I live in a one-story house. My HTPC is in the living room but the router is another room. Currently, they are connected over a coaxial media that is also used by my FiOS equipment. HTPC is connected via CAT5-to-coax converter.

It all works ok but my perfectionist character just hates the fact that I have this converter. Besides, this converter limits the bandwidth to 6Mbps or so.

I want to run a CAT5 cable from the router to HTPC to get rid of the converter and to bump up the bandwidth.

What would be reasonable price to pay for that if I were to hire somebody to do that? What if I wanted not just have two RJ-45 male connectors sticking out of the wall on both ends but rather have neat RJ-45 female sockets/outlets installed?

I'm just lazy to climb over the beams in the attic and to fish the cable inside the walls (I don't have any insulation inside the walls).

 

HTPC = home theater pc?

Screw the wires, go wireless, I got a N band dongle hooked up to mine.

 

Yeap, Home Theater PC.

My router is not N-capable. Upgrade of a router and a dongle is likely to cost more?

What bandwidth do you get out of your N-dongle?

 

Well parts and labor you are probably looking at 150 from an actual company, or someone looking to make a quick buck for around 90, problem is, youre going to have wires.



A good N router can be had for 60 and an N dongle for 40
WARNING do not get the WRT300N from Linksys I would probably get the Belkin N1.

Max rated speed is 300mbps

It should utilize alot of your FiOS no matter what tier you have.

 

Forgot to mention I get downloads of 1.5-2.0 mbytes/sec with this set up.

 

Its funny you ask this since I just helped my buddy cable his new house. The hardware is dirt cheap. I would say run 4-Cat5 cables instead of just 2 for expansion and future devices that will use Cat5 in your media area.

I also have my HTPC, desktop, and Blu-Ray player connected on my network; and for stability and speed, you will want a hard-wired connection for your HTPC. Jackus is about right, its about $100 +/- for labor depending on who it may be. I say you should do it yourself. Cheap hardware and you could do it yourself pretty quickly to save on labor. We ran 18 drops in my buddy's house in one afternoon.

 

Hmm yeah, if you are needing more than 1 connection wired would be cheaper in the long run instead of getting a dongle for each. Although stability and speed is usually never fully reached in either situation.

 

I got verizon to come out and install a new jack in my office for my HTPC and xbox for 45 bucks..

 

the fastest broadband internet right now is around 25mb/s down(i might be wrong), wireless G router is going to get u 54MB/S but the range is really poor. wireless N is 150mb/s or 300mb/s, the signal go through wall a lot better then wireless G and you only use that kinda speed if you transfer data from PC to PC. they start from $39.99+ . it just depend how far the singal do you wanna go, and they all backward compatible with any wireless G. if you want connect to your HTPC wireless there a few option that you can do (option 1) is D-LInk Wireless Bridge cost about $99.99, it pretty much pick up the wireless signal and push out 4 Ethernet port out. or you can use as wireless extender (option 2) power-line adapter start from $99.00. it pretty much transfer data through your power-line in your house. they have to be the same circuit breaker. VERY EASY TO INSTALL.
(option 1) http://www.frys.com/product/5596090?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
(option 2) http://www.frys.com/product/5805163?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

don't listen to these guys... wireless is NOT the way to go for an HTPC (that might be pulling HDTV or a bluray off the network). It's too slow and the latency is a killer.

I have a 5tb array + 1.5tb of other misc content on my network with a handful of networked media tanks and other components on my network. The wireless N can barely sustain one HD stream, and for dang sure wouldn't work with multiple clients.

The big issue is can you reach the topplate of the both walls where you want drops from the attic? If so, then just drill a hole, drop cable, buy plates and connectors (about $6 each at Frys) and get after it.

 

You're going to need a couple of these (lowes/home depot) too

(Single Gang Old Work Low Voltage Mounting Bracket)

Then a couple cat 5 keystones:


and a couple keystone wallplates.