Whats needed to maximize my home network?

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skiim

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Apr 27, 2012
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I'm looking for the latest hardware, such as whether possibly an AC router would be best, what cables, etc.
Advice is needed from the ground up.

What I have now, is 100Mb/s connection from my ISP. This is upgradable to 250 if ever needed. I'm using the modem/router provided by the ISP and wirelessly.

I'd like to be able to DL at highspeeds, and also be able to stream media to different devices throughout my house, and also online gaming.
 
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choucove
If you have multiple floors and want to have a strong wireless connectivity option everywhere, you may look at doing a wireless access point configuration if you can run the ethernet cabling. Basically if your current router is in the basement, you would set up additional wireless routers without the actual routing capabilities that all connect back to the primary router. The benefit here is you are using these additional wireless routers basically as antennas to increase the range and signal strength of your network instead of just a single ISP-provided router. There is a very helpful guide here on Toms with step-by-step instructions to do just this type of configuration. You can go with high-end wireless access points if you want...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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What is needed to upgrade depends on what you have now, what doesn't work quite right, and how intensive/expensive you want to go.

But....
Wired is better than WiFi. Run Cat5e/Cat6 to each room. Expensive.
WiFi is very environment dependent. What works in my house may not work well in yours.
How many devices? 2, 5, 15?
 
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skiim

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Apr 27, 2012
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Only about 5. One PC, 2-3 TVs and 2 mobiles. Although not all ever being used at once. If I was to set up the router in the furnace room downstairs, and then run cat 5 or 6 (does it matter which?) To the TVs and the PC, I would only need about 40 feet of cable each. My WiFi might go down for my phones but that's not as important as the TVs and PC.

So I guess if that's my option, Cat 5 or 6, and also, am I being hampered by my current router given to me by Shaw cable?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Running wire is the optimal solution. But more work.
Cat5E

As far as the router? It's probably OK. The real deciding point is where it is. You want it central in the house, and you really, really don't want it in the basement if trying to get a WiFi signal from it.
 
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choucove

choucove

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May 13, 2011
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If you have multiple floors and want to have a strong wireless connectivity option everywhere, you may look at doing a wireless access point configuration if you can run the ethernet cabling. Basically if your current router is in the basement, you would set up additional wireless routers without the actual routing capabilities that all connect back to the primary router. The benefit here is you are using these additional wireless routers basically as antennas to increase the range and signal strength of your network instead of just a single ISP-provided router. There is a very helpful guide here on Toms with step-by-step instructions to do just this type of configuration. You can go with high-end wireless access points if you want and can afford, but it can be done simply with just standard wireless routers.

Of course, as USAFRet has stated, wired will always be better than wireless. If you can run an ethernet cable to it, do so, that's the best option.
 
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