Is there a special wireless method for connecting ethernet between two floors aside from the wifi network?

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sticktwig

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I've been wiring an ethernet network through the closets in my basement and I'm attempting to get a computer I'm using as a media PC connected. My attempts to drop ethernet through the floor from our family room into the closet appears more difficult than my original assessment and I'm looking for another option. This has me wondering if there is an existing technology to wirelessly connect two ethernet points with at least 100mb (though gigabit would be awesome since the rest of it is set up for such). I've looked at wireless bridge systems, but most are for outdoor applications over a distance.

I have a wireless mesh system, but this PC is at the far end of the main floor and they're stacked in the center of the house up the three floors. An extra will cost me $100, so something less than this would be great.

Thanks
 
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sticktwig

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I'm well aware wire is the best option, but not even electricians I hired were able to get coax dropped from that point. They had to take it off a different part of the basement in order to run it to a different wall of the family room where we wanted our TV to mount. But at least they were able to get full access to the subflooring by removing the drop-ceiling. Where I need to run ethernet, the ceiling in the closet is finished. I'm debating installing an access hatch so provide a large enough hole to get a drill through, but don't know where to place the hole.

I have apparently mistakenly recalled that they ran a powerline down and was hoping to use that hole as a guide. But once I removed the outlet, I found out they also ran the electric across the basement ceiling off of a line in the big closets. So my only options are: buy another mesh router for $100, pay an electrician at least that much, start punching holes and hope something works, or find another option. Starting to think the fourth mesh router is the only real option, but I'm still not sold a strong signal will reach that far point.
 
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sticktwig

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It's on powerline ethernet now (should have included this in my post). I used to get good bandwidth via PE in the house, around 30 mbps. After we had some electrical work done (pot lights in our family room and a change to an outlet to, of all things, disconnect one socket from a switch so I could run PE on that outlet with the computer's surge protector on the other socket) those numbers dropped into the teens. My office was dependent on PE, which sent me on a quest for more powerful wifi which ended with a TP Link Deco system - great, but the three still leave a few weak points.

I was really hoping it would be fairly easy to drill down into that basement closet, but it appears hard to tell where or to get the drill onto the studs from above without damaging the family room wall. Very frustrating. And no way to raise one of the mesh routers over the media closet in the basement (opposite corner from where I need to drop the PC ethernet) due to the hardwood in our dining room/living room. Total pain in the arse.

I'm beginning to lean toward setting up an alert for when one of those Deco M5 single boxes on Ebay. Maybe I can get one for a bit less or possibly find a set on sale and auction off the two I don't need.
 
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sticktwig

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Unfortunately, the point of exit and entry would both be about 6 feet above the ground as the plot slopes down from the front of the house toward a walkout basement in the back. Otherwise, I like the idea.
 
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sticktwig

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Just to update, I managed to run Ethernet through the drop ceiling in the basement and moved the Verizon router back to the family room. Even then, the Windows 10 PC will not move better than 25mbps downstream without ethernet. With ethernet, I"m hitting 80 mbps and can move 1 gb per minute across the house.

Was still debating cutting in the closet and drilling, but have decided to try an AC1200 wifi adapter first. Managed to find one with good reviews for $13 because it's missing the low profile adapter. That's less than the 14"x14" access panel I figured necessary in order to wedge most of my upper body up into the ceiling to reach the drilling spot. Going to try that first. If I can just hit 50 mbps, I would be happy.

Here's the odd thing. I have two usb wifi adapters, each rated for at 150 mbps (one is pure wireless, the other wireless and Bluetooth). I also have a game adapter rated at 300 mbps. I tried all three and none would push north of 25 mbps. One is Mac compatible, so I installed it on my Macbook Pro and turned off the internal wifi and hit 80 mbps. Not sure what/why the PC can't manage those and I did check for malware and such.

I may want my hair back for Christmas after pulling it all out. That said, though, the network has never been more stable or faster between all of my devices and that is before moving one of the mesh routers to a more central location.

Thanks for the advice so far. Will update after I test the card.
 
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sticktwig

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It appears my $13.95 open box D-link wifi card paid off. Not as fast and likely not as stable as ethernet, but I'm hitting 55-70 mbps (vs 65-80) with an average around 60 for download ranges and my internal network speeds aren't perceptibly slower (1gb of data still transfers in about one minute). Going to go with this for a while and see how stable it is. Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year.
 
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