Can I Move My Modem to Another Room?

Reposition your modem without ruining your internet connection

by
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Writer
Jeremy Laukkonen is tech writer and the creator of a popular blog and video game startup. He also ghostwrites articles for numerous major trade publications.
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Jeremy Laukkonen
Updated on April 30, 2021

This article explains how to determine whether or not you can move your modem to another room, including instructions you can follow if you decide to move the modem.

Does It Matter Where You Put Your Modem?

Modem placement is vital, but not as much as router placement unless you have a combination modem/router device. Modem placement is more restrictive, though, as your modem needs to near close to a cable connection or phone jack.

In most cases, you can move your modem to another room. The exception is if your cable or DSL internet installer ran a new line to your house and only connected it to one room. If that's the case, you need to leave your modem in that room. If you have cable connectors or phone jacks in multiple rooms, you can usually connect to anyone you want. Keep in mind when you move your modem, you're also going to be moving the router (the modem connects to the router, and the router sends the Wi-Fi signal around your home).

When you move a modem, you usually don't have to set it up again. If the coaxial connector or phone jack provides a solid connection to your internet service provider, and you've previously set up your modem, it will typically connect automatically.

If you have an old house with old wiring, there may be too much noise at some of your cable or phone connectors. These connectors may work fine for cable TV or phone connections but not work for the internet. If you find your internet connection is slow or doesn’t work, switch back to the old one or try a different one.

How to Tell If You Can Move Your Modem to Another Room

Before you try moving your modem to another room, you’ll need to make sure the room has a connector you can use.

  1. Check the back of the modem for the type of connection it uses.

    Cable internet uses the same type of coaxial connection as cable television, and DSL internet uses the same type of phone jack as a landline phone.

  2. After determining which type of internet you have, look for that type of connector in other rooms in your house.

  3. If you locate the right type of connection in the room where you want to move your modem, you can try moving the modem to that room.

  4. If the internet connection works after moving the modem, you can leave it there. Otherwise, you need to try a different connector (likely in another room).

How to Move a Modem to Another Room

If you have the right kind of connection, either a coaxial or a phone jack, in the room where you want to move your modem, you can probably move the modem to that room. The only way to know for sure is to move it and then check to see if it works.

You may want to check your internet connection speed before and after you move the modem. If the speed slows down after moving the modem, it's an indication there's probably more noise on the line at the new location.

Here’s how to move your modem:

  1. Turn the modem off, or unplug it.

  2. Disconnect the modem from your router or other hardware.

  3. Move the modem to the new location.

  4. Reconnect your modem to a coaxial connector or phone jack, and plug back in any other equipment like your router.

  5. Plug the modem back into power, and turn it on if necessary.

  6. Check to see if the modem connects, and if the connection speed and quality is satisfactory.

    If the modem doesn’t connect at all, there’s probably an issue with the wall connector. It may not be connected to anything on the other side, or the cable in the wall may be damaged. Try a different connector, move the modem back to where it was, or run a new cable or phone line to the desired location.

How to Know Where to Move Your Modem

Before you move your modem, think about why you’re moving the modem and where you would rather have it. It’s usually a good idea to have the modem centrally located in your residence, which allows you to optimize wireless router placement to create a solid Wi-Fi network throughout your house.

If you have a desktop computer or a game console, you may also want to consider placing the modem in the same room. This setup will allow you to connect these devices to your router via ethernet cable for the strongest, most reliable internet connection possible.

When you move your modem, you should also think about where you’re going to put your router. For example, you can place your modem in a hutch, on a shelf, or just about anywhere else as long as it has ventilation and doesn’t overheat. However, the router needs to be where the wireless signal won’t be interrupted. If you connect other devices, like a printer or network storage, to your router or modem, it’s also essential to think about where you’ll place those.

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