Home network question

[Bow]

Hey guys,
Right now I have a Asus Rt ac66u. Great router, love it. Problem is it is dying. Shuts down, sometimes restarts. Power button will not stay in, have it taped up,l. It is time to get a new one.

So this is what we have on the router. My pc and one tv are hardwired.
My wife and I have the 2.4 channel with our cell phones, 2 lap tops that are only crunching for world community grid.
And another tv.
The 5 ghz channel my boys have 2 gaming PC's, 2 xbox's and 2 TV's that are wireless,
They boys have not noticed any lag issues being wireless for the games they play.

I am trying to figure out how to run everything without spending $200.00 plus on a new router.
I am thinking about hard wiring the boys computers. Small hole in the wall and cat 5 to their rooms.
Then pick another duel channel router for the rest,
Giving them the the 5 ghz channel for tv and xbox.
Keep the 2.4 for the wife and I.


Looking for thoughts and ideas,

Thanks!

Maybe this router.
Linksys Mesh WiFi Router (Tri-Band Router, Wireless Mesh Router for Home AC2200), Future-Proof MU-MIMO Fast Wireless Router.

then each boy will have a channel.

 

[eidairaman1]

Netgear

 

[Bill_Bright]

Small hole in the wall and cat 5 to their rooms.

You do NOT want to use CAT-5. You want at least CAT-5e or better yet, CAT-6.

CAT-5 only supports up to 100Mbps. CAT-5e and CAT-6 can support up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps) so that tiny "e" makes a HUGE difference. The main difference between CAT-5e and CAT-6 is CAT-5e can support up to 1Gbps, CAT-6 is "certified" to support 1Gbps. But it is important to note to take full advantage of CAT-6, the network must be in compliance with the CAT-6 standards from end-to-end.

There are many advantages to going with wifi over Ethernet but when I have a choice, I always choose wired (Ethernet). Although wireless networks are easy to secure, wired are inherently more secure from the start. Plus with good cable and connections, interference is rarely a problem.

 

[Bow]

Netgear

I play a lot of iRacing. Netgear and iRacing do not play well togather.

You do NOT want to use CAT-5. You want at least CAT-5e or better yet, CAT-6.

CAT-5 only supports up to 100Mbps. CAT-5e and CAT-6 can support up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps) so that tiny "e" makes a HUGE difference. The main difference between CAT-5e and CAT-6 is CAT-5e can support up to 1Gbps, CAT-6 is "certified" to support 1Gbps. But it is important to note to take full advantage of CAT-6, the network must be in compliance with the CAT-6 standards from end-to-end.

There are many advantages to going with wifi over Ethernet but when I have a choice, I always choose wired (Ethernet). Although wireless networks are easy to secure, wired are inherently more secure from the start. Plus with good cable and connections, interference is rarely a problem.

A basic duel channel wifi router looks to have 4 ethernet ports,
Any way to hard wire my pc, the main TV and run 5e to the rooms for the pc's and xbox's

 

[dirtyferret]

Hey guys,
Right now I have a Asus Rt ac66u. Great router, love it. Problem is it is dying. Shuts down, sometimes restarts. Power button will not stay in, have it taped up,l. It is time to get a new one.

So this is what we have on the router. My pc and one tv are hardwired.
My wife and I have the 2.4 channel with our cell phones, 2 lap tops that are only crunching for world community grid.
And another tv.
The 5 ghz channel my boys have 2 gaming PC's, 2 xbox's and 2 TV's that are wireless,
They boys have not noticed any lag issues being wireless for the games they play.

I am trying to figure out how to run everything without spending $200.00 plus on a new router.
I am thinking about hard wiring the boys computers. Small hole in the wall and cat 5 to their rooms.
Then pick another duel channel router for the rest,
Giving them the the 5 ghz channel for tv and xbox.
Keep the 2.4 for the wife and I.


Looking for thoughts and ideas,

Thanks!

Maybe this router.
Linksys Mesh WiFi Router (Tri-Band Router, Wireless Mesh Router for Home AC2200), Future-Proof MU-MIMO Fast Wireless Router.

then each boy will have a channel.

how about powerline adapters? Set up an AP upstairs for your boys and a simple 1200AC router can handle your downstairs.

