Home Network Setup

[infamoustrey]

Greetings All!

I have a bit of a pickle to solve and I welcome any and all help.

My family currently has DirectTV, however coming next month they will be making the switch to streaming Netflix, Hulu, and Prime via internet. They currently have a 50Mbs connection so I'm fairly certain their speed can handle it. They are two adults and two teenage girls plus myself.

Now here is the setup we currently have. 1 wireless modem router combo, 1 wirelessly connected appleTV, and a few computers wirelessly connected also.

Here is what they want, two additional streaming devices(most probably Roku 2, or streaming sticks depending on network implementation) for a total of three devices in three different rooms to three different TV's.

Now I know for a fact, that little wireless N router will buckle under all Five of us using it at the same time.

So here are the two proposed plans.

1.) We buy a top notch AC access point and streaming sticks, and trust that it can handle the load.

2.) We wire the house for CAT5e to a cheap 4/5 port gigabit switch hooked up to the modem, and plug the Roku 2s, and apple tv to them via wall outlets.:'(

Plan 1 is less work, but I'm not sure if it would be worth it. And Plan 2 is a lot of work but I know that the network would be solid then.:sneaky:


So which one plan should we go with, 1 or 2, or possibly some 3rd option I'm not aware of?

Comments, Questions, Concerns.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

2 if you can. (It's cheaper too.)

1 if you have to.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you have the ability to go wired, then do it. It is FAR superior to wireless or powerline. MOCA, is well, not too bad, it's kind of like ethernet, but not switched, more like ethernet on a hub.

MOCA is basically ethernet over COAX. If you home is wired for COAX in multiple outlets, through some sort of distribution amplifier, then you can get ethernet to MOCA bridges, and a router that speaks MOCA, and set up your network that way. If the home is already wired for COAX to every room, but not ethernet, that might be a cheaper but nearly as good option.

But strictly speaking, wired ethernet is generally best.

I had been running an AC1200 wireless 5Ghz setup. (Small two-room apt, three desktops + one AIO on AC / 5Ghz N, on HTPC on wired ethernet, along with some NAS and servers on wired.)

I got fed up with the AC1200, and went wired only. I rent, so I didn't do anything in-wall, I've got a few wires strewn about, but otherwise, it's mostly neatly wired.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Under rugs and around the edges of rooms is pretty easy to make look neat. There are usually gaps around HVAC ducts, so it's not too hard to run wires between floors if you have to.