How hard is it to run cat 5 in the wall from the first floor to second?
 

I dont know either buy two repeaters or run cat 5 and hardwire the connection. Has anyone done it and how big of a deal is it?

As a former cabling guy, with the cost and speed of wireless now, why bother?

seriously in the walls SUCKS, I stick with drilling through the floor where I need it but my 2 main bedrooms are above the unfinished part of the basement so I can run cords all I want through the "storage" area.

more then likely a pain. I'd wireless it

I prefer wireless but the connection runs hot and cold. Sometimes it rocks upstairs and sometimes it sucks. Would going to N make a difference or repeaters?

You might find it easier to go out a window,up the outside and back in through a window if security is not an issue

If I wasn't in a condo that would be a great option.

well a hard connection on cat 5 is more secure then any wireless encryption as it's point to point connection :thumbsup
on a cat 5 install it really depends who is doing the install. for a pro it is not that hard as they should easily know how to fish wires but if security is not a big deal and you feel comfortable with the wireless encryption solution , do wireless and use the security options on that as that is the easier solution.

Trying to do it in the wall requires special tools, and even the is very difficult, primarily because there are horizontal studs between the verticals. You also have to deal with the insulation in the walls.

Professional tip: utilize closets if possible.

For instance, if there is a closet under the second floor, run your wire along your molding (do yourself a favor, try to hide with carpet) then drill down thru the closet.

CAT5 is usually very ugly colors (enables the tech to know it is CAT5 with a glance) so hiding it is usually pretty important.

Thanks Baddog, I got to see how I can make that work that sounds good and saves on buying repeaters.

It is a little difficult to walk you thru it from 2,000 miles away, but if you can accurately describe your floorplan I might be able to help . . . I only did it for 15-20 years.

The router is in the back of the house, I connected the cable modem to the first connection into the house. The room it's in is a open livingroom and dining room about probably 30ft by 16ft.Downstairs is all laminate floors no rug. Now upstairs there are tons of closets and carpet. I have other cable connections thru out the house but it seems the fastest connection I can get is going thru the first one into the house.

we ran ours through the heat vents from the basement to the upstairs

the receiving wireless computers do they have antennas? I'm not talking those 2" nubby things.... I know what you mean about wireless being spotty. On some days I get a good connection to a guy 2 doors down from me for that has DSL for those days I want to do naughty things

Google pringles cantenna for some seriously ghetto long range antenna's. I even had an old dish network rigged to use to grab wireless a MILE away in a sub division. I ended up selling that to a friend though cause he offered me $150 and I had barely anything into it since the dish was free LOL might call up dish network and have them put another up for me and cancelling a month or 2 later.

LOL I have that in 1 of my rooms ;) coming up through the basement rocks.

have you thought about getting 2 internet connections ? you could get dsl for the upstairs and cable for the downstairs , then you would get faster connections. Get 2 routers and then you will also have a wider range for wireless. It will likely cost you $500 or so to do what your already planning and thats prob more than a years worth of internet for a second connection and less hassle :)

Closets are the best way....I think Baddog approves.

Lots of good suggestions thanks:)

access points might help