Best option for separating cable modem and router?

[cormanaz]

I currently have my router and cable modem and main computer in an office on one end of the house. The wifi reception is not good in some areas of the house. I want to get the router more centrally located, but there is already a splitter on the cable outlet at the central location feeding two cable boxes. One solution would be to leave the modem in the office and connect it via hardwire to the router at the central location. However, I have the computer in the office that needs hardwire. I've researched putting a switch at the modem, but I understand that is tricky. OTOH, I understand using a 3 way splitter at the central location and putting both modem and router there (with hardwire back to the office) may cause problems because of signal attenuation. There is also the question of whether to use a balanced or unbalanced splitter with the second option. Can anyone advise me on what is the best option in this case?

 

[bill001g]

Leave your router and modem where they are and add a second router running as a AP in the central location and connect it back to the main router via ethernet. You could also try MoCA instead of the ethernet cable but I would use ethernet to connect to the AP if it is at all possible.

 

[cormanaz]

Leave your router and modem where they are and add a second router running as a AP in the central location and connect it back to the main router via ethernet. You could also try MoCA instead of the ethernet cable but I would use ethernet to connect to the AP if it is at all possible.

Problem is that the current device is a Zoom 5350, which is a combo modem/router. I am replacing that with an Arris SB6183 which is a 16x4 for better internet speed. I don't think I can make the Zoom into a router only.

 

[theyeti87]

You may be interested in using powerline adapters to run ethernet from any of your electrical sockets.

 

[bill001g]

So you need to buy some kind of router anyway. You would put your new router by the modem and use the Zoom as the AP.

Now if you can run 2 lan cable you could run modem to wan port on new router. Connect second cable to lan port and run it back to the PC or a switch. It is still modem-----router-------switch but with long cable between.