If you have a second floor in your house, it can be a real pain to use the internet when you’re downstairs. The problem with most wireless routers is that they don’t work as well on a second story. So if you want to enjoy the ultimate streaming experience from your basement, here are some tips on how to run Ethernet cable from upstairs to your basement.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need to purchase a few things before you start this project. First, you’ll need an Ethernet cable and a power cable. These should be available at your local hardware store. You’ll also need a drill, some screws, and a small saw or handsaw.
Pick Your Path
The first thing you need to do is pick your path for the cable. You’ll want to pick a route that doesn’t cross any doorways or staircases.
Run the Cable
The first thing you need to do is run the cable. If you have an unfinished basement or one with no drywall, this should be pretty simple. You’ll want to drill holes in the ceiling at each end of the run and fish the cable through. Then make sure your ends are grounded and connect them together.
If you don’t have access to your basement or it has drywall, then you’ll need to drill a hole in the wall near where you want to plug in the Ethernet cord, then fish it through like before.
Connect the Wires
First, you’ll need to find the best route for your cable. You can use masking tape or a marker to make a straight line on the floor to follow the path of the cable. Once you’ve found your path, take an end of the wire and connect it to one end of your router with an Ethernet cord. Take the other end of the wire and connect it to one end of an ethernet adapter, then plug your internet into that adapter. Next, using another ethernet cord, connect another adapter to the other side of the router. Now, take this second cord and follow your taped-out path. Keep running cords until each one is plugged in at both ends.
Once you have all of your cables connected at both ends, take any excess wire and tuck it under baseboards or furniture so you don’t trip on it later on. After everything is set up, test it out! Make sure everything works by connecting a laptop or tablet directly into one of the ports on either side of your router (not through wifi). If it doesn’t work properly, unplug everything and start again from Step 1!
Check Your Work
Before you start work, make sure that you have permission from the person who owns the house to run cable through the walls. Make sure that you know where all of the cables and utilities are before beginning any drilling.
Test Your Connection
Before you begin, you really need to test if your internet connection is getting to your basement. You can do this by testing the speeds on your wireless router. If the speeds are good then it should be just a matter of running some cable down to your basement.
Troubleshooting Tips
One problem that often arises when trying to run this type of cable is the number of walls. It can be difficult to get a signal through multiple walls. You’ll need to drill some holes in the wall to get the signal through, but make sure you seal the holes afterward. A common mistake people make is drilling a hole in one wall and then not sealing it up again on the other side. This will cause problems with your wifi signal because there will be an open space for more interference.
One thing you want to do before you start your project is to find out how many feet your cable will need to span. If you don’t know this, it could be a major headache down the line since you’ll have extra cables lying around that may not work correctly.
It’s important to plan ahead and buy a long enough Ethernet cable for this project because if too much of your cable is exposed, it can disrupt your wifi signal or cause physical damage or even be an eyesore.
So, before you start drilling holes in the wall, take these troubleshooting tips into consideration so that everything goes smoothly!
Conclusion
Whether you’re installing a new piece of equipment, moving your gaming setup to the basement, or just want better internet, running an Ethernet cable from upstairs to your basement is easy.
Running the cable is the most important step. It’s also one of the most tedious. That’s why you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need before you start.
