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Question

Wifi / Ethernet Hybrid Basic setup How To?

Jun 12, 2019 10:29PM PDT

Hello Networkers:

I wonder if you can help me; I'm trying to extend from a 'flaky' Wifi system using an ethernet cable directly to my laptop - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, with IP conflict errors appearing occasionally.
I'm trying to do this because the signal appears overly weak when trying to use just wifi (see below). wonder if you can offer some advice based on the following basic description:

1) Internet cable from ISP enters house in adjoining apartment (we share the same Wifi).

2) ISP cable enters Wifi router #1 in adjoining apartment

3) Ethernet cable #1 runs from Wifi router #1 through the wall to my apartment

4) I have my own router with Wifi and ethernet, let's call this Wifi router #2. Ethernet cable #1 enters my Wifi router #2.

5) Ethernet cable #2 runs from Wifi router #2 to my laptop in the other room.

*** I can and have used only wifi for all this, using my Wifi router as a repeater to boost signal, but signal still flakes frequently with need to reset wifi adapter several times an hour / hene attempted ethernet solution ***

Thanks for any advice re: how I may use the ethernet cables in existing system to run as seamlessly as possible from originating ISP entry

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: cable
Jun 13, 2019 12:18AM PDT

Try using one cable from your neighbours router directly to your laptop. Should be as fast as when your neighbour connects his own laptop with a cable.
How long would that cable be?

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Can try that - pretty long cable though, no way to link them
Jun 13, 2019 12:23AM PDT

Hey thanks for the note -

I would try that but could be a very long cable - I was using the router to try to link the cables, basically.

Can I just use one of those basic connectors to do it instead?

All the Best,

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Re: link cables
Jun 13, 2019 12:32AM PDT

The common (and rather cheap) device to link two (or more) Ethernet cables is called an Ethernet switch. See https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ethernet+switch for example.

But before buying one check your laptop at the current location of your router #2 using the current cable between the 2 routers.