Where to best use Ethernet?

I can either connect the computer running roon server to my router via Ethernet or I can connect the computer running roon server via Ethernet to my end output device.
1 of those 2 connections will have to be via WiFi. Which is more important to hardwire?

I’m having a hard time visualizing what the problem is. Get a switch if necessary and connect both to your network using ethernet.

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Use a switch.

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You will likely get the best results if your core is wired to the router, which then streams to the output device on wifi.

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Best results would be both connected by ethernet. If just one or the other, then the Roon core.

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Recommended best practice is

PC Core > Ethernet Cable > Router

Router > Ethernet Cable > End Point

If you can’t manage cable both ends then cable the Core end , it does significantly more work Internet > Core for metadata, updates etc

If you have to WiFi from Router to end point will work but beware dropouts . If you read through the issues raised on the forum most issues raised turn out to be due to dodgy networks. There are so many things that can interfere with WiFi its adding a complexity you don’t need …

Even if it means “work” running an ethernet cable from the router to a switch in your listening room makes most sense. My house has a concrete flat roof (no attic) and brick and concrete walls (no thin wi fi friendly wall boards) so wi fi is a mission , i eventually bit the bullet and put a cable in (over the roof !!) and never looked back :grinning:

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I ran a cable around the back of the house.

If you don’t need to connect your end output device to the network, then you can do use a USB to Ethernet adaptor to your Roon server, and a direct cable connection to your end output device (this one must use different subnet than the one in your house/router, with manual IPs for both Roon server and end output device).

I always recommend using a basic switch after the router and having everything connected to that switch. Sometimes using the switch in the Router can cause issues, and having the switch allows local traffic to not go through the Router.

So, router > Ethernet > switch > Ethernet > everything else.

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It cost me about $300 USD to have an electrician hardwire ethernet Cat 6 from the router (office) side of the house to the living room (media center) side of the house. The cost including the labor of fishing the Cat6 cabling through the walls, the attic, materials, and installing wall jacks. No more wifi dropouts, no headaches. Installed a switch of the media center side which feeds the gear. Wifi use is limited to Roon remotes and other wifi based stuff like cameras, iphones, ipads, etc.

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Yes, that is why my whole house is wired with Ethernet.

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My house is a 1999 build. Had to retrofit, but it was well worth it.

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I found a custom built house, where the guy who built it had the foresight to run conduit from a central location to all the rooms. That way, if I want to change cabling it is easy to run.

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Makes things so much simplier being connected by wire. My wifi is great (six pod eero mesh) but that’s because I put very little traffic on the wifi.

I’ve tried to communicate that even an only semi-competent electrician is capable of this, in several posts.

To my knowledge it has always fallen on deaf ears.

Keep in mind that not everyone’s living situations allows for running ethernet throughout their homes (people who rent, for example). Also, with the advancements in mesh systems, it is not always necessary. My Orbi was the best tech investment I have ever made - my router is in my basement and I stream to the third floor without issues. In any event, the great thing about the trial period is that these sorts of issues can be surfaced.

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My guy has done other stuff for me, so I was happy to give him the work. I can do minor electical, but the firewall wire fishing looked to be a pain and I figured it was well worth it to let him complete the job. I also installed a Cat6 line into an adjacent room which was a pretty simple task.

Mesh wifi is great, but still doesn’t match the hardwired installs. Your point on some people not being able to install cable line (renting, etc) is well taken.

I always just ran wires along the wall edges, or just under the carpet when renting.

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I don’t disagree with you that wired must be better, but in my use case (which is of course all I can speak to) my C$250 mesh works flawlessly.

I am also sensitive to potential users reading these threads and concluding that they can’t use Roon because they don’t have cat 6 run throughout their home. I am sure that there are lots of people happily using Roon over wifi. I also understand that lots of the issues raised in Support here are networking issues, though.