Bought home with wired ethernet

[jtangm04]

Bought a home with wired ethernet and looking to optimize the speed of my access points. Currently I have the cable modem plugged into #1 of a switch that leads to my main router in the study. From there, I have the router connected to a powerline to 3 different routers in my home acting access points. 1 access point gets great speeds through powerline while the other 2 have mediocre speeds.

I am looking to see if I can change my setup to hybrid wired/wifi:
Cable modem --> router --> switch --> wired router access points to different areas of my home

Will I need additional hardware?

Pics of my current setup

http://imgur.com/RgsPiNj

http://imgur.com/SeX8HrK

 

[pege63]

The powerlines needs to be on the same fase (on the same fuse) to work optimal.
Better with cable and switch there is needed as for example in this picture.

 

[thiggins]

So your home doesn't really have much in the way of Ethernet ports, at least not where you want them.

Powerline requires some experimentation and removal of noise sources. Throughput also degrades with distance and some circuit breaker types.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/basics/lanwan-basics/32769-how-to-troubleshoot-your-powerline-network

 

[CaptainSTX]

Bought a home with wired ethernet and looking to optimize the speed of my access points. Currently I have the cable modem plugged into #1 of a switch that leads to my main router in the study. From there, I have the router connected to a powerline to 3 different routers in my home acting access points. 1 access point gets great speeds through powerline while the other 2 have mediocre speeds.

I am looking to see if I can change my setup to hybrid wired/wifi:
Cable modem --> router --> switch --> wired router access points to different areas of my home

Will I need additional hardware?

Pics of my current setup

http://imgur.com/RgsPiNj

http://imgur.com/SeX8HrK

Your new proposed configuration should work well. It is not clear if you will need to continue to use the powerline. Eliminating it from your network at least for links between your router and APs will result in a faster and more reliable network.

If your router has gigabyte ports you should use a router with gigabyte ports to distribute the LAN.

If you want your network to be more reliable install a UPS to power your modem, router and switch. It also might be possible using POE to have your APs powered from the UPS.

 

[Samir]

I would first plug every port into your house into that switch. Second, I would bring the router downstairs to the switch and put the Internet into the router and connect the LAN to the switch. Then I would go test each port upstairs for speed (should be as fast as connecting directly to your router). Then I would just plug in APs where needed since you have wired Ethernet everywhere.

 

[System Error Message]

The best way to use powerline is to plug it in to the wall sockets and have the filters/extensions plugged behind them as it would filter both ways so the noise from switching PSUs affect them less. The main interference for powerline are filters from extensions and noise from something like a switching PSU for instance. Normally the PLA comes with filters inside so the best way to use the PLA is to plug devices with switching PSUs into it rather than into an adjacent wall socket.

more than 90% of PSUs are switching based and many of them are made in china and are terrible that they can introduce serious noise. Many devices from your phone/battery charges to PC/laptop PSUs and even more so use switching PSUs. This and the price of a good PLA is why it hasnt yet caught on.