5G Outdoor Hub - How to best extend the Eero network wired / wirelessly

[Thr33]

I’ve recently moved into a traditional stone property which is in quite a remote location. Traditional ADSL Broadband download speeds available at the property are only 23-36 Mbps, so I’ve gone for the Three 5G Outdoor Hub package that comes with 1 x Eero 6 Router.

The 5G Outdoor Hub and Eero 6 router are setup and are working well, with good speeds generally being achieved. However, as it’s quite an old property with some stone walls throughout and quite a large footprint, the WiFi network from the single Eero6 Router is only working over quite a limited range, with the signal quality deteriorating quite a lot between 2 rooms and upstairs/downstairs leaving many rooms with no WiFi coverage at all. So I would like to extend the network to increase the coverage to include several additional rooms but I’m not sure the best way to go about it, and given the fact the WiFi network doesn’t really extend very far from the single Eero device I am concerned that the signal quality may be quite poor if I do extend the network wirelessly.

With that in mind I started digging around with Google searches to try and find out what might be possible to try and extend the network in the best possible way but my really basic knowledge of these things has not got me very far, hence why I am here. My searches so far suggest that as the house is wired with Ethernet ports in several rooms (previous occupant had BT ADSL) I could potentially take advantage of these for “wired backhaul” with the Eero mesh network? I got the impression that I could perhaps plug the second Ethernet port from the Gateway Eero6 into one of the House Ethernet ports, which would then allow me to plug in additional Eero Routers into the other Ethernet ports dotted around the house, providing each of these Ethernet Ports and connected additional Eero Routerd with good network speeds coming from the Gateway Router through the home Ethernet system, which would provide a strong WiFi signal at each of these additional Eero Router locations, is that correct? There was mention of Ethernet switches being required in some cases, but I’m not sure if that is relevant here or not? (I’ll be honest I don’t really understand what these Ethernet switches do I’m afraid to admit).

In addition to increasing the WiFi network signal quality and reach, I’d also like to connect some of these additional Eero Routers which arecconnected to Ethernet Ports around the house (if that is possible) to gaming devices like XBox and PlayStation, to try and give the fastest possible connection for online gaming in these circumstances, but it’s not clear to me whether I could do this simply by connecting the 2nd Ethernet Port of these additional Eero Routers directly into the consoles or whether there is another step required? Again, some of my Google searches suggested that Ethernet switches may be required so I was quickly lost in terms of my understanding.

Can anyone shed any light on what might be the best way for me to go around extending this Three 5G outdoor hub network to achieve what I’ve outlined above, if indeed it is possible?

Many thanks for taking the time to read this, realise it’s a bit long winded and thanks in advance for any information or advice you may be able to share.

[MymsMan]

I haven't needed to add additional wireless routers to my house but your plan sounds feasible.

To make up for lack of ports the Eero i purchased cheap network switches to plug the devices that need a wired connection into and it works well

eg https://www.screwfix.com/p/tp-link-mercusys-ms108g-8-port-desktop-network-switch-black/507RN

[Thr33]

Thanks for the reply.

So in my potential configuration where would I need to install network switches? Would I just need a single network switch at the gateway Eero6 Router or a network switch at each of the additional Eero6 Routers which will be be wired into a games console?

[PeteG]

Hello there. 

I'm not sure what the configuration of the network cables in the house would be currently have. Is there a Network switch somewhere that these cables are all routed to? If so, I guess the best way to have it would be to place the 5G Hub in the place where it can get the best signal to the 5G network, while being wired to one of the ethernet ports. 

From there you have options. I think getting a Mesh system would probably be best. You could connect a Mesh hub to each room, this would have them running through wired backhaul, and it would allow your wireless devices to roam from room to room without drop outs. 

Pete.

[Thr33]

Hi Pete thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m showing my lack of knowledge here but what do you mean by the configuration of the network cables in the house currently? There are 3 Ethernet ports in downstairs rooms and 2 Ethernet ports in upstairs rooms. My assumption was that these would all simply be connected, but again my knowledge is of networks is really poor. Is there a way to test this?
When you are talking about a network switch, would that be a separate network switch unit that would be plugged in externally to one of these Ethernet Ports in the house walls, or would it be something that is integrated within the house Ethernet Port system? Again, is there a way to test this?

Thanks

[MymsMan]

Unlike mains plug sockets which are daisy chained into a ring Ethernet sockets are usually connected by a  wire back to a central location where they all plug into a network switch like bicycle spokes.

This network switch is probably close to where your phone landline comes into the house so that the ADSL router could be plugged into both the network switch and the phone line.

Pete is suggesting that you route the long ethernet cable from the external hub to whichever ethernet port is most convenient so that it can connect into the network switch.

You can then plug the eero hub(s) into whichever ethernet sockets give you the best wifi connection, not necessarily the same one that the hub is connected to.

You can add additional network switches to any ethernet socket where you need extra outlets like a normal mulisocket extension cord 

[Thr33]

Thanks for the nice descriptions @MymsMan. I’ve just taken a look at the sockets to see if I can note any difference between them and to look for the network switch and have realised I may have made an absolutely fundamental error in my thinking that there are “Ethernet ports” around the house. In only one room there is a BT Openrech Mk2 socket which has two ports, one above (which fits the cable I used to connect my BT smart hub 2 to broadband in my last property in the same type of socket), and the other port below is of course likely to be the phone socket. It’s been so long since I plugged in a house phone I’d  forgotten what size they were. The other 4 sockets in the house look to be the same size as the phone socket so I’m presuming they are all just phone sockets too. 
mid they are just phone sockets I’m guessing this maybe scuppers my plan? Or can those phone sockets still be used to receive internet with the right connector / adaptor? I could plug in the 5G hub to the BT open reach socket and this would provide internet to those phone lines or not so you know? 

[MymsMan · Accepted solution]

Phone lines are 4 wire while ethernet are 6-wire Cat2 cable so AFAIK you cant use normal phone wiring for ethenret.

There are adapters that will uae your mains wiring to distribute ethernet but they may not be capable of the high speeds that Three 5G can dleiver.

I think getting more eeros (or other Mesh routers) to establish a full mesh wireless network will be your best option.  I saw 3packs of eeros advertised at a reasonable price but haven't needed them.

[Thr33]

I’ve gone with the 3 pack of eero6+ and the wifi coverage is now excellent throughout after a bit of tweaking with the locations of each hub. Will see over the next few weeks how it performs but fingers crossed. Stumbled across MoCa Coax networking which apparently gives similar speeds to Ethernet so that may an option for me to consider if a wired backhaul looks to be implemented at some point. Thanks again for your advice.

[MichaelP]

Hi there @Thr33,

It's great to hear that the kind advice given by @MymsMan has seen an improvement in your coverage. Have you found that this has remained consistent over the past few weeks?

Thanks,
Michael