Hard wired from modem or from a router?

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Spikebob21

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Sep 12, 2011
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Here's my dilemma. My modem is across my house. Should I hard wire cables straight from my modem to my console and PC... or should I have 1 wire across my house and have the router on the other end. From there run 2 cables to my devices? Will I suffer any loss of speed? I plan on live streaming and speed lose is a problem... I believe some routers actually are better to connect to then straight from the modem... I'm not sure I'm lost and not sure what route to go here... please help

Thanks!
 
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you need a single cable between the modem and the router and then as many as needed from the router to each device. if you plug devices directly on the modem you will not be able to access the internet from them. the router is the one sharing the single connection the modem offers.

edit: yes, usafret is right, one device may work on the modem assuming they're not hard assigning your mac address of the router
 
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A modem will serve up an IP address to one and only one device. The router or a single PC.
A router will serve up multiple IP internal addresses

Modem -> router -> ......
From their, either multiple devices directly off the router,
or
a switch directly from the router, and multiple devices off that switch.
 
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My modem has the one slot (yellow) to connect a router.. it also has an additional slot for more devices to connect to it. This is because it's a modem/ router... that's why I'm saying I can connect multiple devices to my "modem"
 
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ok, then you don't need the second router at all, no reason to double nat the network just use the single one. or if you want you can use a single cable from modem to router and then shorter ones from router to devices. both options work.

edit: replacing the second router with a switch (router lan ports can work as a switch. you just need to disable the dhcp feature of the router first) works too. but then you plug it in the "devices" port of the modem.
 
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Yes the router from the modem I have disabled seeing as how I have a pretty expensive router. My ultimate question was whether or not I'll see a drop in speed using my router as the hub. Or should it be best just to have multiple wires coming from the modem.
 
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assuming the yellow port for the router works as it should (dmz for the router behind it - if not you can set it yourself on the modem admin page) there should be no problems. you can check on speedtest.net if you reach the speeds you're supposed to get.

the difference is which of the routers does the routing. if you dmz the modem -> the expensive router does the routing. otherwise it's used just as a switch and the modem does the heavy work. in terms of internet speeds there should be no difference.
 
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I don't think I can disable that feature to make it just a switch... seeing as how I still need the router operational so I have WIFI at home. Was a great thought and useful info for me. But if I won't see any speed difference using the router then my two connections from it vs hard wiring the modem. I'll go that route just so that's 1 less cable across my floor.
 
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What's the specific make/model of this device?
 
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The modem/router is at one location. Ideally it should be centrally placed so that the wifi coverage can be provided to the entire residence.

From the modem/router, cables can be run to the various devices that you wish to hardwire. If there is a location with several devices to wire (such as a TV set with a gaming box, streaming box, bluray, etc), that a single Ethernet cable run, and then plugged into a switch behind the TV, and the multiple devices plugged into the switch. The switches are affordable, and avoid having to run so many cables to one location.

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-SG1005D-1000Mbps-Gigabit-Capacity/dp/B000N99BBC/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1425763340&sr=1-2&keywords=ethernet+switch
 
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And yes what happened was I guess bright house ran out of modem only boxes... so I got a combo unit for free... they tried to tell me I had to pay to use that feature... I laughed as I turned on the wireless part and seen it working but anyways I believe there was just an off button for the wireless part of the modem. So my gaming router is the one doing the work I think... I mean I connect to its SSID WiFi name... even if it was acting as a switch I don't think it would give me it's SSID to connect too.. I'm unsure I'll have to double check and make sure the router on the modem is disabled.
 
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Most of these modem/router combos (aka: gateway devices) can have the router part disabled, and they can be connected to a dedicated router. In most cases, a recently purchased dedicated router will have far more capability, including better wifi than what is built into the modem/router combo box.
 
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Hardwired, there is zero speed difference between consumer grade routers. 10/100/1000...all the same.
In a single private residence, there is almost never a need for multiple routers. The main device, then other devices to distribute that signal around.
Powerline, MOCA, WiFi access points...
A router will work, if you dumb it down to be just an access point or switch.
 
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Yes digitaldox that's why I have the second gaming router. Thanks for the info but still not sure if hard wired to the modem if that would be faster then going hard wired from the router..
 
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But if I dumb it down to just be a switch then that renders my WiFi for the house... but if your suggesting that I dumb it down... then I presume the router fully functional will make a slight impact on speed?
 
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It will be the same speeds...however, it may allow you to more centrally locate the router for better wifi coverage, and avoid the need for a second wifi device.

 
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To suggest a recommended set up, we need to know all the devices you have, and what you need them to do.

modem, router, wifi, distances, etc, etc....
 
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