Two networks connected by a single Ethernet cable.
Two networks connected by a single Ethernet cable.
Hi, I see you're dealing with two separate networks inside your home—one for your TV and another for the rest of the house. The signal quality drops when you switch between them, especially on one side of the house. You mentioned a single Cat5e cable runs throughout, wondering if it could support both networks simultaneously while keeping them distinct. I recall from my Uni days that phone companies used multiplexers to handle similar setups, but finding a practical solution for this at home hasn’t been easy. Any suggestions would be really helpful.
It might work with a smart-managed switch at each connection point, assigning one network to a VLAN. The challenge arises when you need a single device to connect to both networks—either by enabling VLANs on the device itself or by using two network interfaces on the switch with separate ports for each network. Why does the system favor its own network? It appears to be an unnecessary extra step.
I understand it's frustrating, but I've already tested it twice and the Sky boxes didn't function properly. My routers had connectivity issues with the main network, and the Asus AX92U routers kept dropping the internet. I set up one Sky router for broadband and another for my smart devices, using a separate cable to the WAN port. The signal outside isn't strong enough, so instead of buying another Asus router, I considered using a hardwired Ethernet connection that Sky provides. It seemed like a logical approach, even though it was a bit of a challenge.
pepsitaroh
08-12-2025, 08:02 AM #6If they need to pull the cable again, purchase sufficient Cat6 cable. Request them politely to include it in their setup. The effort should be similar, plus the extra time spent negotiating.
This was another idea, likely what I’ll ultimately do. I might even give a festive biscuit to sway people! Regarding your cable choice, Cat6 is better than 5e for now. With the new Asus AX92U, using Ethernet backhaul instead of the AX channel seems sensible.
Simonhudik
08-13-2025, 07:09 PM #9Whatever you opt for at the lowest price, the variations aren't huge. Cat5e supports around 30 meters on gigabit, while Cat6 covers about 100 meters. If I'm right, that's the general range. (The longer the cable, the larger the antenna needed, and interference decreases speed. Makes sense.) Edited December 11, 2020 by HanZie82 adjusted numbers for real-world use.
BernieSand3rs
08-28-2025, 06:09 PM #10Cat5e supports gigabit speeds up to 100 meters. RJ45 follows the standard and won’t exceed that range without a repeater. Performance remains consistent—same gigabit at both 1 meter and 100 meters.