Powerline Ports

Hi All

Currently my setup is ONT Box > Router >Port 1 going to a BT Mini Connector > 2 Other BT Mini Connectors in 2 different rooms with each having their own Mercusys Halos/Switches and Port 2 going to the Main Mercusys Halo, so the internet is pretty much covered in all rooms Wired or Wirelessly.

But as the layout of where the ONT Box and Router will now be in separate rooms, I'm wondering without using metres of Ethernet cable, am I going to have an issue with this?

In Room 1, Ethernet cable from the ONT Box plug into Port 1 of the BT Mini Connector > In Room 2, plug in Ethernet cable into Port 1 of the BT Mini Connector into the WAN port of the Router (to get the internet) > From a LAN port on the Router, plug Ethernet cable in Port 2 of the BT Mini Connector to distribute internet access to the other 2 BT Mini Connectors around the house (via Port 2 of the BT Mini Connector) to the Halos/Switches

I have suggested using an extension cable, so the ONT Box and Router are in the same room and the current setup can be used, but the router has to be in a different room for some reason.

Why does the ont and router need to be in different rooms?

You could use a powerline adaptor from the ont to the router but how much actual speed you will use is an unknown quantity

I ask myself the same question when I was asked to move the Router.

But the reason is, my GF's Echo Show 5 was connected to a Mercusys Halo that is in her office/my gaming room, but it keeps cutting out when we listen to the radio, Amazon's tech support has said that if the 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands are merged into one Network, then the Echo Show 5 will keep jumping from one band to another and this is why it keeps on cutting out, from what I've seen on the Mercusys app, the bands can't be split or one band turned off.

I've created another Wireless network on the Router, turned off the 5ghz band and only using the 2.4ghz band, connected the Echo Show 5 to the new network, and there's been no issues of it cutting out, but there's a new issue that the Wireless signal jumps from good to poor and disconnects the Echo Show 5 from the internet, so the only way is to the move the router into the office/gaming room, but that's upstairs and the ONT Box is in the front room.


I did mentions running Ethernet cable all the way up the skirting board but was quickly shot down with that idea, I did mention getting a cheap Wireless Router, and setting it up as an Access Point, but thats an unnecessary spend, as the office/gaming room is directly above the ONT Box there is no chance of even thinking of drilling holes and running cable that way, but as I've got a box of just Ethernet cables, the Powerline maybe the only option, other than the cheap Wireless Router as an access point in the New Year.

In reply to a post by ToxicSmoggie78:

I ask myself the same question when I was asked to move the Router.

But the reason is, my GF's Echo Show 5 was connected to a Mercusys Halo that is in her office/my gaming room, but it keeps cutting out when we listen to the radio, Amazon's tech support has said that if the 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands are merged into one Network, then the Echo Show 5 will keep jumping from one band to another and this is why it keeps on cutting out, from what I've seen on the Mercusys app, the bands can't be split or one band turned off.

typically it will jump if its on say a marginal signal at 5ghz, and drop back down to 2.4 ghz and then it will think Oh look theres 5ghz; and repeat.

What model is the halo unit ?

[update - sometime later]

Checking one of the base models, the Halo H60X; it supports guest networks ..

So recombine the main ssid with both 2.5ghz and 5ghz. Then enable a guest 2.5ghz ssid, and connect the echo show to that .

Edited by Taras (Tue 10-Dec-24 11:22:41)

"I did mentions running Ethernet cable all the way up the skirting board but was quickly shot down with that idea"

Very good connectivity or a cable showing for a few metres. No brainer!

Have never had much success with Powerline. Have been through all the various standards including the newer Delve ones that claim near ethernet speed... probably about 400Mb was the best that I have ever seen. This is in a new house with decent wiring and on the same ring circuit.

Lifting the carpet is dead easy and although I'm not a fan, I still use the flat ethernet cables when I need to have a partner-friendly cable route..

My ONT is in my old office that got taken over during the pandemic and I'm not getting it back.. so I had to run two cables - one down to my new network closet (under the stairs) and one back up to a switch in there for laptops, outside cameras etc

The flat cable is good just make sure that you put it under the underlay or look to cut a small slice out of the underlay by the wall and run it along there. Use tape to hold it in place and its pretty invisible

Can you run a cable externally? I have run a cable outside and up the wall into the roof space for a family member. It was clipped behind a drainpipe and hidden from sight. Worked very well with a switch and ceiling mounted AP.

I know my wife wouldn't be happy with a cable running up the wall unless it was the only way to achieve something she wanted to do. In this case there probably are other ways to get a good enough connection for the partners needs.

I don't have wiring around my house, rely on a mesh network. I would love to have wires running so I could get the full 500Mb (or more) everywhere but it is just not going to get past the boss. My old house before I got married I had surface wiring running from the living room to the up stairs spare bedroom - it was fine for my needs and I drilled holes in walls where needed - but that sort of solution would never be acceptable to the wife and nor would paying an electrician to come and run hidden cables.

I live with what I have but no point upgrading the Internet to anything faster as I can't make use of it (have Wifi 6E mesh, no justification to pay the premium for WiFi 7 for better speeds).

I totally forgot about the Guest Network, and it was already set up as well, thank you for that.