Home Networking Issues

[DaneMcCloud]

I recently upgraded to TWC 100mpbs speed and made changes to the home network. I dumped their Arris Modem/Phone/Router for an Arris Surfboard Cable modem, a TP Link Archer C7 AC1750 and a Netgear AC750 Dual Band Range Extender.

My home is three levels. I had the cable modem and wireless router moved to the middle floor last week with the hope that it would extend the range. In my studio, which is on the first floor, just below where the modem and router sit, I'm getting 110-120 Mbps, same as in the room where the equipment is located.

Without the Extender, I'm getting 100+ in my kitchen, which is about 40 feet away and in our playroom, about 60-70, which is on the same floor but the signal travels through several walls.

On the third floor, directly above the modem and router, it's at 118 and in the Master, which is adjacent to that bedroom, about 90. But once we jump across the hall and in to another room, it drops to 60. In my wife's office, it's barely at 5 Mbps, as it's at the furthest point possible in the house from the router.

When the Extender is plugged in, all of those numbers, save the family room and my studio, are cut into a third but my wife's office jumps to 25-30, which is significantly better than 5.

So, what are my options in order to get closer to 100 throughout the entire home? Should I hire someone to run a Cat 5 line (or two) to my wife's office so she can dump the wireless altogether? Or should I run a Cat 5 line under the house and use the Netgear AC750 as a Wireless Access Point?

Any input would be greatly appreciated, as this is driving my wife crazy and makes it so she really can't work from home because of the speed.

Thanks in advance!

[DaneMcCloud]

I hired a company that will install CAT6 lines from my family room, where the modem and router are located, under the home and to my wife's office and kid's playroom today.

I purchased three gigabit switches (one 5 port and two 8 port). I was told by multiple people that due to all of the concrete, re-bar and steel beams in my home that the best way to get consistent wireless signal on the opposite side of the home was with an Enterprise Access Point. The unit is a Ubiquity model that this company has used in hotel lobbies and restaurants and will supposedly blast a strong signal throughout the home.

I returned the Netgear AC750 with one day to spare on Amazon. Hopefully, this is will solve our issues and I'll know for certain in about 4 hours.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I hired a company that will install CAT6 lines from my family room, where the modem and router are located, under the home and to my wife's office and kid's playroom today.

I purchased three gigabit switches (one 5 port and two 8 port). I was told by multiple people that due to all of the concrete, re-bar and steel beams in my home that the best way to get consistent wireless signal on the opposite side of the home was with an Enterprise Access Point. The unit is a Ubiquity model that this company has used in hotel lobbies and restaurants and will supposedly blast a strong signal throughout the home.

I returned the Netgear AC750 with one day to spare on Amazon. Hopefully, this is will solve our issues and I'll know for certain in about 4 hours.

Come back with a report please. I'm curious to know how easy/difficult the setting up of the Access Point is as I've read it's difficult.

[DaneMcCloud]

On the recommendation of the company I hired, I purchased this Access Point:

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Netwo...ilpage_o00_s00

It was super easy to configure but the software did take a while to install (and also requires Java, which I didn't have installed).

In my wife's office, where she was getting only 5 mbps before, we're getting 118+ with the Access Point all throughout that floor. My wife's printer and PC are connected to the Gigabit switch and she's getting 118 with that connection.

The whole ordeal (two new Cat6 lines wired in three places), three gigabit switches and the Ubiquity piece came out to about $525 dollars, which was well worth it. All of our devices (DVR's, X Box One, Wii U, Blu Ray players, etc.) all have direct connections, which will be awesome for gaming and streaming.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

On the recommendation of the company I hired, I purchased this Access Point:

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Netwo...ilpage_o00_s00

It was super easy to configure but the software did take a while to install (and also requires Java, which I didn't have installed).

In my wife's office, where she was getting only 5 mbps before, we're getting 118+ with the Access Point all throughout that floor. My wife's printer and PC are connected to the Gigabit switch and she's getting 118 with that connection.

The whole ordeal (two new Cat6 lines wired in three places), three gigabit switches and the Ubiquity piece came out to about $525 dollars, which was well worth it. All of our devices (DVR's, X Box One, Wii U, Blu Ray players, etc.) all have direct connections, which will be awesome for gaming and streaming.

Thanks. I'm working on a very similar issue at my (ex) in-laws home right now except everything is stone and/or tile including half the damn walls.
So you ran Cat6 from your original router into different parts of your home where you plugged the Cat6 into the switch which then feeds signal to the access points?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by vailpass

So you ran Cat6 from your original router into different parts of your home where you plugged the Cat6 into the switch which then feeds signal to the access points?

Yep. Two CAT6 cables run from my router to the opposite side of the house to two different rooms (about 80 foot each).