 

[Bow]

You do NOT want to use CAT-5. You want at least CAT-5e or better yet, CAT-6.

CAT-5 only supports up to 100Mbps. CAT-5e and CAT-6 can support up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps) so that tiny "e" makes a HUGE difference. The main difference between CAT-5e and CAT-6 is CAT-5e can support up to 1Gbps, CAT-6 is "certified" to support 1Gbps. But it is important to note to take full advantage of CAT-6, the network must be in compliance with the CAT-6 standards from end-to-end.

There are many advantages to going with wifi over Ethernet but when I have a choice, I always choose wired (Ethernet). Although wireless networks are easy to secure, wired are inherently more secure from the start. Plus with good cable and connections, interference is rarely a problem.

A basic duel channel wifi router looks to have 4 ethernet ports,
Any way to hard wire my pc, the main TV and run 5e to the rooms for the pc's and xbox's

Do they make a hub or something that I can run it all from?

 

[bonehead123]

You do NOT want to use CAT-5. You want at least CAT-5e or better yet, CAT-6.

CAT-5 only supports up to 100Mbps. CAT-5e and CAT-6 can support up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps) so that tiny "e" makes a HUGE difference. The main difference between CAT-5e and CAT-6 is CAT-5e can support up to 1Gbps, CAT-6 is "certified" to support 1Gbps. But it is important to note to take full advantage of CAT-6, the network must be in compliance with the CAT-6 standards from end-to-end.

There are many advantages to going with wifi over Ethernet but when I have a choice, I always choose wired (Ethernet). Although wireless networks are easy to secure, wired are inherently more secure from the start. Plus with good cable and connections, interference is rarely a problem.

On that note, check this out.... this was current as of a few months ago AFAIK

 

[Bow]

how about powerline adapters? Set up an AP upstairs for your boys and a simple 1200AC router can handle your downstairs.

Single story home, 3 bedroom log cabin.

 

[dirtyferret]

A basic duel channel wifi router looks to have 4 ethernet ports,
Any way to hard wire my pc, the main TV and run 5e to the rooms for the pc's and xbox's

Do they make a hub or something that I can run it all from?

get a simple switch or use an old router

 

[Bill_Bright]

A basic duel channel wifi router looks to have 4 ethernet ports,

Almost all wifi routers have an integrated 4-port Ethernet switch. Unless you want to run two wires through your wall, you will want to use a 1Gb Ethernet switch (not hub) in the boy's room. Then one Ethernet cable from the router, through the wall to the switch in the boy's room and then to each computer.

 

[dirtyferret]

Single story home, 3 bedroom log cabin.

Will probably work even better. Set up an AP (old router can work) in one of the boys bedrooms and hardwire everything and make the other bedroom wireless (or get another adapter and hardwire both)

 

[Bill_Bright]

Set up an AP (old router can work)

Not too old. If both boys are streaming at once, an older router may not have too much latency - especially if a budget router to begin with.

Single story home, 3 bedroom log cabin.

If there is easy access to a crawl space under the floor, or in the attic, if me, I would wire the home with CAT-5e or CAT-6. Yes, pulling wires is a pain, but once done, unless you have hungry critters that like to gnaw on wires, it will last long after the boys move out.

 

[Bow]

Almost all wifi routers have an integrated 4-port Ethernet switch. Unless you want to run two wires through your wall, you will want to use a 1Gb Ethernet switch (not hub) in the boy's room. Then one Ethernet cable from the router, through the wall to the switch in the boy's room and then to each computer.

So for 2 bed rooms just get 2 switches?

I'm going to get a switch and hard wire the boys rooms . My pc and main tv will also be hardwired.
Everything else wireless.

Now to shop for a good router.

Thanks for the help guys!!!

 

[dirtyferret]

So for 2 bed rooms just get 2 switches?

I'm going to get a switch and hard wire the boys rooms . My pc and main tv will also be hardwired.
Everything else wireless.

Now to shop for a good router.

Thanks for the help guys!!!

Personally I would set up an AP since then you get a switch and wifi.

