High-speed internet is an important aspect of our everyday lives. You need the internet for virtually everything you do in our world today. That includes calls, communication, streaming content, downloads, setting up smart home gadgets, and many more. Outside the home, you need the internet for banking, transportation, education, business, and much more.
One of the ways to access high-speed internet in the house is to install an ethernet port in the house. What happens when you move to a house with no ethernet port? There is no need to worry. There are alternatives to access high-speed internet with no ethernet port in the house. This article outlines some alternatives to try.
What Happens When There Is No Ethernet Port In The House?
An Ethernet port provides a cheap option to receive high-speed internet in the house. When there is no ethernet port, there are alternatives that are usually expensive options. For instance, you can decide to install an ethernet port in the house. This is usually expensive on its own. Anyways, not to worry. There are other cheap alternatives to access high-speed internet that don’t involve installing ethernet ports.
Alternative Ways To Access Internet With No Ethernet Port In The House
These are some cheap alternative ways to access the internet in your home without an ethernet port.
- Use An Internet-Over-Power Adapter
- Use A Range Extender
- A USB to Ethernet Adapter
- Install A Mesh Network
- Use Router’s Wireless Connection
- Switch To Mobile Data
a. Use An Internet-Over-Power Adapter
An Internet-Over-Power adapter serves as a better alternative if there is no ethernet port in a particular room. Instead of getting a technician to install the port in the room which is usually expensive, you can opt for this adapter.
The downside of using this adapter is that it reduces the internet speed. For instance, if your wireless network provider gives an internet speed of 400 Mbps to 550Mbps, you can maintain an internet speed of 300Mbps while using the adapter.
How the adapter works is that you connect the adapter to the router in another room and run the cable to your room. Follow the steps below to complete the process.
. Connect one side of the ethernet cable to the router, and plug in the other side to the power source.
. Plug the other adapter into the power source in the room.
. Finally, plug the remaining ethernet cable into your device.
Internet-Over-Power Adapters To Check Out
There are many low-quality and fake internet-over-power adapter products out there. For the process to work, you have to use the right product. These are some internet-over-power adapters to check out.
. Power Over Long Reach Ethernet (POLRE)
What if you’re in a big house where the router wireless network can’t get to all parts of the house? POLRE comes in handy to provide data networks to devices that are too far to receive wireless networks from the router. It is used to send network data to distant locations in the house using current infrastructure.
The extender kit exceeds the 100-meter limit of most ethernet cables. In other words, it serves as a good alternative if there is no ethernet port on the wall.
. Powerline Adapters
This is another cool alternative to ethernet cables. It sends data signals via the electrical wiring in the house. Always go for a powerline adapter with a good return policy in case the adapter doesn’t fit with your wall port. Also, powerline adapters supply power to powered devices.
. Ethernet Over COAX
This is a Powerline adapter and also known as MoCA Adapter. The MoCA adapter is easy to install and is most times faster than the Wi-Fi wireless internet. It sends network signals from a router to a device using COAX cables. Note that some internet providers like U-verse and At & t don’t support MoCA.
b. Use A Range Extender
As the name implies, the device is used to extend the network range. The range extender comes in handy if there is a router in the house but the network isn’t getting to some locations in the house. You connect the device to the router to extend the network range in all parts of the house. The device is known to provide a stronger Wi-Fi signal.
There are two types of range extender devices. The plug-in Wi-Fi extender is connected to a power outlet on the wall. The second type is the Desktop range extender which has several ethernet ports.
c. Use a USB to Ethernet Adapter
The USB Ethernet adapter comes in handy when there is no ethernet port in the house but there is a wired ethernet connection available. How it works is that it connects to an ethernet cable via a USB port.
You can connect multiple devices using the ethernet cable instead of the USB cable. For instance, if you have a computer connected to an ethernet port and you want to connect another computer to the same network. All you need to do is to use a USB to ethernet adapter via the connected computer’s USB port to establish an internet connection to the second computer.
Pros of Using the USB to Ethernet Adapter
These are some of the reasons why the USB to Ethernet adapter is a better alternative.
. It is portable and easy to carry around and can be set up anywhere.
. Enables easy transfer of large files and data without affecting the network signal strength.
. It provides a reliable internet connection.
Connection Process For USB to Ethernet Adapter
. Make sure you use a USB 3.0 or 3.1 adapters or a gigabit adapter.
. Check the cables and ensure you’re using a Cat5e or Cat6 cable.
. Plug the adapter into the USB port on your computer.
d. Use A Mesh Network
The Mesh Wi-Fi is also known as the Whole-home Wi-Fi system. It consists of the main router which connects to your mode and has several satellite modules and nodes which are placed in several locations in your house to provide full-range wireless coverage from a single network. The downside of using the Mesh network is that, for most providers, you have to pay an upfront fee.
Pros of Using The Mesh Network
These are some of the reasons to consider opting for the Mesh network as an alternative when there is no ethernet port.
. Mesh network comes with several ethernet ports.
. It enhances internet network performance without the need for further configuration.
. With the mesh network, there is no need to configure the network via a web administration dashboard.
. It provides high-speed internet in all locations around the house.
e. Use Router’s Wireless Connection
The Wi-Fi Router device is used to transmit wireless network devices. The good thing about the router is that you can connect multiple devices at a time without affecting the network signal or speed. Although an ethernet connection provides a higher internet speed, the Wi-Fi router serves as a cheaper alternative.
The good thing about the Wi-Fi router is that you can connect your smartphone and not just your computer and laptop. Also, it is wireless, meaning that you don’t need to run cables to your device. Finally, multiple users can connect to the network simultaneously.
f. Connect To Mobile Data Via Hotspot
Finally, another alternative is to connect the device to your cellular internet network via a hotspot. Most cellular internet network providers have both 4G and 5G networks options. First, you have to make sure your network provider has a mobile hotspot internet data plan. Also, make sure the network signal is strong in your location. Finally, connect your device to the mobile network via the hotspot.
Conclusion
So far, this post has outlined five alternatives to access high-speed internet without ethernet ports. Each alternative has its pros and cons. The option you opt for will depend on your needs and budget. But if you don’t have the need to transfer large data and you’re working on a budget, you can easily opt for the mobile data connection via hotspot.