I'm about to start a remote job and really need a stable internet connection. I live in a basement apartment and need to connect to the internet, which is upstairs in the house. I was considering splitting the Ethernet, but after some research, it seems like I should be using a switch instead. I'm a bit confused about the best approach—any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
4 Answers
First off, definitely reach out to your internet service provider (ISP) about the connection drops. They might be able to do some checks on their end. Also, measure the distance between your router and your devices. Being too far away or having interference can cause issues.
For a stable connection, ditch Wi-Fi if you can—hardwiring is way more reliable. If you have a router/modem combo from your provider, I’d recommend getting a separate, decent router (around $100-$200 should do) that can also function as a switch. If you need more than four ports later, you can always add an actual switch.
Given you’re in a basement, it might be worth asking your ISP to send a tech out to install a wall jack closer to your space to simplify wiring. Then you have a couple of options:
1. Keep the router upstairs and add a switch in the basement for your devices.
2. Move the router downstairs and directly connect it to that new wall jack.
Since this is for work, hiring a tech to consult on your setup could save you some headaches in the long run. Good luck with your setup!
Are you using xfinity by any chance? That could help narrow down some solutions!
You might want to try changing your DNS to 8.8.8.8, but if that doesn't consistently fix the issue, calling your ISP again wouldn't hurt. They should be able to help troubleshoot further.
If you're using a combo router from your ISP, those usually have multiple Ethernet ports. If they’re not all taken, a separate switch might not even be necessary. If you can, check what model you’re using to see if it has extra ports available.
Yes, I am!