Ethernet help
Ethernet help
I'm not very skilled with setting up networks. The most I can do is restart the router. I received two items from my internet provider: a main hub/router and an extender. The hub is in my living room, near the TV and Xbox, while the extender is in my room, on my desk. I don’t want to get too caught up in the details of this confusing setup. This part matters because the hub connects to the extender via Wi-Fi, not Ethernet. So when I use Ethernet from the extender, it’s essentially using Wi-Fi, right? I’m wondering if switching to a gigabit Ethernet connection on my PC would really help, even though the extender is connected to WiFi. Also, how do people actually buy new routers? I’m unsure how they work or how payments connect to the router, and I thought my internet was tied only to that specific device. How can I change it to use a different router?
Various providers offer choices about hardware—some let you bring your own modem and router, others supply a specific device but allow work arounds. You might bypass certain requirements or simply use an ISP modem with your own router behind it. Depending on the ISP and service, you may not be able to fully replace your main equipment. If cabling isn’t possible, using an extender works, though upgrading could improve performance. A mesh system with a dedicated wireless channel often delivers better results than current setups.
Placing a gigabit card on your PC while connected via Ethernet through an extender that uses Wi-Fi wouldn't make any difference. A modem is a device that connects your computer to the internet, typically using a physical connection like Ethernet or DSL, not Wi-Fi.
Your PC from the past decade likely already includes gigabit Ethernet on the motherboard. The modem handles converting other connections like coax or phone lines into Ethernet, keeping things straightforward. If you're using cable internet, you'll have a modem installed.
Imagine a water pipe with a narrow tube in between larger ones. No matter what you do at either end, the middle tube always limits flow. If you have a cable jack in your PC room, connecting it to another jack in the house can help. You might even move the boxes around to boost your PC's speed.
I'm having trouble understanding this, but it seems related to fiber or broadband issues. Since you're in the UK, that might be relevant. I've attached a link to your router for reference. Your speed tests show 92 downloads, 22 uploads, and 1 ping. When streaming games on Steam, your connection drops to around 8-9. You mentioned you could use a longer Ethernet cable but it's a bit tricky moving the router upstairs. Checking port usage and extender settings would help. If you run a cable from the router to your PC, gigabit speeds should work. Regarding switching to a new router, connecting it via Wi-Fi to your existing router and then to your device should route the internet through the new unit. The product link provided looks like a smart hub model—consider testing it there for better results.
These are all about our specialties and the gaps we have. It’s in these discussions that we support one another. The main reason lies in how information is shown and shared. First, an ISP or speed test shows your bandwidth as "Mbps." However, when downloading, apps list it as "MBps." Observe the small "b" versus the large "B"—Mbps means Mega Bits per second, while MBps stands for Mega Bytes per second. Since 1 byte equals 8 bits, a download speed of 9 MBps equals approximately 72 Mbps, which matches what you see on your test. This depends on your plan from the ISP. You usually choose a service like BT’s, which sets a maximum bandwidth. Some ISPs also enforce a Fair Usage Policy (FUP), limiting how much data you can use each month. For example, a plan offering 500 Mbps might cap your monthly download at 600 GB, meaning after using 600 GB in a month, your speed drops significantly. To answer your question: what is your ISP plan? Your top speed is limited by the slowest part of your setup—check the model number. But since you can download 147 MB on your laptop when directly connected to the ISP router, it suggests your connection is Gigabit-capable. This highlights a key point: your Wi-Fi might be the bottleneck. To test this further, try placing an extender close to your main ISP router. If the speed remains high, the issue likely lies with the signal or distance. Run another speed test using the extender connected via Ethernet. The results should reveal if the extender’s reception affects performance. Conduct this test only when no one else uses the internet, so you get accurate readings.
I assume I have full access, so I’m not concerned about data limits. I purchased the extender next to the router, and its performance was almost identical to before, just a bit higher in speed but only a few mb more. I believe the main issue is the Wi-Fi handoff between the router and the extender. If I were using Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet, it probably wouldn’t be an issue. I plan to use a very long Ethernet cable and connect it to my PC, as suggested by the initial test, which should improve things.