One cable feeds the playroom and the other cable is feeds my wife's office, which is plugged into an 8 Port Gigabit switch.

The Ubiquity Access Point is plugged into a port on that Gigabit switch and we're getting 100+ megabits per second wirelessly on that entire floor.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

On the recommendation of the company I hired, I purchased this Access Point:

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Netwo...ilpage_o00_s00

It was super easy to configure but the software did take a while to install (and also requires Java, which I didn't have installed).

In my wife's office, where she was getting only 5 mbps before, we're getting 118+ with the Access Point all throughout that floor. My wife's printer and PC are connected to the Gigabit switch and she's getting 118 with that connection.

The whole ordeal (two new Cat6 lines wired in three places), three gigabit switches and the Ubiquity piece came out to about $525 dollars, which was well worth it. All of our devices (DVR's, X Box One, Wii U, Blu Ray players, etc.) all have direct connections, which will be awesome for gaming and streaming.

Yeah, you'll like that...

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Fish

Yeah, you'll like that...

Thanks again for the recommendations!

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yep. Two CAT6 cables run from my router to the opposite side of the house to two different rooms (about 80 foot each).

One cable feeds the playroom and the other cable is feeds my wife's office, which is plugged into an 8 Port Gigabit switch.

The Ubiquity Access Point is plugged into a port on that Gigabit switch and we're getting 100+ megabits per second wirelessly on that entire floor.

Thanks man. I asked a buddy about the Ubiquity access point after learning about them from your post. Turns out he has a kid at Insight who can help me with all this.
I appreciate the knowledge shared by all in this post.

[DaneMcCloud]

As a follow up, I just cancelled our second VOIP line, which cost $29.99 plus tax per month, because we're now able to make calls through our wireless internet without interruption.

Before installing all of the new equipment, we've been unable to get cell reception in our home (13+ years). Thanks to Apple and Sprint we're able to make calls with the wireless signal but before the changes, the signal wasn't consistent throughout the home. Now that everything is working, I dumped that line and for an extra $10 dollars a month, I bumped our internet speed from 10/100 to 20/200.

As a reference, in February, my bill was $132 dollars per month for two VOIP lines and 5/50 mbps internet speed. Fast forward to mid-April and the bill is cut in half with faster speed and more reliable internet.

Thanks again for the help!

[DaneMcCloud]

Not too shabby through the wireless...

[lewdog]

I am supposed to be getting 100 mbps speed now but with the wireless I still hover around 40 mpbs which is what I would get with wifi and my 50 mpbs package. I hooked directly to the modem once and was able to get the 100 mpbs speed but can't get it once I am on wifi. Wife is usually good at this but she can't figure it out either. I am technology reeruned.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I am supposed to be getting 100 mbps speed now but with the wireless I still hover around 40 mpbs which is what I would get with wifi and my 50 mpbs package. I hooked directly to the modem once and was able to get the 100 mpbs speed but can't get it once I am on wifi. Wife is usually good at this but she can't figure it out either. I am technology reeruned.

You will never ever get the same speed on wifi that you do when wired.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by vailpass

You will never ever get the same speed on wifi that you do when wired.

I am. The Speed Test that I posted was done wirelessly. I get the same speed on the iPad as well.

It sounds to me like Lew and his wife either have poor wireless adapters or they're on a shared frequency as their neighbors.

Log in to your router to see which channel you are broadcasting and if it's the same as neighbors, change the channel.

Also, connect to 5ghz whenever possible.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I am supposed to be getting 100 mbps speed now but with the wireless I still hover around 40 mpbs which is what I would get with wifi and my 50 mpbs package. I hooked directly to the modem once and was able to get the 100 mpbs speed but can't get it once I am on wifi. Wife is usually good at this but she can't figure it out either. I am technology reeruned.

Your ISP download speed is bassed on wired ethernet. Wifi is a completely different protocol than wired ethernet. Your wifi speed is dependent on your router hardware capabilities as well as your device's wifi hardware capabilities. There are various revisions of each. Most likely either your router or your device's wifi adapter are an older revision.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Fish

Your ISP download speed is bassed on wired ethernet. Wifi is a completely different protocol than wired ethernet. Your wifi speed is dependent on your router hardware capabilities as well as your device's wifi hardware capabilities. There are various revisions of each. Most likely either your router or your device's wifi adapter are an older revision.

We just upgraded the router about a year ago and went with something that was supposed to support higher speeds from what I remember.

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Dual-Band...s+router+ac56u

Here's our modem.

http://www.amazon.com/ARRIS-SURFboar...ilpage_o08_s00

We have Cox communications and as I said was able to get 100 mbps when connected with Ethernet cord but only rune 40-45 through wifi.


I might have to get my wife on this and let her post under my account as she's the tech one here. If you see posts about lewdog liking guys and telling you that I've been with men, please disregard these posts.