Tips for Setting Up Remote Work Equipment Without a Long Ethernet Cable

One good option is to use Ethernet over Power adapters. They usually come in a kit with two devices. You plug one into a socket near your router and connect it to the router with an Ethernet cable. Then, the other device plugs into an outlet near your PC, connecting it via another Ethernet cable. This way, you use your home's electrical wiring to transmit the data, eliminating the need for a long cable.

I think your best bet is definitely the Powerline adapters. However, their effectiveness can depend on your house's electrical wiring. If you're planning to run a cable over 50 feet, you might want to consider investing in connectors and bulk Ethernet cable to make a custom length.

The Powerline route is solid, but do keep in mind potential issues if your apartment's circuits are older. Alternatively, you could use a range extender with an Ethernet port. This allows you to create a wireless bridge and then connect a switch.

Since your work equipment likely lacks a wireless adapter, you should look into a bridge device, which converts Wi-Fi to Ethernet. Just connect it to your router's Wi-Fi and connect your work device through its Ethernet port. There are affordable options out there, like the TP-Link AC1200, which might do the trick.

You might also want to run a temporary Ethernet cable along the floor until you find a better solution. It's possible you could work just fine with a wireless connection too; experiment with that to see if it meets your needs. If you have a tech-savvy friend, consider inviting them over for some help with setup!