Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a tricky situation. I live in a rented basement and I can't set up my own internet, but my landlord is cool with me using his connection. The problem is that the WiFi signal between floors is really bad. While I manage to get a stable connection on my PC by running a long Ethernet cable from his modem, my other WiFi devices still struggle, often disconnecting or failing to find the signal altogether.
Here's my question: Is it possible to connect the Ethernet cable to a WiFi extender to boost the signal in the basement while keeping the wired connection to my PC? It's crucial for me to maintain a reliable connection for work, especially since I'm often on calls. Any advice on this would be hugely appreciated!
6 Answers
You can definitely make this work! Just get a standard wireless router and set up a WiFi network. Make sure its IP address is on the same subnet as your landlord’s (but not an exact match) and disable DHCP on your new router. This way, you’ll have your own WiFi network using his internet, plus some extra Ethernet ports. Just remember to connect the Ethernet cable to a LAN port on your new router, not the WAN port. It might take a bit of setup, but it's worth it!
OP might need an access point instead if they're not keen on setting up another router.
Just a thought: if the situation is really bad, do you have any way to get out of that place? It’s illegal to rent a room without two exits, so you might want to look into your options. You could even report it for safety concerns. But in the meantime, fixing the WiFi issue is also important!
Most WiFi extenders just amplify existing signals, so they might not help much. Instead, grab an affordable Wi-Fi router. Plug your Ethernet cable into the WAN port and connect your laptop with another Ethernet cable. Make sure your new router has a different IP scheme than the landlord’s so you don’t run into conflicts. It'll really simplify everything!
Absolutely! You can use a Wi-Fi access point that supports wired connections, or any basic router will do the trick. Just plug the Ethernet into the WAN port, and your PC into a LAN port. This will give you a solid wired connection for your PC and a stable wireless network for the rest of your devices.
For the best results, connect the Ethernet to a Wi-Fi access point or set a router to AP (Access Point) mode. This will help maintain your wired connection while giving you decent Wi-Fi coverage for other devices. It's really the best of both worlds!
Honestly, don’t overthink it! A wireless router will make everything straightforward. Just plug the Ethernet into the WAN port and your PC into a LAN port. Set up the router, and that’s it! You’ll have a secure wired connection for your PC and a new Wi-Fi network for your other devices without any complicated setups.
Is it complicated to disable DHCP and set the IP address? I'm comfortable with tech, but I want to make sure I can handle it.