Scenario 2 is more accurate for BOTH cases, but not because you used a switch. Scenario 1 is false.

It’s the ISP provided speed that is the limited resource. You have 100 Mbps of Internet service, which can be consumed by any single connection. If multiple connections want to use Internet, that speed gets split up between all the devices trying to use it simultaneously.

It does not have to be in equal pieces. If one connection only wants 20 Mbps of Internet, another connection can use the other 80 Mbps remaining.

Using a switch does not affect the consumption of Internet from devices unless the switch port speed itself is lower than your maximum ISP speed. This isn’t true in your example.

Yo man,

This is your third post about you friggin Amazon gift card. Enough already. Respect the sub.

Replacing or buying your own router is not going to help you game. You need a different method to connect, because if you could wire in with Ethernet, you would have already done so, and probably not be complaining.

People telling you to buy an Ethernet cable are on the right path, but if you really live in a house with 8 people, you won’t get away with laying that cable across the floors.

Try Powerline Adapters. It uses your power outlets to form a wired connection to your current router. They have a bad reputation, but sometimes the work surprisingly well. Just keep in mind that gaming doesn’t need a lot of speed, just good latency. Powerline can often give you much better latency than crowded WiFi with 8 people on it.

And guess what? They are $49.99:

https://www.amazon.com/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-TP-Link/dp/B084CZMYNM/

Just return them if they aren’t good for your room.

Use free shipping from Amazon.

Yes, it’s worth moving from cable to fiber. I’d pay a premium to do so, but it’s often cheaper.

You didn’t specify your fiber provider, but in most cases, they will provide you with an ONT during installation, which is something that converts a fiber connection into an Ethernet connection. They also usually provide some sort of gateway or router too, but that can either be optional or required from them, depending on the ISP. You just need to connect this ONT directly to your existing router, or put their required gateway into “Bridge Mode” or “Passthrough Mode” first and connect that to your existing router.

Either way you usually get a choice to where they put the ONT / gateway. In your case, you can have them install this right where your modem (and router) is at today, right next to each other. As long as that area is accessible, they can probably use the same hole as your coax coming from the outside into your basement.

It’s very likely the install will mean no changes for your network at all, other than retiring the coax and modem, and now using their ONT. If they require use of their gateway, then just put it into Bridge Mode as already stated. Just think of the ONT as your new modem for fiber.

Just be present during install, and show them where you have things right now, and the installer will work with you to put it in a good spot.

You’d do better by finding out more information about your Mexico ISP and what are their requirements than asking here. Find out if you’re required to use their gateway, how that gateway is connected, and whether or not the gateway can be put into “Bridge Mode” or “Passthrough Mode” to support your own router.

Most likely your Cisco is all you need if the gateway can be put into Bridge Mode, OR you have fiber service with an ONT and no requirements to use their gateway (just return it to them). But checking with the ISP is easier than us guessing what is needed from them.

Keep the switch and add a dedicated Access Point in your office to give you a new strong source of WiFi in that area. The Access Point I recommend for such scenarios s the Ubiquiti U6 Lite or Pro.

You can also use any off-the-shelf, all-in-one router like an ASUS or Netgear to do the same thing. Just put this router into “Access Point Mode” according to its manual. You can either just attach it to your current switch, or use the router’s 4 built in LAN ports as a switch and then use your existing switch elsewhere.

Replacing one mesh system with another rarely changes the effective range. All home equipment has a cap on transmission power by law, and just about every one of them uses this max limit, as it’s very low and extremely easy to accomplish by any manufacturer. They also often use the same chipsets. They do often have different antenna patterns, so you will see some differences here and there, but it will not be drastic.

Rather, you should experiment with the placement of your Orbi nodes. Place them closer together than you might think. Do not place a node directly in a dead spot, but rather in between the dead spot and your main Orbi router. A good strategy is to place the secondary node in the center of your house on the same floor as your main Orbi, or on a different floor, but directly above or below your main Orbi. Often, just changing the angle of attack is enough to change a dead spot into a usable one.

If you’re using wireless backhaul, try reducing the number of nodes to the minimum. Most houses only need two Orbi units at most, three for unusually large or weirdly shaped houses.

6 GHz actually has worse wall and floor penetration than 5 or 2.4 GHz, so that won’t help you.

Finally, look carefully to see if you can potentially wire in some of your Orbis. If you have coaxial cable or old phone lines, they can often be converted to Ethernet. Doing so will allow you to wire in Orbis in many locations, giving you excellent WiFi coverage.