Consider suggestions for improving your home network from cable to fiber.
Consider suggestions for improving your home network from cable to fiber.
I decided to explore municipal broadband as a replacement for my current service. I’m planning to move this month and will replace my existing 1Gb plan with the higher-speed fiber option offered by my township. This means I’ll need a completely different network configuration. I’m expecting an all-in-one Wi-Fi/router setup, but likely will require individual 5Gb cards for each device needing extra bandwidth. If there’s a single 5Gb router available, any connection to it would be limited to that speed. I searched for a single 5Gb router but didn’t find many options on popular sites like Newegg or Amazon—only a few 2.5Gb models were available. At this point, will I need professional equipment for such high speeds, or can my ISP provide the necessary hardware? Thanks for any guidance on setting up and choosing the right gear. Short version: I want full 5Gb coverage, so I’ll need new devices and possibly some specialized tools.
Keep it simple with 1Gb; save costs. For 5Gbps per host, install Cat6 wiring everywhere and a 10Gb switch. Based on port count and PoE needs, these setups can become expensive.
It's not about 5Gbit speeds, but Asus is extremely lightweight in terms of specs. I'm betting it weighs around 1/10g and doesn't support NBase-T (2.5 and 5 gig) on the single copper port. It might be better to rely on what your ISP offers and add a custom NBase-T switch yourself.
While browsing 10Gb routers, I noticed that compatibility with 5Gb connections was crucial. If it wasn't 5Gb ready, the device would automatically drop to a slower 1Gb speed. This made it hard to decide which model to choose. To figure out if a router supports 5Gb, you should check its specifications or look for explicit mentions of 5Gb compatibility in the product details.
Thanks! If you treat the ISP modem as one unit and connect a 5Gb+ switch to its LAN port, then add Wi-Fi access points, your Z690 A-Gaming motherboard likely needs a networking card too since it’s a 2.5Gb port.
Use ISP all-in-one as both modem and router, turn off Wi-Fi only. Connect a few switches or NBase-T ports, and add APs where required. NBase-T works with 1/2.5/5/10 ports.
Typically, some ISPs offer a media converter, allowing you to choose any router you prefer. Others only supply a gateway that acts as both a media converter and a router. AT&T falls into this category, providing a combined device, though you can switch it to IP pass-through mode if you wish to use your own router. Alternatively, you can ignore the WiFi settings and connect via an access point.