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Forum Discussion
Upgrading My Apartment Network to 10Gbps Ethernet and Wi-Fi 7
I want to upgrade my apartment's home network to 10Gbps Ethernet with Wi-Fi 7. Even though it’s just an apartment, every band and channel seems to be taken. Fortunately, I already have Ethernet running throughout the apartment. I recently bought a Fluke to test the quality of the Ethernet runs.
All the Ethernet runs terminate in a cabinet in a utility closet. I don’t need Wi-Fi in that location, so I currently have a router there with Wi-Fi disabled. The router connects to two access points located on either end of the apartment and to Ethernet switches placed around the apartment. I’m so grateful for Ethernet because I really dislike relying on Wi-Fi.
For this upgrade, I decided to try out a Netgear Orbi 970 with a satellite. I don’t plan to use the mesh feature (again, I’m not a fan of Wi-Fi). My plan is to move the cable modem to where one of the current access points is located. I’ll replace that AP with the primary Orbi 970 and run a 10Gbps backbone from the Orbi to the utility cabinet. In the cabinet, I’ll install a 10Gbps switch to distribute the connection throughout the apartment, including to the satellite Orbi at the other end of the apartment.
My Questions
- Is there a better solution? Are there any alternatives to my current plan that would work more efficiently or cost-effectively?
- Will this setup introduce noticeable lag? Specifically, would having a 10Gbps switch in the utility cabinet, instead of the main router, cause any noticeable latency compared to my current setup?
- Switch Recommendations: Should I use a managed or unmanaged 10Gbps switch? Are there any specific models you’d recommend?
- Wi-Fi Roaming: I’d like seamless Wi-Fi roaming throughout the apartment. I’m not sure if my current setup supports this—any advice?
I know that 10Gbps is overkill, as I only have a 1.2Gbps internet connection, but I want to future-proof my network.
Thanks in advance for your help!
4 Replies
XS505M or 508M and unmanaged is preferred.
Whether you use the 2.5 or 10g wouldn't really matter a whole lot if you only have 1.2gig service.
Not sure how many runs you have but I picked up an unmanaged 2.5gig switch (trendnet) for around $70 and its been a workhorse. 10g will come down in prices with it becoming more common so it might not be a horrible plan to use the 2.5gig switch until you needed 10g speeds
and while you don't like wifi (I don't for a lot of things), the benefit to 5ghz and 6ghz is they have reduced range and penetration power. So while they might not have a "free" band (6ghz should), those bands don't penetrate far, broadcast as long while transmitting data, and have less interference. The 2.4ghz is pretty pointless in apartment living but the other bands should still be pretty solid
Another couple things.
Depending on the size of your apartment, the 970 series might be overkill and oversaturate it. And if you're using a wired backhaul, the RBE773 series might be an alternate option. Either series would saturate even a 2gig connection (I have both series and a 2 gig connection. I've tested it).
Orbi RBE773: $700 + unmanaged 8 port switch $70= $770
Orbi RBE973 $2300 + XS508 ($500) or XS505m ($330)= $2630-$2800
Quite a price difference if the bottleneck is the 1.2 gig service
What are you currently using?
plemans wrote:Another couple things.
Depending on the size of your apartment, the 970 series might be overkill and oversaturate it. And if you're using a wired backhaul, the RBE773 series might be an alternate option. Either series would saturate even a 2gig connection (I have both series and a 2 gig connection. I've tested it).
Orbi RBE773: $700 + unmanaged 8 port switch $70= $770
Orbi RBE973 $2300 + XS508 ($500) or XS505m ($330)= $2630-$2800
I was thinking that using a router in the closet where the cabling terminates is probably better served by an unmanaged switch.
Do you have evidence that the Ethernet switch in routers you are getting are better than the switch hardware in switches you can get or is there some other function you need this device to provide?
If you did use a switch there it would endure over multiple router updates (certainly 10Gbps is going to be fastest for a while) and would allow you to purchase a kit with a router and just one satellite.
