You pay Comcast or Verizon $150 a month for “Gigabit Speed.”
Yet, when you try to stream a movie in 4K in your bedroom, it buffers. When you try to take a Zoom call on the patio, you freeze up.
It’s infuriating. You feel ripped off.
Here is the truth: The internet coming into your house is fine. The problem is how it moves around your house. You are trying to cover a 3,000 sq ft home with a $40 piece of plastic junk that your ISP gave you for free.
If you want actual performance—the kind where 4K video loads instantly anywhere on your property—you need to stop treating your network like an afterthought. Here is how to build a home network that actually works.
Key Takeaways: The Network Rules
- Fire Your ISP’s Router: The modem/router combo box they rent you is terrible. Buy your own modem and separate router.
- WiFi Extenders are Garbage: They just repeat a weak signal and cut your speed in half. Throw them away.
- Wire is King: Wireless is convenient; wires are fast. The secret to great WiFi is actually ethernet cable.
1. The “Mesh” Revolution (Done Right)
In the old days, you had one powerful router trying to scream through four walls. It didn’t work.
Today, the standard is “Mesh” (like Eero Pro, Netgear Orbi, or Ubiquiti). This uses multiple smaller access points placed around the house that talk to each other, creating a blanket of coverage.
If you buy a 3-pack of Eero Pro 6E units, your coverage problems will disappear instantly. But your speed problems might remain.
2. The “Backhaul” Secret
This is what separates the amateurs from the pros.
A standard mesh system works by the units talking to each other wirelessly. Unit A in the living room shouts the signal to Unit B in the hallway, which shouts it to Unit C in the bedroom. Every time that signal jumps wirelessly, you lose about 30-50% of your throughput. By the time it gets to the bedroom, your Gigabit speed is down to 100mbps.
The Fix: You have to hardwire the nodes together with ethernet cable. This is called a “wired backhaul.”
Yes, it means drilling holes in walls or crawling in the attic to run Cat6 cable. But when the nodes are connected by wire, they don’t lose speed talking to each other. Unit C in the bedroom gets the full, pure signal pipe. It changes everything.
3. Hardwire the Stationary Stuff
If a device doesn’t move, it shouldn’t be on WiFi.
Your Apple TV, your desktop PC, your Xbox, your smart TV—these should all be plugged in via ethernet. Every device you take off the WiFi frees up airwaves for your phone and iPad, making them faster, too.
If you want lag-free 4K streaming or gaming, you need copper, not air.
I’m Upgrading the Server Rack.
I spent all morning running Cat6a cable to the new cameras in the garage. My hands are torn up, but my latency is basically zero.
I’m currently stress-testing the network by streaming four 4K feeds simultaneously. It’s flawless. If you want to see what a real home network setup looks like (and test my upload speeds), come say hi.
[BUTTON: Check Charlie’s Connection Live] (Link to your Cam Landing Page)
FAQ: Home Networking
What is WiFi 6E and do I need it? WiFi 6E uses a new 6GHz band. It’s like driving on an empty superhighway while everyone else is stuck in traffic on the older 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Yes, you want it for future-proofing, especially in crowded neighborhoods.
Can I just buy a more powerful “gaming” router that looks like a spaceship? You can, but physics still applies. A single router, no matter how many antennas it has, struggles to punch through brick, concrete, or multiple floors. Mesh is almost always better for homes over 1,500 sq ft.
Is running ethernet expensive? A handyman or low-voltage electrician will usually charge $100-$150 per “drop” (per outlet installed). To do a whole house might cost $1,000, but it adds value to the home and you will never deal with buffering again.
