4 ms·

The majority of the complaint here is really that: * many new homes use metal "structured cabling" boxes (which block wifi signals) * the box is not in a cent

The majority of the complaint here is really that: * many new homes use metal "structured cabling" boxes (which block wifi signals) * the box is not in a central location (eg: usually in a corner of the basement near where cabling comes in) * Most people use their ISP-provided combination wifi/router * The wifi is then located inside the metal structured cabling box For most non-techie houses, if the access point is centrally located, it'll solve the vast majority of problems. However, to do this, practically, at least some of the following have to happen: * The router and wifi need to be separate units, with ethernet cables to the wifi location * The structured cabling box needs to be redesigned to be plastic or mount the router/wifi combo externally * All the in-house ethernet and outside connections need to be run to a location near the center of the house, such that there are minimal walls between it and each living space This isn't hard, it's just an incentives problem. Most houses don't sell for more money by doing this, so the builder has no incentive to fix it. ISPs have clearly decided that having a single modem/router/wifi combo is most cost-effective for them, and just let their customers deal with a less-than-optimal experience. In many cases people have little or no other ISP choice, so it's not like they lose the business.

wlesieutre 3y ago
> All the in-house ethernet and outside connections need to be run to a location near the center of the house, such that there are minimal walls between it and each living space If we're just talking wifi like 99% of people will do, this is literally one cable that needs to be planned. Shouldn't be hard, but like you said the people responsible for setting it up would need to care.
samtho 3y ago
> many new homes use metal "structured cabling" boxes (which block wifi signal) Which are not meant to house a wifi access point, these are fine for (wired) network routers and the modem, but if you have this setup, your wireless access point should really be on the ceiling.
- bluGill 3y ago
  we know that, the people who make those boxes know that. However the people installing network in most houses don't know that: they see a box in a useful location for having switches and think "I'll just put everything in there" even though that box is in a bad location for wifi and is metal.
- OJFord 3y ago
  I'm not in the US, that's not common here, are these something like this? https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/ad/6b/4bad6bbff1a36e3dfbf7caac1ddc61a7.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/ad/6b/4bad6bbff1a36e3dfbf7... For the majority (I assume) of houses built without Ethernet runs, what's in there? Just the fibre/copper entry and modem if required? Or does it also house circuit breakers and meter etc. typically?
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
nradov 3y ago
In my experience the Xfinity (Comcast) WiFi boost pods work pretty well. You can just plug them into any available electrical outlet and they automatically form a mesh network to eliminate dead zones around the house. They might not be ideal if you need really high bandwidth and low latency, but for most homeowners it's probably good enough and much cheaper than installing Ethernet wiring. https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/wifi/xfi-pod https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/wifi/xfi-pod
dmckeon 3y ago
Put a patch panel in the structured media center, attach all house Cat-5++ cables to it. Put in-wall keystone RJ-45 receptacles at the other end of each cable. Put ISP router/gateway/wifi box at some central location. Use patch cables and panel to connect ISP box to ISP. Add WAPs elsewhere as needed.
yurishimo 3y ago
This drives me up the wall. I recently moved to a newly refurbished apartment in the Netherlands. The fiber connection is terminated outside in a utility closet on the balcony. Okay, fine. The apartment has Ethernet wired to each room, that also runs back to the same closet. However, all of the ISPs issue a standard modem/router combo. If I leave the router in the closet outside, I have basically no signal inside, but I could wire up the Ethernet. But then I need extenders plugged in and taking up my wall jacks just to have wireless in my 75sm apartment. I ended up using the plugging the router in inside and running the WAN connection over the cable to the outdoor closet. So I have no Ethernet but at least the wireless speeds are acceptable. On my M1 MacBook Pro, I get about 750mbps symmetrical in the living room and 600 in my office. Good enough I guess. My game console is plugged into the router directly.

wlesieutre 3y ago

> All the in-house ethernet and outside connections need to be run to a location near the center of the house, such that there are minimal walls between it and each living space If we're just talking wifi like 99% of people will do, this is literally one cable that needs to be planned. Shouldn't be hard, but like you said the people responsible for setting it up would need to care.

samtho 3y ago

> many new homes use metal "structured cabling" boxes (which block wifi signal) Which are not meant to house a wifi access point, these are fine for (wired) network routers and the modem, but if you have this setup, your wireless access point should really be on the ceiling.

bluGill 3y ago
we know that, the people who make those boxes know that. However the people installing network in most houses don't know that: they see a box in a useful location for having switches and think "I'll just put everything in there" even though that box is in a bad location for wifi and is metal.
OJFord 3y ago
I'm not in the US, that's not common here, are these something like this? https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/ad/6b/4bad6bbff1a36e3dfbf7caac1ddc61a7.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/ad/6b/4bad6bbff1a36e3dfbf7... For the majority (I assume) of houses built without Ethernet runs, what's in there? Just the fibre/copper entry and modem if required? Or does it also house circuit breakers and meter etc. typically?

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

nradov 3y ago

In my experience the Xfinity (Comcast) WiFi boost pods work pretty well. You can just plug them into any available electrical outlet and they automatically form a mesh network to eliminate dead zones around the house. They might not be ideal if you need really high bandwidth and low latency, but for most homeowners it's probably good enough and much cheaper than installing Ethernet wiring. https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/wifi/xfi-pod https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/wifi/xfi-pod

dmckeon 3y ago

Put a patch panel in the structured media center, attach all house Cat-5++ cables to it. Put in-wall keystone RJ-45 receptacles at the other end of each cable. Put ISP router/gateway/wifi box at some central location. Use patch cables and panel to connect ISP box to ISP. Add WAPs elsewhere as needed.

yurishimo 3y ago

This drives me up the wall. I recently moved to a newly refurbished apartment in the Netherlands. The fiber connection is terminated outside in a utility closet on the balcony. Okay, fine. The apartment has Ethernet wired to each room, that also runs back to the same closet. However, all of the ISPs issue a standard modem/router combo. If I leave the router in the closet outside, I have basically no signal inside, but I could wire up the Ethernet. But then I need extenders plugged in and taking up my wall jacks just to have wireless in my 75sm apartment. I ended up using the plugging the router in inside and running the WAN connection over the cable to the outdoor closet. So I have no Ethernet but at least the wireless speeds are acceptable. On my M1 MacBook Pro, I get about 750mbps symmetrical in the living room and 600 in my office. Good enough I guess. My game console is plugged into the router directly.