Home LAN Network Question

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kiwis

830 posts

Ultimate Geek

#299051 6-Aug-2022 15:52

I've recently moved into a new home with Fiber.

When Chorus installed it, they put their white box in the network cabinet in the garage. The connected a ethernet cable from this to one of the ethernet ports on the house rack. They then placed my Vodafone router into a room within the house.

Wifi works and on my PC works because I connect the PC to the router via ethernet

My question is when I want to connect my TV to the internet. Do I have to run a cable back into my tv box in the garage (the room where my route is has two ports).

I assume I can't just run a cable from the chorus box to the TV port.

I can take photos if needed.

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1557 posts

Uber Geek

#2951341 6-Aug-2022 16:33

Diagram might help.

If I've understood correctly you have this:

ONT <---> Rack <---> Router (in another room from the rack)

Unsure where your PC is - think the same room as the router from your description

If you've got a patch panel (of sorts) in the rack I'd move the router back there and then use patch panel to wire through to other rooms in the house. Seems you definitely have cabling from the garage to where your router is today so you can still connect your PC via wired Ethernet.

Router in the garage may affect your Wifi coverage depending on your house layout.

As for connecting your TV - you havent said where that is in relation to the router. If in the same room then just connect it to the router! But I guess we assume it is not. In which case yes you will need to run a cable from the room its in to wherever you place the router. So today, no it doesnt have to go back to the garage and then back out - though this may be the best approach (we dont know your house layout hence the diagram suggestion). However; as I said earlier I'd move your router to the garage and run things to/from there. This is actually how I have my set up :-) As it happens I have pretty good wifi coverage and just use that for the TV.

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kiwis

830 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2951342 6-Aug-2022 16:41

I've got it work but to achieve the red lines I'd need some sort of splitter

Does such a thing exist?

RunningMan

8908 posts

Uber Geek

#2951343 6-Aug-2022 16:44

What you call a splitter is an ethernet switch.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/category/networking/switches?qr=catswitches

kiwis

830 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2951345 6-Aug-2022 16:46

Thanks guys.

nzkc

1557 posts

Uber Geek

#2951348 6-Aug-2022 16:59

As I said earlier, and now confirming from your diagram, I'd move the router back into the garage/rack.

Maybe it has enough ethernet ports so you wouldnt need a switch. However; an 8 port gigabit switch is cheap and as mentioned - grab one to hook up all your other rooms 😃

frankv

5678 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2952114 8-Aug-2022 15:18

The downside of moving the router to the garage/rack is that the router is (I assume) the WiFi AP, and maybe you'll harm WiFi performance at the far end of the house from the garage. Depending on where the TV and garage are relative to the rest of the house, I'd consider moving the router into the TV room, so that the TV would get an Ethernet connection direct from the router. Then run another connection back to the rack for an switch to distribute wired connections to the rest of the house. This way, you also get multiple Ethernet connections near the TV from the router for XBoxes and so on.

shk292

2841 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2952180 8-Aug-2022 16:06

The router is already in the best place given there are two ethernet runs to there and you're getting good WiFi coverage; there is no benefit to moving it.

As suggested above, install a gigabit switch with enough ports to cover each room, in the equipment rack. You could also install local switches in rooms where you have more equipment than ethernet runs, eg if you have a games console, TV and DVR in the lounge they can all connect to a local switch with a single connection back to the rack. Although daisy-chaining switches in this way isn't best practice, it is perfectly OK for a home network and the level of traffic you're likely to have.

kiwis

830 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2960514 28-Aug-2022 17:58

So an update on this.

Still running from Chorus box to a room where vodafone router is. Back via another port to the garage where I'm using this switch.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SWHTPL1008/TP-Link-TL-SF1008D-8-Port-10100M-Unmanaged-Switch

If I run a cable in my garage box from the return to the port which feeds to my TV directly I get the internet fine.

If I run a cable from this same port into my switch, then another from this switch to the same one going to the TV my TV doesn't work.

Any ideas?

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#2960530 28-Aug-2022 18:38

Should've bought a gb switch, looks like yours only does 100mbps.Should still work OK though.

It should work the way you've described your connection. Return feed (from router) -> switch -> tv

Check the ethernet plugs are pushed in all the way, they can sometimes take a bit of force. Check the return feed port on the switch .. is the led blinking?

Can you connect a laptop into the switch? Or something else that has an ethernet port that blinks when connected? (just to test the switch).

Jase2985

13416 posts

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#2960535 28-Aug-2022 18:50

you will only get 12.5MB/s (100mbps) through that switch would be better taking it back and getting a gigabit one

kiwis

830 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2960611 28-Aug-2022 21:28

Jase2985:

you will only get 12.5MB/s (100mbps) through that switch would be better taking it back and getting a gigabit one

Do you have the link?

Rodders1nz

37 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#2960613 28-Aug-2022 21:34

Only 5 ports but cheep and does good job

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SWHTPL1007/TP-Link-TL-SG1005D-5-Port-Gigabit-Unmanaged-Switch

Jase2985

13416 posts

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#2960653 29-Aug-2022 08:21

kiwis:

Jase2985:

you will only get 12.5MB/s (100mbps) through that switch would be better taking it back and getting a gigabit one

Do you have the link?

literally just needs to say gigabit

same brand just steel housing https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SWHTPL1004/TP-Link-TL-SG108-8-Port-Gigabit-Unmanaged-Switch-S

kiwis

830 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3012930 21-Dec-2022 19:14

So this would work as well?

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SWHDLK1005A/D-Link-DGS-1005A-5-Port-Gigabit-Switch-Plastic-Hou

Jase2985

13416 posts

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#3012991 21-Dec-2022 20:21

yes but also depends on how many ports you need. that will give you one uplink port and allow 4 devices to connect to it

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