Can I buy a longer ethernet cable so I can put the wireless router in a better position?

[mumonthenet]

I have a wireless router attached to the desktop pc. The laptops work in this room and in the hallway but DD can't get internet in her bedroom (same floor but other end of the house). If she sits on the floor at her bedroom door it's ok.

I have this bright idea to move the router closer to her bedroom...the telephone wire is long enough, the power socket's not a problem but the yellow ethernet cable is too short.

Do I need one of these?

Yep, that should do the job OK.

I buy these cables for work. They are a damned good price.

Thanks clumsy, I wasn't sure....can't really understand the tech bit.

Sounds like it's the cheapest and easiest way to do it.

It's actually better to have the router closer to the phone line if you can. The longer the phone line the more risk of speed loss on your broadband connection.

I've actually got a 10m ethernet cable so my router sits right next to the BT socket and the main computer can be connected by ethernet (yes that means I've had to do a bit of cable hiding and routing).

Of course, if your connection is always fast enough then don't worry.

liamsdaddy - are you confusing the router with the cable-modem?

For a bog-standard domestic installation, I would expect the cable connection to come into the cable modem, which is then connected by ethernet to the wireless router.

A couple of extra meters of ethernet isn't going to make a HUGE difference to a domestic installation (altho if you have 3 laptops all playing vast online games simultaneously, they might struggle a bit !).

Possibly; I'm used to configurations where the cable modem and the wireless router are the same thing.

A few extra meters of ethernet cable won't make much difference at all. A few extra meters of telephone cable can.

Hmm,

I only have one router - connected to the phone line and to the computer's processor thing (that big box on the floor). The laptops then connect wirelessly to that router (I suppose).

Yes, liamsd, if I do it the way I'm planning, the router will in fact be next to the telephone point and further away from the computer. Don't have too much problem with speed though sometimes the kids have complained when two laptops and the pc on at the same time. Let's see.

Am off to see if I can buy that cable this pm. Am not in UK so getting it from Amazon a bit more complicated.

The problem when multiple PCs are active might be down to the speed of the internet link (try visiting www.speedtest.net - there are systems pretty much worldwide so there should be some near you - which country are you in, by the way?)

Alternatively, depending on the wireless protocols supported by the router (and what they are trying to do) then it might be a simple adjustment.

If you can access the control panel of the wireless router, you can check the connection speed between the router and the exchange down that phone line. Higher the better, but be warned the data coming in via your ISP might be at a significantly lower speed than the link to the exchange.

You can also check the Wireless settings. It is likely the router supports 802.11a and 802.11b (low speeds, up to 11 Mbps), and probably 802.11g (up to 54 Mbps).

Then at the laptop end, they will likely support 802.11b and 802.11g but it will depend on local rules exactly what settings are allowed and 'common'.

If your youngsters are watching videos on YouTube, for example, they will both put quite a lot of traffic through the wireless link, and the speed of the link should cope but there can be situations where one or both might pause and they will get the dreaded 'buffering' notification.

For cables, see if there's anyone on Ebay in your area. Sometimes you will find bargains on Ebay that will be cheaper than most shops. I've had (USB) cables from China costing under 20p including delivery (!)

For Ethernet cables, I've seen 3m and similar lengths for under 2 pounds, where (in years gone by) it was common to see them at roughly 1 pound per metre, but there's a lot more competition these days, and lower prices as a result.

Thanks NG.

I have found in my local electronics store the cable I want for ?15.99 !!! 10 metres! The same thing (I linked to below) is £3.something from Amazon with free delivery in the UK.!!

What a rip-off. Am in Portugal by the way.

Think I will investigate getting it from Amazon though postage will double the price.

Speed isn't the major issue, the main purpose of this exercise is to put the router in a more central position so dd can get wireless in her bedroom.

Surely Ebay worth a look (as there are small businesses offering goods, so could avoid cost of transport from UK for a cable - 5m cables are more common than 4m by the way) and if you check for 99.5% (+) 'satisfaction' level (and at least 50 sales) on some firm in Portugal, you should (hopefully) find a better deal locally, or consider buying in from Hong Kong as it will be almost as fast as from UK and no VAT (!)

Understood on not so bothered about speed, wireless coverage more important, but was addressing comment that laptops found internet 'slow' when all 3 PCs active.

Thanks for that advice, you're right, sometimes there are people in Portugal selling on Ebay. Will check it out.

Not sure about getting it from Hong Kong - wouldn't trust the Portuguese customs not to impound the cable for two months and demand ?150 for "taxes". This gov will tax anything that moves especially if from outside EU, but that's another story...!!

Even if marked as a 'gift' ?

If you want, I'll get a 5m cable and post it so it would have N Wales address on the back, and no mention of Ebay or payment !

If I dig around I might even find the address of the in-laws of one nephew, who lives in Belgium with his Portuguese wife, so it would look like you know them (ie not just one Brit knowing another and getting the 'blardy foreigners' comment from customs in Portugal) !