Home network router question

emergingsoul

I have a have modem hardwired to a router with various Ethernet cables feeding to network switches. I have one audio grade network switch that has an ethernet cable running to my streamer.

That's exactly what I do, although I'm not sure I'm using an "audio grade" network switch. This system is super simple and rock stable.

This is too damn complicated.

I have a have modem hardwired to a router with various Ethernet cables feeding to network switches. I have one audio grade network switch that has an ethernet cable running to my streamer.

It's really that simple. No wireless anywhere, everything hardwired.

1. Is running an ethernet wire from my streamer/DAC to the main pod equivalent to direct wiring to the old stand alone modem/router?

If the main pod is hardwired to the modem, then yes, it's basically the same as direct wire. However, if you can, try to wire it directly to the modem.  Direct to the modem is the best.  

2.  If I move the modem and main pod; can I run a cable from the main pod to an ethernet port ( to be installed ) in the cabinet and plug in my streamer?  Will this be nearly equivalent to hard wiring into my old modem/router?

Yes, basically the same as #1.

2 things you should do.....

1. Make sure you use high quality certified C6 cables. Don't need to be fancy, just make sure they are certified. This really makes a difference. I get most of mine from work, but BlueJeans has good cheap certified cables. 

2. Try to have the least number of "hops" from the DAC to the modem. Each hop can/will add jitter, noise, can have lost packets. Most home "mesh" networks use cheap components are mostly crap for anything high end. Hardwire will always beat a mesh network. 

If this was my network, the provided hardware would be given back, then purchase a good modem, hook that modem up to a little router, with a wi-fi point plugged into that. Anything that needs good fast signal, have it plugged into that switch. If you have a quality wi-fi access point, it can almost be as good as wired in places you can't run a wire. 

Get three bids from three different electricians for relocating your RJ45 jack. When you hardwired modem is where you want it then place your boosters.

A couple of years ago I went to an ASUS Mesh network for our home. The base router, an RT-AX86U sits upstairs in my den next to the Motorola cable modem. Downstairs are two RP-AC1900 Mesh nodes that are networked over the air to the main router upstairs.

One node is in my wife's office downstairs that serves her wifi needs with enough range to serve our outdoor patio shelter as well. (I move my wifi pellet grill under it for our PNWet winters ) It also serves our smart TV in the den.

The other node I tried to install in the same cabinet in the living room as my hi-fi rig but it generates so much RF (Hello? Wifi!) that it made my CJ Premier 6 impossible to use. So I moved it into a bookcase across the living room and ran some quality Cat 8 from it to my streamer. Problem solved. 

Here's a review of the Plume system:

https://www.cnet.com/reviews/plume-adaptive-wifi-system-review/

I gotta tell you, I'm not impressed on either a cost or performance basis. But getting back to your question, sorry I veered off course there, if you can I would move any RF generating gear away from your hi-fi rig. It doesn't have to be that far really. Then I'd run good quality Cat cable from your router back to your streaming device.

Good luck and as always...

Happy listening.

Question for the IT guys, isn't a mesh network supported by nodes in a hierarchy with each node connected by WIFI? So if you Ethernet cable to a node, you are still ultimately using an RF signal (WIFI) rather than a direct Ethernet connection to your cable modem, is that correct?

I think your concerns on configuration really won’t impact the performance of your streamer.  A good general rule to follow is to hardwire your devices wherever possible. Even streaming high res audio, you’re not using enough bandwidth to stress anything.  As far as concerns with interference goes, it’s also a moot point. It will never be high enough to be detectable by your hearing.  The entire process involves moving packets of data from a source to your device. Be it wired, wireless, power lines….it doesn’t matter.  It’s all read requests followed by a data stream. A file is broken down into chunks (packets) sent over what ever, then reassembled by the client. 

@rbstehno - Wired is certainly better, but sometimes it is not achievable. I think if their WiFi can handle, say, Netflix to the point, it will be fine with audio.

@deep_333 No, they are not. This just shows you know little about even the modulation. Which is not voltage at all, btw. People moved on from AM days. TOSLINK is a laughable comparison to Ethernet. Which is completely different and does not lose any bits. And no, there is no jitter there either.

A lot of wrong info here. You don’t need the modem to be out in the open, the function of the modem is to connect it to a router and that router needs to be in the open for better WiFi distribution. The best setup is to have the modem and the router separate. 
I setup corporate networks in the 90’s and people make things so complicated. You have many options on routers, buy your own or get a supplied one from your isp. The master router (could be your only router) will hook up to the modem and this router will need to be setup with your WiFi ssid, passwords, and any tweaking of channels, port forwarding, etc..

