Where to put ethernet cables?

blackstar

Hello all

Hoping for some advice on what best to do in this situation?

I have a BT engineer coming tomorrow to install Broadband. 

I would like the router in the living room or shelf in hallway. However the computer will be in the loft room which is essentially the 3rd level of the house.

However the desktop computer has a fault and doesn't connect wirelessly. Only via a ethernet cable. 

What are my options? Or best to do here?

Ask him to make an extra ethernet cable going up to the loft room?

Buy a new or repair issue with computer not connecting wirelessly?

Get some kind of device to connect computer wirelessly?

Any other better options?

Thanks all

cymruchris

I can't imagine he'll put a cable up that far with a standard installation.

If the PC has a spare USB socket - you can usually add a USB wifi dongle - that might be an easy option.

A wired connection can be better - and having a cable going up to the top of the house isn't a bad thing - but might take some work to do so. Connecting a router downstairs to a network switch upstairs would give you better PC connectivity - and the possibility of adding another wireless point on the top floor so the whole house has better coverage. However the work to get the cable up there, depending on house layout, and how tidy you want it, might not be an easy task, (Without seeing the house it's hard to say).

Ayr_Rage

If you are getting full fibre you may be able to choose where they bring the fibre cable into the house but remember the ONT will need a power supply as will the router.

Expect them to provide no more than a 2m cable between the ONT and router.

All other connections from the router are down to you.

Depending on what router they give you it may be able to support a MESH network if you purchase another device or they provide extra access points if you subscribe whole home WiFi.

Another option is to use powerline adapters.

blackstar

Some great points here. 
We have an electrician at the moment doing some rewiring and will be there when BT come out tomorrow. Maybe a good chance to see what can be done.

Does a USB wifi dongle just plug into a USB port in my computer and then I can connect it to either my phones hot spot or the BT router?

cymruchris

blackstar said:

Does a USB wifi dongle just plug into a USB port in my computer and then I can connect it to either my phones hot spot or the BT router?

It will usually connect to a wifi signal - I'm sure it'll connect to your phone's hotspot as well - but that might be a bit of trial and error depending on phone model.

Something like this - although there are many brands/sizes and styles available:

https://amzn.eu/d/gImGNAZ

If you have the electrician in though - they'll know how to run cables - so see what the options are for running a network cable up to the top floor, and then buying a network switch to plug it into. Then you'd just plug a standard network cable from switch to PC - and still have a few ports for other things. (Like Hive hubs or similar)

bob2302

You can get pairs of plug-in devices that bridge ethernet over electricity wiring.

blackstar

bob2302 said:

You can get pairs of plug-in devices that bridge ethernet over electricity wiring.

Thanks so no wiring needed between the computer on top floor and the hub on the bottom floor? 

Ayr_Rage

@blackstar as I posted previously, powerline adapters, they use the electric ring main to connect between sockets.

The wall sockets need to be on the same ring main for them to work.

facade

blackstar said:

Some great points here. 
We have an electrician at the moment doing some rewiring and will be there when BT come out tomorrow. Maybe a good chance to see what can be done.

Does a USB wifi dongle just plug into a USB port in my computer and then I can connect it to either my phones hot spot or the BT router?

Get him to drop a couple of lengths of CAT6 cable from wall sockets near the router to sockets on the first floor and in the loft. 

The BT router has 3 spare ethernet sockets gives you one to feed each floor.

flashg67

As already mentioned, powerline adapters are a cheap option and work well for me or something which is a step up and offers wired and wireless options - https://www.amazon.co.uk/2400sq²-Coverage-Parental-Controls-Pre-Paired/dp/B09R7H9QZY  or look at https://www.mymemory.co.uk/strong-atria-wi-fi-mesh-home-kit-2100-2-pack.html

35har1old

Ayr_Rage said:

@blackstar as I posted previously, powerline adapters, they use the electric ring main to connect between sockets.

The wall sockets need to be on the same ring main for them to work.

It's not likely that downstairs sockets will be on the same circuit your electrian should be able to tell you if that's case.