Organize your home network for better performance and security.
Organize your home network for better performance and security.
You're seeking guidance on organizing your home network and cabling setup. Right now you have several pieces: a wall-mounted comms cabinet, patch panels, switches, routers, cameras, and Wi-Fi equipment. There are six rooms with cabled connections, five of which already have devices. You plan to add more later. One issue is the Cisco switch being too large for the front door access; you're considering replacing it or the rack itself. Another concern is weak Wi-Fi performance—possibly needing new hardware. You're weighing options like a smaller rack-mounted router, a larger router, or even a mesh network setup. You're also curious about whether a 24-port Gigabit modem/router with PoE would work and if two WAPs could simplify things. What are your thoughts on these possibilities?
You might reduce costs on power selling that switch. Locate a suitable replacement and verify compatibility. Remember to include the power cord and patch cables early to assess whether the door will still close properly. WAPs remain superior to mesh networks when other specifications align, such as 4x4 WiFi with speeds of 4/5/6. I don’t know your router’s details unless it functions, so why not retain it?