length from the master socket to the back of the bungalow before you attach the router just means your router to cabinet distance is increased further.... how much of a difference it might make, no idea... but if already fairly low speed I would try to avoid.
The proposed cable run is ethernet, not twisted pair, and even gigabit ethernet will manage 100 metres if properly terminated. I wouldn't worry about cable length.Longer cable runs = worse internet speed generally
So adding more cable length from the master socket to the back of the bungalow before you attach the router just means your router to cabinet distance is increased further.... how much of a difference it might make, no idea... but if already fairly low speed I would try to avoid.
As for mesh vs cable, nothing about having some hard wired network precludes you also putting in a mesh system if things like wifi calling are important. You just get the benefits of a wired LAN too.
PushedDover said:
Number 4.
Just that.
Which one though? I was using BT's system of a hub plus 3 black disks and the disks were always disconnecting and dropping out - tJust that.
I replaced it with an ORBI which cost £400 for a hub & 1 satellite - to be honest it is not much better, devices regularly disconnect or get a crap signal and I have to often manually reboot the system.
jesusbuiltmycar said:
PushedDover said:
Number 4.
Just that.
Which one though? I was using BT's system of a hub plus 3 black disks and the disks were always disconnecting and dropping out - tJust that.
I replaced it with an ORBI which cost £400 for a hub & 1 satellite - to be honest it is not much better, devices regularly disconnect or get a crap signal and I have to often manually reboot the system.
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessorie...
jesusbuiltmycar said:
PushedDover said:
Number 4.
Just that.
Which one though? I was using BT's system of a hub plus 3 black disks and the disks were always disconnecting and dropping out - tJust that.
I replaced it with an ORBI which cost £400 for a hub & 1 satellite - to be honest it is not much better, devices regularly disconnect or get a crap signal and I have to often manually reboot the system.
Faultless and easy to use / set up. Bleated on to a mate who has been running the Powerplug jobs and he concurs. Brilliant and night and day difference to the ballache previously
With both mesh (RF noise and building structure) and powerline (state of wiring, possible noises sources such as refrigerators) there a number of environmental factors which give some people great experiences and some terrible ones.
Most people only buy one set of such equipment ever few years, so their experiences are very much limited to how the last set of kit they bought worked.
Ethernet doesn't exhibit performance/consistency problems in typical domestic (or business) uses.
If it's convenient to run ethernet and either a reasonable fraction of your equipment has an ethernet port or you're contemplating buying a mesh system that supports a wired backhaul, then on a decent size build/refurb it seems short sighted not to throw a cable under the floorboards even if you don't terminate it immediately.
Most people only buy one set of such equipment ever few years, so their experiences are very much limited to how the last set of kit they bought worked.
Ethernet doesn't exhibit performance/consistency problems in typical domestic (or business) uses.
If it's convenient to run ethernet and either a reasonable fraction of your equipment has an ethernet port or you're contemplating buying a mesh system that supports a wired backhaul, then on a decent size build/refurb it seems short sighted not to throw a cable under the floorboards even if you don't terminate it immediately.
megaphone said:
Nothing wrong with a mesh system, but it is a compromise. Hard wired is best and the OP has a chance to get cables in.
But only if its 'static'. I have 25 items connected to my network. 1xPC, 2xNAS, SONOS, Hive, 3xCCTV, 2xPrinter, 2xtv, DVR TV recorder, My work Laptop is wired cos its sits in from of my desktop in my office. Many of these could do Wifi, but I choose not to I have 3 switches witha total of 23 ports, (excluding the router) The rest are largely portable (or wifi only) items like laptops, tablets and phones, amazon fire, echo speaker.I do tend to agree that if you have the opportunity furure proof with wired access point in all rooms, go for it. In the same way houses today need far more plugs than olden days.
Edited by sparkyhx on Tuesday 24th November 13:21
loudlashadjuster said:
TallTom said:
As for 1.
Longer cable runs = worse internet speed generally
So adding more cable length from the master socket to the back of the bungalow before you attach the router just means your router to cabinet distance is increased further.... how much of a difference it might make, no idea... but if already fairly low speed I would try to avoid.
The proposed cable run is ethernet, not twisted pair, and even gigabit ethernet will manage 100 metres if properly terminated. I wouldn't worry about cable length.Longer cable runs = worse internet speed generally
So adding more cable length from the master socket to the back of the bungalow before you attach the router just means your router to cabinet distance is increased further.... how much of a difference it might make, no idea... but if already fairly low speed I would try to avoid.
As for mesh vs cable, nothing about having some hard wired network precludes you also putting in a mesh system if things like wifi calling are important. You just get the benefits of a wired LAN too.
geeks said:
Not at the length run the OP is talking about, generally anything under 100 metres and you wont notice!
No he is extending the master socket, from that to an Ethernet cable from the socket to the router at the back of the bungalow, regardless what cable type it is, its adding additional length effectively from the BT cabinet to the router/termination...., I would expect that could affect overall speeds.I am not talking about 100m Ethernet from Router to another location, specifically the extension of the distance between the cabinet and the router.
Unless its modem termination by master socket & then Ethernet from that to the router, I would have no issues with. (But I have assumed that is not the case)
We’re running an Ethernet cable from the master socket to the living room. If the siting of the router at the end of that cable causes speed issues then I’ll re-site the router at the master socket and just put a small Ethernet hub in the living room.
I’m only trying the first way as I’d prefer not to have the router in the bedroom as it enters the house just behind the bed (it’s a 60s bungalow)
I’m only trying the first way as I’d prefer not to have the router in the bedroom as it enters the house just behind the bed (it’s a 60s bungalow)
megaphone said:
Is your BT cable on a pole or under ground?
Underground, but it’s a really old thick cable that does not have the normal grey plastic termination box, it just comes out of the ground and into the wall. It’s an older style master socket too with a single port so currently needs a filter.Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff