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You may be disappointing to discover that the new house you just moved into does not have Ethernet ports built into the walls.
This isn’t exactly a surprise, but as someone who prefers to have most (if not all) of their devices connected to the internet via a wired connection, you might be interested in knowing how to run Ethernet cables through a house and if there is an alternative approach to having your homeowner walk in on you tearing down walls to run cables through them.
Luckily, when it comes to having your devices wired, you have two options, which involves getting lengthier cables to run along the floor of your residence while ensuring that it does not look wrapped up, or using MoCA adapters to achieve the same data rates as Ethernet without constantly worrying about cables.
Let’s go over these two alternatives in-depth and some prospective questions you might have about them!
How To Run Ethernet Cables Through A House
Like I mentioned earlier, there are basically two ways you can run ethernet cables through a house, and that is to either run the cables around your floor, or use MoCA adapters.
Now, let’s look at these two options one-by-one!
Option 1: Run Ethernet cables around your floor
This is an easy concept to define!
Purchase one or more exceptionally long Ethernet cables and connect them from your router to whichever electronic device you want to wire. Ethernet speeds are available throughout your residence, and it is plug-and-play.
At a first look, it appears to be a very simple but conceivably messy workaround to your connectivity difficulties. And it most undoubtedly can be that if you go about it haphazardly.
Here’s how to go about it!
Before you begin, it’s generally a better idea to have a decent concept of what all you want to be on a cable network to your router.
That way, you’ll have a mental representation of where your gadgets are regarding your router.
Next, determine the distance between these gadgets and your router. We’d suggest using an adjustable measuring tape to tie around items like your walls as you go from one juncture.
Consider the measuring tape as the Ethernet cable as you do this to get a clearer sense of where you would like the cable to keep everything as hidden and tidy as possible.
This is done so that there isn’t just a continuous connection between your router to your computer on the floor.
Of course, there may be times when you need to run the cable directly on the floor, but we’ll cover alternatives for that when we talk about troubleshooting.
After you’ve determined the length, the logical next step is to purchase the cable that is closest to that length.
Something to consider here: recommend purchasing cable that is longer than the length you measured.
You’ll probably have to do it anyway because Ethernet cable doesn’t arrive in sizes that are precise to your dimensions.
However, if it’s extremely close, purchase the length above it.
This gives your cables extra slack, so you don’t have to fret about them becoming too limited when you begin cable management.
Before getting into cable management, keep in mind that because internet signals deteriorate over distance, we discovered that the maximum length for Ethernet cables is around 300 feet. If you will be or already are in a smaller place, this won’t be a factor.
How to organize the Cables
Once you’ve got cables of the appropriate length and linked them to everything, it’s time to start making it all look more presentable!
You have a plethora of cable management approaches in this, such as one that is completely free if your circumstances allow for it.
Beginning with the free option, if you have a rug and there is a divide between it and the exterior siding (the usually white-colored board that runs along the bottom of your walls), you could most probably tuck the Ethernet cable inside due to the cable’s thin wall.
This usually works when the cable runs parallel to the longitudinal where the floor continues to meet the walls, and you would only have to carry the cable out from that gap where the edges need to plug into anything.
You may not even have carpet, a gap large enough to tuck cables into, or your scenario necessitates running cable in clear sight. In that case, here are some other possibilities incorporating tools made especially for cable management.
An on-wall cable speedway is one type of cable managerial tool. These are great for concealing wires and look fantastic.
They have glued on the back, so you won’t be worried about destroying your walls when you put them up. You can also coat them to enhance the look of your walls.
Another option is to use a floor cable cap. Floor cable caps are comparable to the cable wire harnesses but not quite as well hidden and slick.
See Also: How Many Solar Panels to Run an Air Conditioner?
Option 2: Use MoCA Adapters
If you want to run Ethernet in your residence without having to wire it through the walls, MoCA Adapters are your safest bet.
Right off the bat, we like to point out that this solution is somewhat pricey, with each adapter expected to cost around $50.00 and require at least a couple of them.
If you’re willing to spend the money, let’s go over the fundamentals of these items and how they operate.
Fundamentals of Using MoCA Adapters
According to what has been discovered, MoCA stands for “Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance,” It transmits a wired internet connection using your coaxial input signals.
Attach one adapter to your access point via Ethernet and a coaxial connector on your wall. Then attach another adapter to whatever requires Ethernet and a supplementary coaxial port somewhere else in residence.
Most adapters we’ve seen have two coaxial inputs, which we’ve deduced allow you to exchange coaxial transmissions with another gadget.
If you have a cable box linked via coaxial, you can plug it into the MoCA adapter’s second coaxial feedback and use it in conjunction with the adapter.
And, because different signals are communicated between the cable box and the adapter, you won’t lose the internet connection to the cable or vice versa.
Why is MoCA Important?
If you’re already familiar with broadening your wired connection, you might wonder why we didn’t mention powerline adapters as a remedy.
While we believe powerline adapters are a decent investment or momentary adapter option, some factors make them less favorable if you want to get the most from your broadband internet.
Because powerline adapters use the wiring in your residence to convey the internet, other gadgets integrated into the circuitry may tamper with your signal.
One instance that you’ve probably personally observed is where you insert your adapters.
The output plunged haphazardly in a multistory home with one extension cable plugged in on one floor and the other connected directly in on a second floor.
This has been a pain for many others, and it will undoubtedly be a pain for you, particularly if you’re in the middle of an intense online gaming session.
The pragmatic reasons here are compelling enough for you to strongly consider saving for MoCA to meet your adapter necessities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an Ethernet cable to run through a wall?
Integrating cable concealers such as PVC concealers, plywood subfloor concealers, or concealer enclosures is the best way to run Ethernet cables together across walls. If you don’t want to install cable concealers, you can use floor wire containers instead.
How do I connect an Ethernet cable to the finished residence?
Connect one Ethernet cable to the Power line adapter and insert it next to a modem or router into a power outlet. In any space where you would like to have Internet access, connect some other Power line adapter, then use an Ethernet cable to link the connector and the gadget.
Conclusion
You’ve probably done extensive research for operating cables through a purely theoretical, fictitious residence you could get in the coming months if you’re someone who prefers to plan.
Despite your efforts, you’ve never come across a single source of information that answers all of your questions.
That’s why we created this, which we hope will guide you through the process of compiling everything on tool-free Ethernet wiring in a home you’re only available to rent.