‘This is where it can get more complicated. Most homes today (except for studio apartments) you will need more than 1 router to get better coverage. Mesh is the best way to do this but only if you use the current 6e/7 standard mesh routers. This allows you to use the backhaul with a private channel that is very fast and only used between the routers. Also, the best setup is to wire all the routers using cat 6 or above cables, only use the backhaul if you can’t wire them together.

I use 4 mesh routers in my house and each router provides an Ethernet connection thru a switch to my roon endpoint. 
‘Always use wired connections, never use wap’s, Ethernet over power lines, even WiFi to an audio device, use a wired connection.

Any thoughts? Please remember when replying that I am an analogue guy trying to navigate the digital world with as little pain as possible.

There is no such thing called "digital".

Toslink is essentially a signal that pertains to modulations in light intensity --> It is ANALOG

Ethernet, I2S, etc are signals composed of voltage modulations ---> It is ANALOG

They are just as ANALOG as your turntable which spun around and gave you lowfi/midfi sound....What you are referring to as "digital" is just a lot more hifi ANALOG than your lowfi/midfi analog turntable. It requires some careful execution and it isn’t exactly plug n play.

Hope that helps.

Remember that the entire Internet consist of cheap equipment.

Who is the provider ,this is horrible , why can’t you get a router,modem combo 

run it hardwired  then like myself remove the noise ,digital is not grounded from house to house , Linear tube Audio. Make a great LPS power supply 

removes all that garbage noise coming in  up to 8 amps. Most are 4 amps or less 12 v ,and the pathetic wall wart power supply just ads more noise 

then a decent Ethernet switch LHY -SW-8 has a temp controlled clock ,LPS ,

and low noise regulators   Decent quality Ethernet cables ,your best one goes to your end point , then you start getting good sounding digital with a decent streamer 

a good DDC after streamer a big plus also ,which I do all of the above ,remove all weak links in. The chain , being a dedicated Audiophile no stone goes unturned ,

land 100% makes a big difference.. p.s you can spend $4k just on a Ethernet switch like my brother has ,all depends how far you want to go l

Always ask yourself question why would this help or improve?

@mpomerantz if you can move the modem and the gateway plume away from the system all you will need as I mentioned above is to situate that node 1-1.5m away from system and run good cable. You should be fine. 

One thing to keep in mind is that lightning can enter a home via metal to metal connections (coax, Ethernet) so while getting a hard wire connection as close to the entry point may make sense from a signal, you should also consider how to mitigate a potential incoming lightning surge. 

I use a coax gas discharge outside the home, plus medical grade Ethernet isolators indoors AND fiber converters.  Yeah, I'm paranoid but in a lightning/storm prone area and I have a lot of tech gear that could go boom if lightning got in the modem.

Yes the only downside, is with my modem in the stereo cabinet the primary Plume node is in very close proximity to the cabinet.  It sits just above the cabinet.  So continuing that set up would seem ripe for EMI interference.

Moving the modem and main pod ( or dumping the pods-modem and replacing it with a standalone modem router without pods ) would seem to permit better isolation.

@fastfreight EERO nodes communicate to each other via wifi signal they receive from the gateway unit. Plume appears to be mesh as well. It is actually not Ethernet over Power.
Using your streamer wired to mesh node shouldn’t be any different than hard wiring your streamer directly from the router. Moreover, it provides an opportunity to use a high quality relatively short Ethernet cable as opposed to a 30 meter run of generic cable and drilling holes in the walls etc.

Hi @mpomerantz ,  I took a quick look at Plume.  It seems to me it is a form of Internet over power lines or EoP.  While this is better than wifi, I don't think it is as good as quality ethernet cables running from your router directly.  I believe power lines can impart noise to the ethernet signal.  

I do use EoP (Eero Pro mesh with base station and extenders plugged into power receptacles) in a vacation home with no ethernet wiring..  This is easily better than wifi, and a quality ethernet cable or filter (NA Muon Pro Ethernet filter) improves things further.

Sounds like you have mesh network with a gateway plume node connected to main router and other mesh nodes plugged into wall outlets for better wifi throughout the house. This is similar to my setup - I use EERO mesh network.
In my setup the main unit is in another room upstairs connected to the optimum tv router. Downstairs where my stereo system is I have an EERO mesh node connected to outlet that’s not on the same circuit with my system and an Ethernet cable from this node feeds my streamer. Network components radiate a good amount of EMI that results in distortion, smearing and higher noise floor - the further you keep them from your stereo system components and cables the better.