New England B.S. Thread

But you're fine with talking about "deez nuts?" You dont make sense

 

This morning, I was very happy I spent a weekend back in December to install the block heater. Fuggin cold this morning!

 

Little chilly. Where I am going tonight they are calling for 10 below ambient. Add 60mph on a snow machine and I'm at something like 48 below zero. SEND IT

 

Morning, stiff nipplers. Cold out this AM.

 

That remote start was a godsend this morning.

 

Howdy everyone.

Wondering if I could pick someone's brain, if they don't mind, and are an IT person.

Trying to figure out what I can, can't, should or shouldn't connect to a Wi-Fi extender, and same about the main modem/router, in order to get the most/best out of my Wi-Fi at home.

I currently have cable internet through Spectrum (since that's all that's available in my town). Pay for the up 100 mbps speed package. Because of the way the cable had to be brought into the house my modem/router is downstairs. I have a raised ranch.

These are the devices I have/run:

Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung Galaxy S9
Two Amazon Fire Kindles for kids
Sony Vaio laptop (personal laptop)
Mac laptop (wife's school laptop)
IBM ThinkPad (work laptop)
Amazon Fire TV in bedroom (other side of the house from where the modem/router is)
Samsung TV (in living room directly above from where the modem/router is)
HK1 Super Android box (ram = 4G, rom = 64G) that I use to stream an iptv service that I subscribe to through an app

Wi-Fi extender is in the pic, and is all set up and connected to the main modem/router.

Not sure if this is too much info, not enough info, etc.

Appreciate any help, tips, info, whatever it may be. Feel free respond here or DM me. Or if it's easier/quicker, we can text and I'll gladly give you my cell number.

Thanks!

EDIT: not running everything at once, of course, as far as streaming stuff. But during the day, the work laptop is on and connected since I'm working, plus my cell phone. The kids get on their devices when they get home from school. And the Mrs is on her laptop at night, after dinner, doing school work.

 

It is a balmy 12F in West Haven this AM. It was 3F at the house when I left.

 

I should not have been lazy and waited to snowblow...now it's fucking cold out. And we've got a Fedex delivery coming sometime today that's large and will require the driveway to be clearead so I actually need to do it instead of continue to just drive over the snow. Plus need to shovel the walk and steps cause it's milk delivery day.

 

Nothing like snowblowing at 3 degrees. It's....invigorating....

 

Here's what I'd do:

• You're probably paying $5/month for Spectrum to let you use WiFi on their router. Instead of the range extender, buy a wireless router and stop paying the $5 per month.
• Run a network cable upstairs from your basement. Place this new router upstairs and the existing router downstairs will become just a modem. The cable connects the two.

While it's not as easy as just plugging in a range extender, it's a more elegant solution. You aren't relying on a wireless mesh link that's then relayed wirelessly again. It should also cover a raised ranch very well as long as you locate it centrally and give it a bit of height.

I have a 1500 sq ft ranch with an addition and an attached garage. I have my wireless router on a high shelf in the addition (between the house and garage) and can cover the whole house with full signal strength.

EDIT: For a little more detail, I'd make sure to get a wireless router with gigabit ports on it. Spectrum bumped my speed up to 200 mbps recently and if you only get a router with 100 mbps ports, you'll be stuck there. As far as the cable goes, anything CAT5e or CAT6 will work just fine.

 

As far as having the wireless router upstairs... The way my house is set up, I don't think it'd be that easy to run a network cable up. Would it just make more sens then to ask Spectrum to come out, and move my wiring upstairs? I'm sure they would have a way to do it, or know how to do it... Or not even worth it?

 

You could do that. As long as they can get coax up there, it should be doable. Running network cable is a little easier because it's thinner.

Their router is kind of lousy and has short range. Even if they move it, I'd buy a new router and use theirs as just a modem. You'd be saving $5/month so it'll pay for itself before you know it and you'll get better performance. I paid about $60 for my home router--it's a Netgear R6230. Paying more can get you some with better range, but for typical use there's no need to get into the ones that cost hundreds of dollars.

 

Got it. Thanks so much for the info and input! Definitely something to think about and consider.

 

I agree with what’s been said above,

the extender will help, but not as well as running cat5/6 and plugging in a new wireless router.

 

paging @TreeFortRichard But I think @js312 is an IT guy in a school somewhere

8 when I started the truck. I ran from the garage to the truck and hid in the warmth.

I am a pansy. I hate the cold. I can't wait to move to the warmth.

 

Yup, tech director for a public school district.

 

Then there's my jackass title: "The IT guy"

 

Ha, it's a small enough district where I could have that title too. There are only three of us in my department. I still crawl around and run wire sometimes.

 

To be honest your first step before buying a Wi-Fi extender is to make sure that your Wi-Fi router is working properly and you’ve tried multiple different channels and different locations. The router I use at my house give me Internet in my car in the driveway. Sometimes it’s a set up issue and not a hardware issue

 

Gotcha. That's an area all in itself that I have no clue about, or how to even do.