Best way to network 16 home computers?

Question

I live in a house that will soon have 16 computers needing internet connections. I'm only able to have one high speed connection to my house. Which of these connections will maximize the speed for each computer or what else would you suggest?

*****

1. Wired:

1 Main Router connected to the modem

3 other routers (1 per floor of the house) connected to the main, used to distribute the connection to all 16 computers

*****

2. Wireless

1 Main Wireless router (on the middle floor) with all 16 computers wirelessly connecting to it

*****

3. Wireless, closer to each machine

1 Main router

3 Wireless capable routers connected to the main

This will put a wireless router on each floor of the house so that computers are all close to a wireless signal

*****

Answer 1

Start with a 4 or 8 port wireless router as the main router connected to the modem. The 4 or 8 port designation identifies the number of wired ports that will be available on the wireless router. If all of the 16 computers are desktops (ie. no laptops), I'd go with wired connections for all 16 computers. Wired offers much higher bandwidth, better security, and better reliability. Even if you don't need wireless access now, installing a wireless capable router will give you the option of adding wireless access later.

From your main router run a single line to each floor. If you go with an 8 port router, I'd suggest running two lines to each floor as an option to further divide each floor into two lan segments.

On each floor, connect the line from the router to an ethernet switch (not a router). A 4 or 8 port ethernet switch on each floor should meet your needs. Connect each computer to a port on the switch. If your needs grow in the future, another switch can be connected/uplinked to the first switch to increase the number of available ports, or you can connect a second switch to the second line originating from the router.

If you need wireless access on all three floors, I'd suggest a single, good quality, wireless router in front of the modem. Putting a wireless router on each floor should work in theory, but from my experience, not all routers play nicely when setup in this type of configuration (unless you are willing to pay for a higher-end, commercial router). Also, using a single router plus a couple of switches is cheaper and simpler to install and manage.

Answer 2

If you need the speed (gaming, uploads/downloads) then I would recommend #1. That is going to be the best way overall as you don't have interference to worry about disconnecting you.

Answer 3

Assuming since you have 16 computers.... money is probably not a major issue. If you don't mind running wires all over, I would do this...

-Have 1 main wired router connected to you modem.

-have 3 switches  8 port ones or larger depending on needs, one on each floor (do not get more routers, because they would all assign DHCP and conflict)

-Then connect all computers too the switches.

-You will end up having to run wires up your walls to get to other floors, unless you buy ethernet powerline extenders. They are a little expensive, but you can use them too get your internet on different levels, without having too run wires up to different levels. However some might be a bit slower than standard wiring. How they work, is that they turn your wall outlets into a wired connection for your network, than all you have too do, is plug one into your main router, and then one into each switch, which will than deliver internet too the switch. Although they do not work perfectly in all houses. They do have a tendency too get a little warm too, so you would have too keep and eye on them.

You could do wireless networking, have one main wireless router, but you would have to get 16 wireless adapters, and they don't work well on every computer, especially old computers.