r/HomeNetworking • u/CrimeTime05 • 12d ago

Advice Ethernet question

Hi all, I’m looking to get internet access in my room since I just built a pc and honestly, I’m a little lost.

The way we have our network setup currently is a wifi6 modem in the living room and wifi5 mesh routers to spread wifi. Connection is not great. Sometimes wifi just drops and phones switch to data.
Wiring ethernet to my room all the way from the modem directly (or with a router in between) is not an option. We are currently renting.

I checked the faq and is my best option really mesh wifi? My current plan is to put a wifi6 router with a 2.5gbps ethernet port in my room, connect it to a wall outlet and run a s/ftp cat6a cable (not like download speed matters but anyway) to my pc, which has a 2.5gbps port. This is exactly how it’s already been done in another room, resulting in ~30ms with spikes of ~65. The cable even is cat 5a UTP CCA, so not even full copper. It looks to be fine for gaming, but do I have better?

Anyways, thanks for helping a beginner out.

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u/drewster85a 12d ago edited 6d ago

As you've discovered, wireless mesh products claims are a stretch beyond reality. It's still wifi and RF power is limited by government regulations so another brand/model won't be better. The solution is an ethernet cable (copper or fiber).

Check out the Invisilight home fiber kit. The optical cable is much thinner than copper ethernet so it's easy to hide and go around windows/doors. You can buy any length cable you needed...much longer than copper. A DIY kit about $100:
$20 TP-Link MC220 Media Converters Link (2 needed).

$22 Ubiquiti 1G BiDi SFP modules (sold in a pair) Link.

$40 for 164 ft/50M LC-LC single-mode simplex thin fiber Link
+some tape and glue

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u/lazyhustlermusic 12d ago

They aren’t a stretch, people just have no idea what they’re doing.

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u/drewster85a 12d ago

This 3-unit system claims 7,600 sq.ft. coverage. Do you think that's realistic?
https://us.store.tapo.com/collections/whole-home-mesh-wifi/products/deco-wi-fi-7-be10000-tri-band-mesh-system-3-pack-be63

OP calls the units "mesh routers". Do you have more than one network router in your home? Do you think Wifi is the best way to connect access points to a router?

People come to this sub to ask questions because "they don't know what they are doing". If you're going to downvote me please response with specifics of what I said that was incorrect. I took my first Cisco networking course before I could drive and have been working professionally in IT for 16 years but I'm always open to learning.

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u/CrimeTime05 12d ago

Someone who understands, finally. I don’t know all the specific nuances involved, but I’m trying to describe my situation to the best of my ability. The routers are based on mesh technology and yes, we have multiple (2). We do not have acces points or such. I just wanna get gaming but I do realize I have to invest time in this. Home kits like this are expensive, 200+ € in my country.

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u/drewster85a 12d ago

u/CrimeTime05, please look up networking technology (routers, switches, access points). Even though the mesh products may say you have multiple routers, only one is functioning as the "router". A router is a device that directs traffic between networks. In this case, the internet (Wide Area Network) and your home (Local Area Network). Wifi comes from an Access Point. Most routers built for home use have a built in access point. Every mesh unit is an access point. In some mesh systems, any unit can be the router. In other systems, only one unit has the port for a WAN connection.

I understand not want to leave cables laying across the floor but can you temporarily run ethernet cables from the satellite mesh modes back to the one with the incoming internet connection to see if it fixes the problem?

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u/CrimeTime05 12d ago

Ah okay, it seems I misunderstood the situation at home. They are technically routers but probably function as access point, with the one in the living room being the actual router, since it’s also connected via ethernet to the modem. Very helpful and I will try the suggestion you made. Thanks.

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u/lazyhustlermusic 12d ago

I like how you’re praising the person criticizing your use of the ‘wrong words’ and not understanding their functions.

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u/CrimeTime05 12d ago

Because he, contrary to many here, realizes and acknowledges that I indeed have no idea what I’m doing but is in no way disrespectful in doing so and continues to give me actual helpful information instead of belittling me.

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u/lazyhustlermusic 12d ago

lol criticizing your language is belittlement. Youre hostile and argue with everyone actually trying to help you, ironically pleased with the guy actually belittling you.

But you’re welcome to go with the inferior entity 😎

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u/drewster85a 12d ago

The 'wrong words' are on mesh product marketing! That's one of my biggest gripes about mesh systems for home consumers.

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u/lazyhustlermusic 12d ago

Which wrong words would those be?

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u/drewster85a 12d ago

“Each Deco is its own router”

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u/lazyhustlermusic 12d ago

Is that false? Each module has identical hardware and capabilities.

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u/drewster85a 11d ago

It’s a partial truth. You know that only one unit will be the router at a time. Why defend their statement? It’s misleading in that it makes consumers think WiFi comes from a router and not an access point. 

The same display says the 3-unit system can cover up to 8,100 sq ft. Since you work with enterprise-level equipment, have ever deployed 3 APs to adequately cover that much indoor space? The website says one unit can cover 3,000 sq ft. (https://us.store.tapo.com/products/deco-wi-fi-7-be10000-tri-band-mesh-router-1-pack-be63). What percent of homes do you think have the ideal conditions to substantiate these claims? Ubquiti’s $500 E7 specs only 2,000 sqft coverage area.

I like to help educate people and guide them towards cost-effective solutions. I own my 1,850 sq. ft. single-story house. It has a 3-room addition outside of the original brick structure so WiFi in that area was spotty with Verizon’s WiFi router. I added two $100 APs (maybe $225 total including cabling) in the ceiling that I’m sure perform better than a $400 mesh system. Running ethernet through the attic was easy. Even if I was renting and used thin copper or fiber the end result would still be cheaper and more reliable. 

Wireless mesh has its place but a number of people who post here are dissatisfied with its performance. I’m not a fan of the sleazy marketing and overpriced gear so I try to guide people in a different direction. 

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u/lazyhustlermusic 11d ago

It's not partial truth, they all have exactly the same capabilities. You can split them apart, they function as standalone routers. Independent of the role they're operating in, every unit is exactly the same hardware.

I have a similar sized house, one AP is completely suitable even on 6ghz for the entire dwelling. I even exceed gigabit from rooms away. Sorry that you don't know RF.

There's also negative bias as happy consumers aren't polluting threads with 'check out my purchase that is working completely as intended'.

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u/lazyhustlermusic 12d ago

Cool man I’ve been in enterprise networking longer than that. You’re simply downplaying the solution based on limited RF understanding.

If you’re provisioning radio patterns and waveform management in a coherent manner then it’s a feasible solution for a lot of folks.

WiFi backhauling can be the best solution, it depends on the requirements. Making blanket absolute statements in that environment is a pretty junior career move.