I recently moved into a new place, and my room is in the basement. I usually stay up late and don't want to disturb my family with loud noises. We had a 50mb Broadband plan, but we upgraded to a 320mbs plan. However, I'm only getting around 150mbs on my PC since I'm further from the router. I tried using a TP-Link WiFi extender, but it didn't help much. I'm considering buying a 20 meter long Ethernet cable, but I'm unsure if that would make a difference since it might be too long. Any suggestions or tips on improving my internet speed would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
I had a similar experience; when I used an Ethernet cable, I got most of the bandwidth while others used WiFi. It probably will make a difference for you, especially if there's interference affecting your WiFi. Just remember, Ethernet will likely keep your connection stable, which might lead to faster download times overall.
Yes, typically an Ethernet connection can improve your internet experience! While the maximum speed advertised by your provider will remain the same, using Ethernet means you'll lose less data compared to WiFi. So even if you're downloading at the same 'speed,' your connections will be more reliable and faster in practical use. Plus, distances and obstructions can heavily influence WiFi performance, which won't be a problem with Ethernet!
If you're getting lower speeds downstairs, an Ethernet cable should help you get closer to that 300mbs you're seeing next to the router, especially with fewer interferences!
Ethernet cables can go up to 100m easily! If you have a decent Ethernet card, you'll notice a significant speed difference over WiFi. Definitely worth getting one!
As long as you use at least a CAT 5e Ethernet cable, the length won't be an issue until you hit 100m. Using a 20m cable should be just fine. It's a good idea to test this by moving your PC closer to the router with a short cable if possible, just to confirm the WiFi isn’t causing the slowdown. If you get faster speeds that way, then the long cable should definitely help!
So, will I get the full speed I'm paying for? When I'm right next to the router, I hit around 300mbs, but down in the basement, it's dropping to 150mbs.