Router and Computer on Different Floors. Want wired connection

[jkemper525]

My desktop is on the second floor of my house and my router is on the first floor. Is there anyway for me to get a wired connection?

 

[corroded]

sure.. cable it

 

[jkemper525]

yea but how do I run a cable through my house all the way to the second floor. Is this expensive? Is there another alternative

 

[USAFRet]

How hard it is depends on how nice you want it to look, house construction, and where exactly it is going.

3 alternatives:
1. Ethernet cable. Fast and secure
2. Powerline. 2 small devices, and they send the signal through the house wiring
3. WiFi

 

[corroded]

Powerline will be the cheapest.

WiFi is Good to have, in general. If you already have WiFi look to a Wireless Bridge:
Example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833168112&cm_re=wireless_bridge-_-33-168-112-_-Product

 

[bill001g]

You can always do it the way the cable company does things. Bore a holes though exterior walls and run it on the outside of the house. Not nice looking but tends to be very simple. Otherwise you cut holes in your wall and drill holes in the floor and ceiling plates and run it though the walls.

If you wanted someone to do it for you many electricians charge about $100 for fairly simple ones where the walls on the 2 floors are aligned. They have to start to drill though concrete floors and it gets expensive quickly.

 

[jkemper525]

I am running it on wifi right now and getting about 9-12mbps download. Is this a good speed or would I get a better speed using a powerline method?

 

[USAFRet]

I am running it on wifi right now and getting about 9-12mbps download. Is this a good speed or would I get a better speed using a powerline method?

What do you pay your ISP for, and what type of service is it? Cable/DSL/other...

 

[jkemper525]

Also would connecting my pc to this wireless bridge via Ethernet boost my download speeds?

 

[jkemper525]

I am running it on wifi right now and getting about 9-12mbps download. Is this a good speed or would I get a better speed using a powerline method?

What do you pay your ISP for, and what type of service is it? Cable/DSL/other...

I pay for 50 mbps and thats what I get when I am connected to the router via ethernet. I have fios

 

[USAFRet]

I am running it on wifi right now and getting about 9-12mbps download. Is this a good speed or would I get a better speed using a powerline method?

What do you pay your ISP for, and what type of service is it? Cable/DSL/other...

I pay for 50 mbps and thats what I get when I am connected to the router via ethernet. I have fios

You would likely get much better with powerline. Every house is different, though.

 

[USAFRet]

Also, some of the default models of the ActionTec router are very limited in WiFi performance.
On purpose, I believe.

I also have 50/25 FiOS, and via WiFi, it will never get over 20/20. Even if right next to the router, on any WiFi device I use.

 

[jkemper525]

I am running it on wifi right now and getting about 9-12mbps download. Is this a good speed or would I get a better speed using a powerline method?

What do you pay your ISP for, and what type of service is it? Cable/DSL/other...

I pay for 50 mbps and thats what I get when I am connected to the router via ethernet. I have fios

You would likely get much better with powerline. Every house is different, though.

Ok. thank you so much for all of your help.

 

[corroded]

you could also switch to a 5GHz n or ac rig. I get my full 50Mbps down and 11 up on 5GHz and only 25Mbps om 2.4GHz down...

 

[jkemper525]

I am running it on wifi right now and getting about 9-12mbps download. Is this a good speed or would I get a better speed using a powerline method?

What do you pay your ISP for, and what type of service is it? Cable/DSL/other...

I pay for 50 mbps and thats what I get when I am connected to the router via ethernet. I have fios

You would likely get much better with powerline. Every house is different, though.

Can you recommend a good powerline adapter?

 

[USAFRet]

Can you recommend a good powerline adapter?

Not really. Haven't used one (yet). Read the reviews at AMazon and Newegg.
Just be aware that if it says "500Mbps" or "200Mbps"..it will never actually get close to that talking to the router. The 500 one will be faster than the 200 one, though.

 

[Pooneil]

Without any particular expertise and with advice from the sales staff at a good computer store, I wired my own home with Ethernet cable. Running wire may seem daunting, but if the path is relatively clear, it is not hard. The pro's really earn their money when it requires specialized study and experience to overcome significant problems and in the ability to quickly get it right the first time. For the rest of us, a trial and error approach is OK and can provide a great education.

I would suggest you take some time to look around your house and the attic(s) and crawl spaces with the goal of running wire in mind, to see if you can find a likely path. Specifically look for the top plates of the lower story walls and passages between attic spaces. If nothing else, it is good to get to know your home a bit better.