 

[Bill_Bright]

So for 2 bed rooms just get 2 switches?

I thought they shared a bedroom. Sorry. You can do two switches, but depending on the floor plan, you may just want to use one. Or as dirtyferret notes, maybe wifi is best for you. Much depends on floorplan, distances, number of barriers (walls), and the consistency and contents of those barriers.

 

[Bow]

P

Personally I would set up an AP since then you get a switch and wifi.
[/QUO[/

Can you please explain an AP please I am not familiar with that.

 

[dirtyferret]

Can you please explain an AP please I am not familiar with that.

An Access Point (AP) which can be a dedicated unit like those in mesh systems or a converted router which would allow you to use the router ports as a switch (as Bill Stated above)

How to turn an old Wi-Fi router into an access point

Instead of getting rid of that old and busted Wi-Fi router, you can use it instead to extend the Wi-Fi coverage of your home. Here's how.

www.cnet.com

In my house I have the following set up

First floor living room - Netgear Nighthawk 1700ac router with one roku hardwired and one powerline adapter hardwired. It also handles two stationary wifi clients in my basement office (my PC and printer).

Second Floor Master Bedroom - I use my old Asus N600 router as an AP through the second powerline adapter. I have one roku hardwired to the AP and one stationary wi-fi client (amazon echo dot in my son's room).

I then have five mobile wi-fi clients (two cell phones, two tablets, and one laptop) that move throughout the house. They connect to the Netgear router when in the basement or first floor and switch to the Asus AP when upstairs.

 

[Bill_Bright]

AP or WAP - wireless access point. They used to be separate devices but these days they typically are integrated with routers and 4-port switches and are marketed as "wireless routers". Technically they are still discrete network devices that just happen to share a common circuit board, case and power supply.

 

[Bow]

Thank you for the information.
I am going to read up on that. May be the way to go.
Thanks again to everyone for the information.

 

[bogmali]

how about powerline adapters?

Using them at my house (built 2005), powerline to my boy's rigs (upstairs), another to my other rig (also upstairs) and one to an Apple TV downstairs. They work great and much faster than Wi-Fi (IMHO).

 

[Deleted member 185158]

You do NOT want to use CAT-5. You want at least CAT-5e or better yet, CAT-6.

CAT-5 only supports up to 100Mbps. CAT-5e and CAT-6 can support up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps) so that tiny "e" makes a HUGE difference. The main difference between CAT-5e and CAT-6 is CAT-5e can support up to 1Gbps, CAT-6 is "certified" to support 1Gbps. But it is important to note to take full advantage of CAT-6, the network must be in compliance with the CAT-6 standards from end-to-end.

There are many advantages to going with wifi over Ethernet but when I have a choice, I always choose wired (Ethernet). Although wireless networks are easy to secure, wired are inherently more secure from the start. Plus with good cable and connections, interference is rarely a problem.

Dude you had me going for a second!! I just looked at my cable from my router to gaming rig. It's Category 5 patch cord man!!!

However, my connection speeds are 3 times faster than 100mb/s...... 355mb/s to be precise. The cable is only 6 foot long.

How could I tell if it's Cat 5 or Cat 5e? Would it be printed on the insulation, or is it within the product code?

 

[Solaris17]

It will be printed on the insulation. It will say 5e.

you are probably negotiating at full gig though since the distance is so short

 

[Deleted member 185158]

Yea just says category5 patch cord in exactly those words.

How can I sustain a speed test at such high speeds if this cable is only supportive of 100mb/s? Doesn't a lot of that have to do with length of the cable?

I should test the PC on the 100ft cable. That one says Cat-5e, should be close to same speeds then right? Even with the length?

 

[Solaris17]

Because the length is so short. The 5e at 100ft will test the same speed.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

You know, I never really gave it much thought what cables I've been using all these years.

The short one is OLD. Been using it .... oh, I can't even remember how long now.

Cool, learned something new today!

What is Cat-5e 4 PR 24 (UL) CMX-Outdoor/CMR 340 8 H? This means it's the "good stuff"??
edit:
Looking it up quickly, the 24 is the gauge. What's with all the rest of the numbers?