Network connection option WiFi access point
Network connection option WiFi access point
Hello, in roughly two months you'll relocate to a new apartment with your partner. The place will offer high-speed internet (likely fiber-optic) but no physical cables inside the walls—WiFi is expected. You currently own three mobile phones, three PS4 consoles (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n), and two PCs that only support Ethernet. The main need is a stable internet connection. Should we install PCIe WiFi cards in your PCs (WiFi 6 or can WiFi 4 handle it?) or would adding a WiFi repeater for the office/gaming area work better? Connecting PCs and the PS4 via Ethernet with a switch seems ideal. Any other ideas are welcome.
WiFi depends more on wall thickness and signal strength than speed. Even 2.4 GHz can be blocked. I lost confidence in wireless connections. Recently I purchased a second network switch and suggest TP-link. For phones, WiFi is the best choice, but devices should also have an Ethernet port. A Wi-Fi repeater won’t help if it can’t reach the router’s signal.
Set up a cable outside the structure using a raceway for a reliable link. It’s simple to take down when relocating. For Wi-Fi, install a strong access point or router and rely on it. Expect interference from other networks and connected devices. Wi-Fi 6 or 4 won’t make much difference since your connection speed is probably too low to fully utilize a standard 5GHz band.
Also place the wifi repeater right in the middle of the Wi-Fi extension area. Don’t put it at the end, or it’ll compete for the signal instead of fixing the problem properly. It should be near the router to maintain a strong connection.
I'd connect the repeater to the WiFi of the router for the link, placing it near the router as much as possible. That's one option. I might need to drill holes in the walls since I don't want to run cables through doors. But it could be worth it.
The interesting part is they design FLAT internet cable just for this specific use. It lets you terminate your raceway near a door. Run a brief flat cable under it, then proceed inside the room’s raceway. The raceways matter because these cables are very thin—just a few millimetres—and you only need to loop them around a corner under the door, ideally at the hinge side.