Setting up LAN and WIFI router for best coverage?

shapmb

Honorable
May 8, 2012
15
0
10,510
Here is my challenge.

My house is prewired in every room with cat5 switches all linked in the pantry in a nice metal box.

I want to be able to use at least five of these LAN connections and use my WIFI throughout the house and yard. (2800sf, 10k lot size)

How do I use my wireless router and use all the prewired cat5 without having to have the wireless router stuffed in the metal box? That location kills my WIFI.

I'm running cable internet with a asus RT-N66U Dark Night router.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/raarivs9c1i1t0h/AACuFG14iot6pYsBcGdKnYuMa

Currently powering multiple roku's, IP cameras, WEMO devices and about 10 wifi devices via WIFI. Cat5 is powering ps4, three computers and sonos connect.

Can I put the modem in the integrated network box, then go to a eithernet switch for all the rooms I need cat5 and send one to the room where I'll have my router?

I'm horrible with networking, so appreciate the help!

 
Solution
With out having two network outlets in the location where you want the router it will not work.

You cannot replace a switch between the modem and the router and connect the other network cables to the switch. the connection needs to go directly from the modem to the WAN port of the router.

You might be able to rewire the coax that goes into the modem via one of the unused coax in the box to bring the signal up to one of the rooms, move modem and router to that room, then use the network cable from the LAN port of the router to the wall down to the metal box. Then you can use a switch in the metal box to connect all the network cables needed to the switch.
With out having two network outlets in the location where you want the router it will not work.

You cannot replace a switch between the modem and the router and connect the other network cables to the switch. the connection needs to go directly from the modem to the WAN port of the router.

You might be able to rewire the coax that goes into the modem via one of the unused coax in the box to bring the signal up to one of the rooms, move modem and router to that room, then use the network cable from the LAN port of the router to the wall down to the metal box. Then you can use a switch in the metal box to connect all the network cables needed to the switch.
 
Solution
That is exactly what I did and seems to be working great now! Able to have everything I want ran on cat5 and wireless devices using the WIFI and wifi extended thats also connected via cat5 on other end of the house.

Thanks!