You can pay a little less for Cat-5e, but it’s not worth the savings. Look for “Cat-6” cables, where the “Cat” means “category” and the “6” refers to a set of electrical specifications designed to allow for certain kinds of performance. For installing plugs in walls, I like double-sided wall plates that have a jack on either side. But because finished and tested Ethernet cables cost so little now, I prefer buying pre-made cables that I know have been tested to work-unlike those I made from scratch. I used to buy a box of Ethernet cable, cut it to length, and crimp RJ45 connectors onto the ends. If you have access to crawl spaces or an attic, or if you can drill through even a single wall, you can pull Ethernet cable. The wiring, switches, and other elements you need to build or extend an Ethernet network will likely cost only tens of dollars. EthernetĪll wired networking stems from Ethernet, a decades-old standard that’s affordable even in its gigabit flavor. When it comes to wires, you have three options, each with varying costs, availability, and installation hassles: Ethernet, powerline, and MoCA. It also gives you the option to plug in computers and streaming video boxes that need high throughput. That’s true in nearly all cases except mesh wireless networking, which can sometimes benefit from a wired network, too! Most of the time, connecting a broadband modem and Wi-Fi base stations with wires provides the best throughput. Connect the Network Dots with Cablesĭespite having focused much of my tech writing on wireless networking for over 20 years, I often find wired connections work best. If your Internet connection is as souped-up as you’re willing to pay for, let’s look at options to extend your home network and boost performance and coverage. Over the last few years, I negotiated my 1 Gbps service from CenturyLink from its initial monthly price of $155 down to $85 as the company lowered what it charged new customers and then was willing to drop my fees to match. You may also be able to call your provider and get a better plan or pricing by threatening to switch to a competitor. (See “ T-Mobile Offers Unlimited 5G Home Broadband Service,” 14 April 2021.) If you’re stuck at low double-digit speeds from an incumbent carrier, it might be time to look at new local wired and wireless competitors, like T-Mobile’s 4G/5G home broadband service in some markets. Your Wi-Fi network performance for Internet-based tasks is, of course, dependent on the speed of your Internet connection. Read on, however, if you’re not getting the performance and coverage you want or you’re not sure what steps to take to improve your networked life. If you’ve made it this far through the pandemic without cursing your home Wi-Fi, congratulations! You’re a rare bird, and you don’t need this article. Improve Your Home Wi-Fi with Mesh, Powerline, MoCA, or More Routers
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