how to move a router to a different room using new Ethernet jacks/lines

[mtomhacct]

Hello - I currently have my cable modem and router located in an office room in the back corner of my house. I want to move just the router to a more central location to hopefully get more wireless coverage in the house. I can’t move the modem without contacting the cable company and paying them to setup a jack in another room.

Since there is fairly easy access under the rooms where the router currently is, I was thinking that I could run some Ethernet cables from the office room to the new location. One problem is, I still need some hardwired connections in the office room. So, my plan was to run more than one cable from the office room to the family room. One line would connect the modem to the router, and then I’d connect another line from the router back to a new switch in the office (these would be via RJ-45 jacks that I’d put into both rooms). I’ve included a diagram to hopefully explain it better.

My questions:

■ Will this work or is this a dumb idea?
■ Should I use Cat 5e or 6A (or even 7) Ethernet cable?
■ Do the ports need to be wired any differently (i.e., the connection from the modem to the router vs. the connection from the router to the switch)?
■ Do I need to bother with a patch panel or can I just use a switch in the office? This house does not have a wiring closet, and I’m not sure where I’d put a patch panel either. I don’t really have any plans to run lines to other rooms anyway.
■ Am I missing something?

Thank you.
Matt

 

[USAFRet]

1. No, this is a GoodIdea

2. Cat5e

3. No

4. Just a switch will work just fine.

5. Don't think so.
All you are really doing is extending the connection between modem and router. And then another cable back from the router to where you need it.

 

[Hardware Brad]

If your only goal is to get better wireless throughout your home, instead of moving the router, you could just buy an access point to place at the center of the home and hard wire that to the router in the office.

 

[androbourne]

Wouldn't it be much easier to leave the modem and main router next to each other and get a WAP for the new office space?

That way you don't have to run that extra cable back to the switch.

 

[USAFRet]

Given "fairly easy access under the rooms", it is just as easy to pull two wires at the same time as it is to pull one.

 

[androbourne]

I'd get a WAP with LAN ports in the back (or and a switch). This way both sides have both WLAN and LAN access if you ever needed it in the future. If you move the router only the family space would have that WLAN access.

WAPs are cheap and it would give you WLAN access on both Office and Family spaces.

I know I like wifi connectivity throughout my whole house, especially near my main equipment hub (which is his Office room). So that makes more sense to me for the long term use.

But either way will work. Just think ahead in the future of the features you may want to have. It's easier to design it based on those features now then have to redo things later.

However, you could do it as you planned above and always purchase a WAP later for the office side.

So really just a preference thing depending on your setup in the wall. If running an extra wire ends up being a pain. You always have another option.

 

[mtomhacct]

Given "fairly easy access under the rooms", it is just as easy to pull two wires at the same time as it is to pull one.

Thanks - that was my thought as well. If it ends up not being as "easy" as I thought, I'll probably just go with a new router or new WAP (the one I have can be configured as a WAP too) as suggested by androbourne.

 

[USAFRet]

Given "fairly easy access under the rooms", it is just as easy to pull two wires at the same time as it is to pull one.

Thanks - that was my thought as well. If it ends up not being as "easy" as I thought, I'll probably just go with a new router or new WAP (the one I have can be configured as a WAP too) as suggested by androbourne.

That would work as well.
Personally, I prefer as few WiFi sources as possible, to provide coverage through the house. Preferably, a single one.

 

[androbourne]

There is nothing wrong with multiple APs. Assuming one AP can't go through the walls (which appears to be the case here) two APs would be needed. (or one AP and his router)

Only thing you need to look out for in channel conflicts. Which putting them on auto normally resolves that. If for some reason it doesn't, you can always download a free wifi analyzer on your phone and find the less used channels and manually adjust them.

It's very easy it to do.