The TV corner is the densest spot for devices in the house. Within two metres of wall there's usually a smart TV, the provider's set-top box, a games console, a soundbar, and sometimes a CCTV recorder. Nearly all of them want internet, and the router is in another room, usually near where the fibre enters. This guide lays out that corner in a way that lasts, and names what you don't actually need to buy.

Cable first, worry about Wi-Fi later

Devices in the TV corner never move. That's the only justification needed to put them on cable. Three benefits show up immediately:

  • A steady stream. Streaming doesn't demand high speed, it demands speed that doesn't change. Wi-Fi drops when the house is busy; cable doesn't.
  • Less crowded Wi-Fi. Every device moved to cable is one fewer competing for a channel, and everyone's phone feels it. This matters most in crowded apartment buildings.
  • Better ping for the console. The difference in numbers is small but consistent, and consistency is what you feel while playing. See ping spikes in online games.

If the TV feels slow while a phone on the same sofa is fine, that's covered separately in smart TV slow on Wi-Fi.

One cable, then a switch at the end of it

The expensive mistake is running five cables from the router to the TV corner. The right move: run one cable, then put a small switch in that corner. A five-port gigabit switch is cheap, needs no configuration, and just plugs into power. Everything in the TV corner connects to it.

Cable choice is simple: Cat 5e is enough for almost any home, Cat 6 if you want headroom for later. What matters is an unbroken run rather than joins, and under 100 metres. Guidance in choosing LAN cable and choosing a network switch.

If running a cable to another room really isn't possible, only then consider powerline or moving the transmitter with an access point. Both beat a repeater, which adds to the crowding instead.

On HDMI cables, briefly

Since the question always comes up while sorting out the TV corner: HDMI is a digital cable, and under three metres it either works or it doesn't. There's no "sharper picture" from a pricier cable.

  • High Speed is enough for 4K 60Hz, which covers nearly all broadcast and streaming.
  • Ultra High Speed is needed for 4K 120Hz and 8K, mainly if there's a current-generation console.
  • Beyond five metres, cable quality starts to genuinely matter; choose a certified one, or an active or optical type.

What not to buy: a gold-plated HDMI cable costing hundreds of thousands for a one-metre run.

Tidying the cables so they don't become the next problem

The TV corner easily becomes a nest of cables nobody dares touch. A few habits that help:

  • Label both ends of every network cable. A strip of masking tape and a pen is enough, and it saves real time when hunting down a fault.
  • Leave slack, about half a metre near each device, so the TV can be pulled forward without unplugging anything.
  • No sharp bends in LAN cable at cabinet corners. Sharp bends damage the wire pairs inside, and the symptom is a connection that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.
  • Keep network cable away from the pile of power cables behind the TV, or cross them at right angles if they must meet.
  • For homes with lots of equipment, consider a small rack so the switch and ONT aren't lying on the floor. See choosing a network rack.

One thing often forgotten: power

The TV corner usually depends on one extension socket carrying the TV, soundbar, console, and now a switch. A power flicker restarts all of them at once, and on some set-top boxes the reconnection is slow. If that happens often in your home, see Wi-Fi drops when the aircon or water pump starts and a UPS for your router. Power figures for network equipment are in electricity cost of network equipment.

The order to follow

Run one cable from the router to the TV corner, put a five-port switch there, and move the TV, set-top box, and console onto cable. Leave Wi-Fi for devices that actually move. HDMI cable just needs the right certification, not the highest price. Label them, leave slack, and don't bend them sharply.

Frequently asked questions

The TV's LAN port is only 100 Mbps. Is it still better than Wi-Fi?

Yes in almost every case. 4K video needs around 25 Mbps, well under 100, and what streaming needs is a steady stream rather than a high peak. Wi-Fi may show a bigger speed test number but drops sharply when the house is busy.

Do I need an expensive HDMI cable for 4K?

No. What matters is certification, not price: look for High Speed for 4K 60Hz, or Ultra High Speed for 4K 120Hz and 8K. A cheap certified cable performs identically to an expensive one under three metres.

One LAN cable for five devices, how?

Run a single cable from the router to the TV corner, then put a small switch there. A five-port gigabit switch is cheap and needs no configuration; just plug it in.