I've been using wifi for a while after rearranging my home has moved my router too far away from my computer desk. Ever since then I have had issues off and on with internet speed being wildly inconsistent. Basically the only working coax connections are in different rooms than where my PC is.
I'm an IT professional so I've done quite a bit to try to diagnose the issue and find a solution, no luck so far. At this point I am trying to look in to alternate methods for getting my computer connected with ethernet again.
I DO NOT want to run a giant cable anywhere. I am also trying to avoid giving Cox any more money than needed so I would like to avoid having them run a new coax connection for me.
I'm not particularly experienced with more oddball network setups so I was hoping to get some input. MoCA isn't an option for the same reason I can't just have the router on my desk. EoP sounds like it just has too many drawbacks. I've considered putting a wireless access point in my office and going over ethernet from it to the PC but I don't know how much more reliable that will be than just using wifi. I'm also open to advice on figuring out why my wifi connection is so painfully slow at times when the router is behind 1 wall and less than 100ft away.
The issue happens on my computer as well as my wife's (same room). Shes just running off the built in wireless on her motherboard, I'm running a dedicated wifi card.
The nuclear option is to take advantage of the fact that my desk is on the interior side of an exterior wall and right next to the coax connection for the home. I could drill a hole and use a splitter to run the cable right to my desk but I'd prefer to not drill holes in my house (I do own so I COULD do that though).
Lol, typical reddit looking to be contrarian. Let me rephrase. I am tired of trying to find the root cause and am seeking solutions that are likely to bypass the wireless connection entirely. I don't want to run a giant cable because as anyone who has done it before knows it's quite the pain in the ass.
But sure, I'll humor the troglodyte. Tracert shows no issues. Speed tests show a loss of about 80% of wired network speed. Wifi mapping shows there's no issue with signal strength. I've yet to find any significant packet loss. The issue is not on the computer side since it is affecting multiple computers in the same room, but not the TV in the next room that is connected via ethernet. The issue is no better or worse when other devices are using the network so it's not a bandwidth issue.
Also since you pretty clearly don't know this, networking is just ONE aspect of IT and there are entire career paths in IT that don't really touch network management at all.
Now, let's focus on the question asked instead of trying to get into a dick measuring contest about who is actually a tech.
but not the TV in the next room that is connected via ethernet
Uh, wut?
As mentioned in my first reply … a wired connection in an adjacent room could be useful to the office, with a simple Cat6 pass-thru effected using a low voltage bracket and keystone wallplate.
I still think the “nuclear” option is preferable, to simplify the connection to the critical device location, but this pass-thru could be useful regardless of the direction.
correct me if I'm wrong, but because I have a Cox router (they alleged I could only get gigabit if I used their hardware, I call BS but it wasn't worth fighting with the minimum wage worker at a call center) and thus I'd need to utilize their panoramic wifi thing which would mean another equipment rental which I definitely don't want.
If any of what I said is incorrect, a mesh network probably is the best solution here
they alleged I could only get gigabit if I used their hardware
Cox surely offers a “compatible modems” listing for their service. You’d want to choose a cable modem that fits your current and near-term service level needs, and a router+AP or wireless mesh setup to pair with the cable modem.
I’d still go with the additional 2 coax runs for the office, then work out the hardware next. (Getting the office wired would reduce your wireless gear requirements and costs, since you should then be able to set up wired backhaul for any wireless devices, rather than having to select devices with advanced wireless backhaul performance.)
Call tech support, have them configure the modem/router as "pass threw" . That should allow you to use your own router.
Other option is call tech support, tell them you want to use your own router. Ask for a modem and your current combined unit swap.
Another option is to find their compatible hardware listing that you can buy. I bought my own router and modem. I called support and told them I have a customer supplied modem, could you activate it please. (I am on Spectrum/Charter).
What do you mean by don't want to run a giant cable? Like a long exposed cat6 patch cable that is ugly? It's pretty easy to fish cables in interior stud walls without doing any drywall work if you have attic or basement access. I spent so much time messing around with wifi, so glad I took the plunge years ago and just ran my own cat6. Just do it once and never have to worry about wifi going out again.
Sorry to say this, but you need to quit beating your head against the wall trying to figure out alternate ways of making you and your wife's network connection work better and do this the right way.
1) Simply call Cox and have them move the main Modem cable drop into your computer room and be done with it, then both your computers can be hardwired and then you can invest in a Wifi Mesh system for the rest of your house, for the other devices that could use a solid connection.
or
2) Run a dedicated Ethernet cable from the Modem/Wifi Router's current location back into your computer room and split that off to your two computer's with an Ethernet Switch.
1) Simply call Cox and have them move the main Modem cable drop into your computer room and be done with it
... but make sure that the tech runs TWO coax lines, one for the dedicated cable modem feed, and another to extend the router LAN via MoCA to the rest of the coax locations.
The nuclear option is to take advantage of the fact that my desk is on the interior side of an exterior wall and right next to the coax connection for the home. I could drill a hole … to run the cable right to my desk.
You should be able to use the Cox modem but bypass their router and plug in your own wire mesh router and add the number of wifi points you need. With my Xfinity ISP I bought my own modem and a Google mesh router which is fast enough for 4k video. The gaming computer sits next to the modem/main router and is plugged into the router via Ethernet which gives us the fastest speed promised by our ISP. As you know, the wireless speeds will be less.
Take away the baseboard on both sides of the wall and drill a hole in the corner so you can run ethernet and pass it through to the other side of the room. Install a network switch and connect ethernet from your computer and your wife's computer to that network switch. Problem solved.
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u/ranhalt 17d ago
And yet you don't mention what you did to diagnose it, let alone what networking equipment you have.
And yet
I challenge this claim you are an IT professional.