Please bear with me on this. I am getting back into the hobby and with it, the need to assure my home internet system is properly implemented to facilitate internet and ethernet connections - beyond just wifi.
My starting point - my internet (Charter/Spectrum) comes into the house (basement) and is distributed to my modem via what I believe is called CAT cable (like for cable TV with the 1 metal pin at the center and screw bayonet). The modem is connected to my wifi router via an ethernet cable of about 3 feet in length (generic, came with installation cable with modem). I can place my modem and wifi router any place that I have a cable TV "plug/outlet". My house does not have or is not wired with any ethernet ports in various rooms. FWIW, I do not have in my area access to fiber internet delivery - so we need to rule out that as an option.
It is my understanding that it would be best to connect a "streamer" to a wired ethernet (vs. using wifi) to achieve better sound quality. I am operating/proceeding on the premise that this is true or accurate.
I would also like to point out, that while I use a computer everyday and am technologically competent enough, I am not well versed or informed (or possibly even comfortable) with a highly advanced approach that will require programming of protocols and so forth for an ethernet set-up (I'd like something that is of a set-it and forget-it approach vs. constant playing with to get it to keep working and be stable).
I know in this hobby, there are likely several different levels of "perfection" in accomplishing what I need to do, and I can appreciate this. So maybe when making suggestions, we categorize them into "general high end acceptable", "advanced, but with notable improvement to sound quality" and "state of the art level, superlative".
Does the modem make a difference and if so, what modem can one use or recommend that can be used in conjunction with the internet providers acceptance?
Does the transition from the modem to the router make a difference?
Does the router (which I assume is both the wifi and ethernet router) make a difference?
Should the through-wall cabling be ethernet or CAT cabling?
Do I need something more than just a router if it has integrated ethernet out ports? If so, what do I need and for what purpose?
If I am going to run ethernet from the router to more than one location (lets say 2 specific locations/rooms - ie. such as my office where my desktop computer is located and another to where my audio system is located) through the walls, do I use two ethernet outlet ports from the router with a 2-plug ethernet wall jack located near the router - with each of those ethernet jacks then having wire run to the designated location? In that case, then would my streamer, if it will need to communicate and read files from my desktop computer, do so through the router as the middle man?
I recognize this is a long post/question, but am looking for a solution that I can follow or implement to get the desired outcome/results - at least to achieve something in the "generally high end acceptable" or "advanced, but with notable improvement to sound quality".
Thanks very much to anybody willing to share the advice and expertise.
