- How can I improve my home wifi using existing ethernet ports? My initial thoughts are that wireless access points (APs) may be the solution, but I don't know if it will work using my existing configuration (outlined below). My longer range plan this year is to make my home smart (e.g., exterior security cameras and lighting among several other things) so I would like to have the best possible wifi connectivity for inside my home and the exterior.
- I have 12 ethernet drops (I think Cat 5 or 5e cable) with ports in walls throughout my home. All are connected directly into a NetGear ProSafe 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch (model JGS524) located in my garage. The switch is connected via an ethernet port/cable in my home office to a router (Apple AirPort Time Capsule). The ISP-provided modem (Cisco model DPC3008) is also in my home office.
- Will wireless access points work? Is it simply a matter of connecting them, using ethernet cables, to a few of my ethernet ports in my walls and somehow linking them to my existing network name and password?
- It seems to me that, if my APs idea is feasible, it would be better than extending wifi through a wifi mesh network, wifi extenders, or repeaters. My reasoning is that wired as much as possible will reduce the load on other wireless devices. Do you agree? Do you have a better alternative solution?