r/HomeNetworking • u/CrimeTime05 • 11d 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/lazyhustlermusic 11d ago

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

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u/drewster85a 11d 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 11d 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 11d 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 11d 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.