Does Plume support Ethernet Backhaul?
Absolutely. Plume supports Ethernet backhaul. This means you can setup multiple gateway pods by connecting them directly together via Ethernet to deliver the fastest possible performance to your devices.
The backhaul is the connection between the pods going to your modem, and is the core of your network.
How does hardwiring pods improve the network?
Having Ethernet cabling in your home provides a large advantage in terms of the Wi-Fi speeds you can achieve.
When Ethernet is not available throughout the home, which is the case of most people, our pods will use Wi-Fi to backhaul the network traffic from your devices to your modem. However, if you have Ethernet in your home, you can connect the pods to the Ethernet jacks in the home and that backhaul traffic will travel over the Ethernet cable. In addition to avoiding potential Wi-Fi signal strength issues between pods, this leaves more airtime available for the Wi-Fi network for increased Wi-Fi speeds.
Also, because you are using the Ethernet to backhaul traffic instead of Wi-Fi, you may be able to space the pods a little further apart since their connection to each other is no longer over Wi-Fi. Just make sure you are not creating coverage gaps for your devices.
What else can I use the Ethernet port for?
If you are not using the Ethernet port for backhaul connections, you can use the port for connections to your wired clients, like an XBOX or desktop PC. Even if your device is capable of both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, plugging a normally static device into the free Ethernet port of a convenient nearby pod will help free up more airtime for the Wi-Fi connections of other wireless only devices.
What kind of Ethernet cable do you recommend?
You can use any quality Ethernet cable to hardwire your pods, although we recommend CAT 6 or CAT 7 to ensure Gigabit speeds over longer runs.
How do I setup Plume and keep my hardwired devices connected to the Internet?