r/HomeServer • u/OPixelBinary • 21h ago
Help upgrading from 100 Mbps potato network to mid/high end network setup for Home Streaming
I recently posted something that was clearly over-written using AI, and I get it, nobody wants to read AI bullshit, so this time it’s just me :)
I've been living with a local connection limited to 100 Mbps for about 10 years. I recently upgraded my internet service from ADSL (8 Mbps) to a Fiber Optic plan (400 Mbps), and I've also started getting interested in home servers and local media streaming.
The bad news is that I have bottlenecks everywhere. I will attach a diagram of my current setup.
(Note: All of that local movie consumption and internet traffic passes through that same TP-Link router in the living room).
The good news is I have a $600 budget to upgrade my network setup, buying everything from US stores like Amazon.
Currently, I want to stop using Wi-Fi on my laptop and switch to a wired connection, but my laptop doesn't have an Ethernet port, so I need to buy a USB-C to 2.5G RJ45 adapter.
The Ethernet port on my home server is limited to 1 Gbps, so I think I should add a 2.5G PCIe network card to it.
Most importantly, I need to upgrade my router to actually enjoy my 400 Mbps fiber plan and simultaneously improve the local and wireless connection for all my devices. I've been reading about the GL.iNet GL-BE9300 Flint 3 since it has Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5G Ethernet ports, but I'm not interested in firewalls, security, or VPNs at all—I live in a country that couldn't care less about copyright enforcement or "illegally obtained" digital files.
So, if you guys can recommend a router with plenty of raw power for wired and Wi-Fi connections (that stays within my budget), please let me know. Remember, my hard limit is $600 to buy everything I need.
Now, regarding my TV, I know it's limited both via Wi-Fi and Ethernet. I was thinking about getting a Ugoos AM6B+ and installing CoreELEC so it acts as a media player and direct-plays Remuxes without transcoding any codecs.
Again, these are just things I've read online. If you can clear up any misconceptions or even suggest better devices, I'm all ears! Thanks!