Wired connection from across a house

[v3rb053]

Hey guys! I've been a lurker around here for quite some time and could finally use some help!

I just got back home from college and am looking to take over the basement while I stay here (gaming, homework, etc.).

So I am looking to make a wired connection, or have speeds that would resemble a wired connection. The problem is, the connection from the basement is quite bad (surrounded by concrete, on the other side of the house, etc.) and was curious on possible methods to make the connection better. We have really bad service here (Time Warner ... enough said?) and would like to find ways to make the connection to the router as good as possible to opimtize and connectivity.

The first idea I had would be to run a ~100 ft cat5 cable from the router to the computer in the length of the cable, the speed wouldnt really get better.

Any ideas? Relocating the router as a whole may be hard to do, so I want to either repeat the signal, apmplify it, or something.

Thanks guys for your help!

Here are some specs, by the way:
Linksys WRT160N (Tomato Firmware)
Alienware machine with an external wireless adapter (I don't quite remember the brand, but it's decent.

 

[rhysiam]

You can either go powerline, wifi range extender or a long cable. Cat5e will run ~100ft just fine and it would be my suggestion if you get the cable down there. This would be particularly worth it if you're staying a while. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but you just can't beat a connected cable IMHO.

Some people seem to have plenty of success with powerline, that would be my second choice.

Wifi extender would be the last choice, limited bandwidth and adds latency. But should still work.

 

[v3rb053]

You can either go powerline, wifi range extender or a long cable. Cat5e will run ~100ft just fine and it would be my suggestion if you get the cable down there. This would be particularly worth it if you're staying a while. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but you just can't beat a connected cable IMHO.

Some people seem to have plenty of success with powerline, that would be my second choice.

Wifi extender would be the last choice, limited bandwidth and adds latency. But should still work.

I'm the same way man. If I can get a wired connection that far without too much loss in terms of latency, then thats the plan. I am staying here over the summer to do an internship, then perhaps a few months after I graduate until I can buy an apartment or whatever. I'll look into a cat5 cable that long, along with other options suggested. Thanks a lot!

 

[rhysiam]

Yup, the Cat5e spec will run 100ft no worries at all.

If you're willing to take on a bit of DIY, you can get un-terminated cable and a ratchet, something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAT5E-CABLE-UTP-500FT-Black-SOLID-WIRE-BULK-ETHERNET-LAN-NETWORK-CAT5-500-RJ45-/151270488059?pt=US_Ethernet_Cables_RJ_45_8P8C_&hash=item23386c77fb
Plus a few RJ45 modular plugs: something like this (they only seem to come in lots of 100): http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Pcs-LOT-RJ45-Network-Cable-Modular-Plug-Cat5-CAT5e-8P8C-Connector-End-/350561572785?pt=US_Networking_Plugs_Jacks_Wall_Plates&hash=item519f1917b1

With the raw (unterminated) cable you can poke it through small spaces (including drilled holes) much more easily than plugs. Once you've got the cable through, snip of whatever of the got damaged in the poking process and terminate the cable with the ratchet and RJ45 plugs. You've got a DIY cable.

Plus, then whenever you need a new network cable in the future you can just make yourself up one to the exact length you need.

 

[BPTMatthew]

I personally use a powerline adapter. The only drawback I can see is that the wiring in my house seems to limit my connection speed (I should get ~60mbps and I always get a constant 27, never more, never less).

The latency, however, is excellent. Connected to a server I used to get ~80 ping on wireless, but that is nearly halved through powerline.

If you don't want the bother of running a massive cable through your house I would definitely consider this method