Help needed with Wifi / lan connections

chuckles1 · 21-01-2025 06:49PM #1

Hi,

We recently renovated a house, including setting up the house and garden gym / office with a LAN network.

The problem we have now is the that the only broadband available is up to 100mbs from all the providers so we have opted for a vodafone 5g option. However, we can't connect that directly to the LAN (vodafone seem to have it locked out for some reason) and the wifi signal does cover the whole house or reach the garden office / gym.

In addition, the alarm system we have needs an LAN connection to operate the external cameras…..

Any suggestions as to how we could work around these issues….

thanks

WildCardDoW · 21-01-2025 09:31PM

Talk to Vodafone.

The modem comes with two LAN ports. You should be able to connect your switch to this, I assume you have a switch anyway to handle the various ethernet connections to each room.

Also, connect a laptop to be sure - disable the WiFi connection.

The "seem" suggests you haven't asked them.

You could risk buying your own 5G router but I'd think the ZTE MC888 Ultra should do what you want.

chuckles1 · 22-01-2025 01:13PM

yes, I checked with Vodafone and they said I can't connect box directly to LAN and didn't really have any other suggestions other than get another account for upstairs and another for the garden office…..so if i want high speed broadband throughout the house and garden, its 150€ per month…..

chuckles1 · 22-01-2025 01:15PM

I also previous connected the laptop to the 5g box and it didn't seem to connect……but I will try again as I didn't (dont recall anyway) if I disabled the wifi connection on the laptop.

Wanderer78 · 22-01-2025 01:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123084267#Comment_123084267

…so 3 accounts in total, get the fcuk!

…no suggestions, but im sure the good folks here will get you there, best of luck

ECO_Mental · 22-01-2025 01:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123084267#Comment_123084267

The 5G router will provide a LAN..in the back of the 5G router there will(should be!) about 3-4 spare network points which is your Local Area Network. You can connect your cameras etc to these network points, you can also connect another simple network switch to one of these ports to give you more network points.

I think what Vodafone have mixed up is that you cant connect another router/modem to thier modem. To get better wifi buy a simple access point off Unifi for example Access Point U6 Plus - Ubiquiti Store Europe and directly connect this to the Vodafone router and this will give you better coverage. You will though have to disable the wifi on the vodafone modem.

chuckles1 · 23-01-2025 12:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123084311#Comment_123084311

yep, they were a great help. worst thing is, virgin are laying down fibre through out our estate at the moment, except a small group of houses, one of which are us. and they cant explain why either…..

chuckles1 · 23-01-2025 12:17PM

thanks for that. looks like I'll be at home tomorrow with the storm coming in, so assuming power stays up will take a closer look at your suggestions. thanks again

chuckles1 · 25-02-2025 12:18PM

Just getting back to this and have some more questions if you could help again.

So we switched to 3 5G broadband as they allowed ethernet connection to the modem, a Huawei 5G WIN CPE

I can plug pc and laptop directly into the modem and they work fine over the cable.

However, we also got the house and garden room hardwired with Cat 6 cables when refurbishing the house. So I want to be able to connect up the garden room and attic to the 5G box as the wifi signal doesn't reach that far. Was planning on getting a TP Link Wireless N Access Point (TL-WA801N) to provide wireless signal in garden room and in the attic need to hardwire the alarm system in.

I connected the modem directly into wall and the laptop into the wall in another room to test it works but it doesn't. Tried a few rooms for both the laptop and the modem in case it was a fault with one of the rooms and also changed cables to make sure it wasn't an issue with the cables connecting the devices and they were all fine.

So, not sure what to do and appreciate any help? Not sure if the cabling in the house was done properly or if there is something I'm missing.

Thanks again.

dam099 · 25-02-2025 09:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123207659#Comment_123207659

The cables from 2 random rooms shouldnt be joined to each other if wired correctly. They should all go back to a central point where you will possibly need to use a switch.

Once you find the central point there are probably 2 options

a) If the router gets a good signal at that central point and it works for WiFi around the house you can use the routers LAN ports to connect however many rooms you have free LAN ports, there should be a cable per room at the central location (you can add a switch if you need more rooms than you have ports)

b) Place the router by the port in the most suitable room that has good 5G and works for WiFi and connect it to that port, at the central location plug the other end of that cable into a switch then plug the cables corresponding to other rooms you want to enable into the switch as well.

You might want to contact the person did your rewiring if unsure about the central point.

chuckles1 · 26-02-2025 11:06AM

thanks for that, I had presumed they'd be on some sort of daisy chain arrangement. I'll have to get the builder to trackdown the person.

We do have a plant room where a lot of the electrics feedback into, I guess its probably there. Presume I'm looking for something with a few ethernet connections not being used…..

10-10-20 · 26-02-2025 11:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123210733#Comment_123210733

Take a photo and we'll have a look. It's usually a rat's nest of cables coming out of the wall.

chuckles1 · 26-02-2025 11:28AM

I will do, thanks for that.

Help needed with Wifi / lan connections

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