For years I have used an ethernet connection that uses house wiring to transmit the signal from the modem to where I keep my PC. Recently the device started to give me trouble, often showing no internet service. Finally I just unplugged it and used regular WiFi to make the connection, which seems to work but is slower when accessing websites than was the ethernet connection when it was working right. My question to you tech savvy folks is: do these devices just give up the ghost after awhile and should I just buy a new ethernet set up, or are the problems I had in losing connection to the internet an expected problem when relying on house current to and from the modem? Because of the layout of my house, I have no option of running an actual ethernet cable from the modem directly to my PC.
Ethernet failure
- Thread starter vito
- Start date
Can't talk to the device you had. I had one once that did ethernet through phone line but then did wifi from that device. If wifi is too slow to your PC, getting another similar device to the one you had may be your best option.
If it's an older PC with older wifi hardware, you probably max out at around 50mb or so no matter what you do on wifi router side. If you are much lower wifi speed than 50mb ( speed test on browser: http://speedtest.googlefiber.net/ ), getting the router and PC closer to each other might get you a little more speed by putting less stuff between your PC and router. Getting less metal (like duct work or metal beams) between the two would help most. But probably not much. You might play with different wifi transmitter and receiver positions in their respective rooms.
They make USB wifi receivers, but they tend to be slow unless you are using USB 3.0.
If your PC's wifi is capable of faster speeds, you might play games with wifi repeaters, but that gets expensive and technical and odds of actually improving things much are not high.
If it's an older PC with older wifi hardware, you probably max out at around 50mb or so no matter what you do on wifi router side. If you are much lower wifi speed than 50mb ( speed test on browser: http://speedtest.googlefiber.net/ ), getting the router and PC closer to each other might get you a little more speed by putting less stuff between your PC and router. Getting less metal (like duct work or metal beams) between the two would help most. But probably not much. You might play with different wifi transmitter and receiver positions in their respective rooms.
They make USB wifi receivers, but they tend to be slow unless you are using USB 3.0.
If your PC's wifi is capable of faster speeds, you might play games with wifi repeaters, but that gets expensive and technical and odds of actually improving things much are not high.
We’ve live in our current house for 10 years and are on our fourth router (modem) they do go bad. They are on 24/7 and get hot and stay hot which causes the failure.
The cable might also be bad. Are you sure a direct hardwire can’t be routed to the computer? Some of the companies doing the wiring for houses can do some pretty amazing things, through attics. Or outside the house and then drill a hole through the wall and back in the specific room.
The cable might also be bad. Are you sure a direct hardwire can’t be routed to the computer? Some of the companies doing the wiring for houses can do some pretty amazing things, through attics. Or outside the house and then drill a hole through the wall and back in the specific room.
Oh, and I’ve had good luck with those WiFi extenders. They just plug into the wall outlet and no cables required.
Also the latest and greatest are the mesh internet networks. You can buy a boxed set of everything you need. Look at Amazon for “whole home mesh internet.”
Also the latest and greatest are the mesh internet networks. You can buy a boxed set of everything you need. Look at Amazon for “whole home mesh internet.”
wheelgun1958
Hunter
Kevin said:
You funny guy
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
I think many forget that plug in connectors corrode at the contact points, over time.
UNPLUG the cable, clean the contacts, cycle the plug a half dozen times, after
cleaning the contacts.
That will cure many (most?) slowly degrading performances.
Remember that most, and some would say ALL houses have humidity. That is
air borne WATER, that gets into anything not sealed. Many to most of the degraded
contacts are from said water in the air. The cleaning and cycling exposes the metal
in the contacts to a direct contact, not one going through corrosion.
UNPLUG the cable, clean the contacts, cycle the plug a half dozen times, after
cleaning the contacts.
That will cure many (most?) slowly degrading performances.
Remember that most, and some would say ALL houses have humidity. That is
air borne WATER, that gets into anything not sealed. Many to most of the degraded
contacts are from said water in the air. The cleaning and cycling exposes the metal
in the contacts to a direct contact, not one going through corrosion.
Is the router/modem power plugged into a battery backup (Uninterruptible power supply)? Not just an electric suppressor, but with a battery backup to keep voltage from both spiking or sagging.Kevin said:
Heating: Is the area around your router/modem clear so it gets cooling from air circulation? Does the modem sit on top of other electronics? Check to be sure that dust bunnies are not making nests in or on the equipment vents.
