How to get a wired connection to another room without drilling holes
A cable beats Wi-Fi for games, calls and big downloads, but the router is downstairs and you can't, or are not allowed to, drill. You have more options than a 20-metre cable across the hallway.
The options side by side
| Method | Uses | Typical real speed | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat or thin cable | A new cable along skirting, under carpet edges, through door gaps | Full 1 Gbps | Tripping, door hinges crushing it, cheap CCA cable |
| MoCA 2.0 / 2.5 | Existing coaxial TV or cable sockets | About 400 Mbps (2.0) to over 1 Gbps (2.5) | Needs coax in both rooms; splitters must pass the frequencies; a filter at the point of entry |
| Powerline (HomePlug AV2) | Mains wiring and wall sockets | Often 50 to 300 Mbps, despite "1,000" or "2,000" on the box | Extension leads, surge strips, separate circuits or fuse boards, noisy chargers |
| G.hn over phone wire | Old telephone sockets wired around the house | Often several hundred Mbps | Only works if the wire runs between the two rooms |
| Mesh with wireless backhaul | Radio between two mesh boxes | Varies with walls and distance | Still Wi-Fi underneath; tri-band systems keep one band for the link |
Speeds above 100 Mbps are only noticeable for big downloads. For games and calls, steadiness matters most, which is where cable and MoCA shine; see good ping, jitter and packet loss.
1. A flat cable, done tidily
- Flat Ethernet cable is about 1 to 2 mm thick and slides under most internal doors and carpet edges. For long runs along a wall, round cable in adhesive clips or a stick-on trunking channel is tougher.
- Go round the hinge side carefully, or under the door rather than through the frame, so the door never pinches it.
- Buy pure copper cable, not CCA (copper-clad aluminium), and Cat5e or Cat6 is plenty. See which Ethernet cable you need.
- Many homes have a hole already: the one the TV aerial, phone or satellite cable comes through can often take a thin cable too.
- Afterwards check the link shows 1 Gbps, not 100 Mbps; the cable guide shows how on each system.
2. MoCA: Ethernet over TV coax
MoCA adapters send network traffic over coaxial cable at frequencies above the TV and cable channels, so TV keeps working. You need one adapter by the router (plugged into the router and a coax socket) and one in each other room. Tips:
- Old or cheap splitters may block MoCA frequencies; use splitters rated to 1,675 MHz (MoCA 2.5).
- Fit a MoCA filter (point-of-entry filter) where the cable enters the house, so your network signal doesn't leak to neighbours on a shared cable line, and theirs does not reach you.
- If your cable provider's own box already uses MoCA, check the provider's settings first so the two don't clash.
3. Powerline: easy, but test before you trust it
Powerline adapters plug straight into wall sockets and pass data along the mains wiring. The number on the box is a combined raw figure; real results depend on how the rooms are wired.
- Plug them directly into a wall socket, never into an extension lead or surge-protected strip, which filter the signal.
- Sockets on the same circuit (or at least the same fuse board) work best. Rooms on another floor or an extension can be much slower.
- Phone chargers, LED drivers and some appliances add noise; try another socket if speed jumps around.
- Pair them with the encryption button so they form a private network.
More on how they compare with extenders and mesh in extender vs mesh vs powerline.
4. G.hn over phone wire
If a house has old phone sockets in several rooms, G.hn adapters can turn that wiring into a network. Only the sockets that are actually connected to each other will work, so test one pair before buying more.
5. When nothing can be wired
A mesh system can still help if each box can "see" the next one; place them halfway, not at the far end. Mesh backhaul and placement explains why, and Wirebook's Wi-Fi house lets you see what walls and floors do to the signal.
Check you got the speed
Run a speed test on the wired device and compare it with one next to the router. To turn the result into download times, use the unit converter's data-rate mode.
Related
Wi-Fi calling not working · PS5 or Xbox downloads slow · Wi-Fi extender vs mesh vs powerline · Ethernet cable: Cat5e vs Cat6 · Internet lags when someone downloads · Mbps vs MB/s explained
Questions
How can I get Ethernet to another room without drilling?
Use a flat Ethernet cable under carpet edges and door gaps, MoCA adapters over existing TV coax sockets, powerline adapters through the mains, or G.hn adapters over old phone wiring.
Is MoCA better than powerline?
Usually yes. MoCA over coax is typically faster and much steadier, because coax is shielded. Powerline depends heavily on the house wiring and electrical noise.
How fast is powerline really?
Commonly 50 to 300 Mbps, far below the number on the box, and it varies from socket to socket. Always plug adapters straight into the wall.
Does a flat Ethernet cable work under a door?
Yes. Flat cables are thin enough for most internal door gaps and still carry 1 Gbps. Keep them clear of the hinge so the door doesn't pinch them.
Do I need a MoCA filter?
It is a good idea where the coax enters the house. It keeps your network signal inside your home and stops interference from outside.
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