I have a wireless router and it functions just fine, but I need to get the most out of my internet’s potential bandwidth, and WiFi just won’t cut it especially when transferring large files to-and-from FTP’s or playing First Person Shooters on a consistent basis.
I’ve heard of a lot of cases where someone’s wireless router is too far from their laptop, XBox360, or PS3 to get good WiFi reception. Instead of calling an electricion, drilling holes, trying to manage with Wifi extenders, or just waving your laptop around in the air to get better reception, I always give them this list of items to get off of Amazon to remind them that wired internet is insanely better and still an option.
Here’s what you need to run a cable across your home.
- 100ft ethernet cable – RJ45 CAT5 CAT5E Ethernet LAN Network Cable 100ft White
- Clips for ethernet cable – Gardner Bender #PCS-100 1/4″100/BX Coax Staple
- Run your new 100 ft cable across the house, and into your gaming console or PC.
- Use a hammer to mount your clips and ethernet cable up walls, along the ceiling, floor, door frames etc. to keep things tidy, and prevent people from tripping over cords on the floor.
Done!
Depending on your situation.. You also might need:
- A hammer to nail clips into the wall – 8-oz. Tubular Steel Claw Hammer
- Another small cable or two – Ethernet Cable, CAT5e – 25 ft White
- Cable extender (in case 100 ft isn’t enough) – RJ45 Coupler F-F Straight
- A Router – Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router
- A Hub – NETGEAR FS605NA 5-Port Fast Ethernet Switch
- A Hub will let you split the signal once again into 4. So if you have multiple devices across the house, you can run your 1 long cable into the hub, and plug everything else into it to prevent having to mount a ton of cords across your home.
- Cable modem in living room
- 5 ft. ethernet cable from Cable Modem to Router IN
- Three 5ft. ethernet cables from Router OUT to PS3, Macbook, and PC
- One 100 ft ethernet cable from Router OUT, across house and IN to a HUB
- Four 5 ft ethernet cables OUT from HUB and IN to Xbox360, Mac Pro, and PC.
- The router also supports WiFi for laptops, iPads, and mobile devices around the house so I can be disconnected if I want.
Here’s how my cable flow goes.
Hopefully this helps someone.
I know I’ve had to gather these links for a few people, and it’ll be nice to just give them this post instead.