Need help networking

[NerrawCombs]

Evening everyone was just wondering if any of you have any suggestions for me on what to do..

Me and my couple roommates are really wanting to network our house.. But we are at a lose on how to do it since we live in an already built two story home.

There would be a maximum of 6 rooms we would need networked but more than likely we are just gonna do 5 ( 3 downstairs and 2 upstairs)

we are wanting something for our office room (downstairs)
Our living room (downstairs)
Guest room (downstairs)
Then two bedrooms upstairs..

I'm honestly not even sure if I'm giving you guys enough information to go by but I'm just not that tech savvy when it comes to wiring and stuff like that.

 

[kanewolf]

The way professionals do it is by cutting holes in the wall where the wall plate will go and drilling with a long flexible bit. That can get you into the stud cavity of the first floor. If you have a basement, you could go all the way down to the basement and drill up into the first floor stud cavity. Then you fish. If you don't have a basement, then you probably have to work from the attic down. You might have to cut sheetrock and patch.

Bring ethernet cable back a central location, either a closet or the basement. Put an ethernet switch there. Then run an ethernet cable to wherever you have your router. It might be adjacent.

Optionally, add extra WIFI access points to improve WIFI coverage.

 

[chris_shadez]

Another option is to use Powerline Ethernet adapters. Example that i use
Adapter plugs into wall sockets, one to grab signal from router via ethernet and others scattered around house where needed, providing the ethernet outlet. Could also be used with wall socket wifi extender adapters other than just ethernet ports
Shown in diagram here to better depict

 

[Solandri]

Yeah. If you own the house, then it *may* be worthwhile to wire it up properly with ethernet. If you've never done this before, it's probably better to hire someone to do it for you (unless you want to make it a learning experience). If this is what you want to do, then I and others would be happy to guide you and give you advice.

If you don't own the house, then your landlord probably won't agree to let you punch holes in the wall and drill holes in the studs, even if he gets a free network out of it. He might agree if you offer to pay for a professional to install it.

If the landlord won't let you install ethernet, or you don't want to go through the trouble and expense, your other options are:

Powerline ethernet adapters (ethernet via power sockets).
MoCA ethernet adapters (ethernet over coaxial cable TV cable).
WiFi repeaters/extenders
Directional WiFi antenna at opposite end of house pointed at main router (Ubiquiti Nanostation M is a good one).
VDSL modem pair (ethernet over home's phone lines, but this is the most expensive).