Short answer
Usually yes, with a condition. The router is flexible, since it only needs a cable to the modem or a power outlet. The modem is not, because it has to connect to your provider’s line (a cable/coax outlet, a phone jack, or a fiber connection). If the new room has a working connection point, you can generally move it there. If it does not, you may need a long cable or your internet provider’s help.
Separate modem and router, or one combo unit?
- Separate devices: the modem connects to the wall, and a second box (the router) connects to the modem by an Ethernet cable and broadcasts Wi-Fi.
- Combo unit (gateway): one box does both. Many providers supply these.
If you are unsure, check the labels or look up the model number. A combo unit has to move as one piece, so it needs to sit near an active outlet.
Moving a router only
If your router is separate, you can often leave the modem where it is and run a longer Ethernet cable to the router in a better spot. Ethernet cables are inexpensive and available in long lengths. Keep the cable run tidy and avoid pinching it in doors or under furniture. This is often the easiest way to improve coverage. For choosing a spot, see where to put your router.
Moving the modem
A cable modem generally needs an active coax outlet, a DSL modem needs a working phone jack, and fiber setups typically use a box installed by the provider where the line enters. Fiber equipment in particular is often best left to the provider to move (see what an ONT is).
If the room has no active connection, the options are:
- Ask your provider to check whether another outlet in your home is live, or to activate one.
- Have a technician run a new line. This may involve a fee, so ask first.
- Keep the modem where it is and use other hardware (a long cable, extender, or mesh) to reach the rest of the home.
Finding coax outlets and checking they are live
Coax outlets are small round wall jacks with a threaded connector, often in living rooms, bedrooms, or near the TV. Not all of them are necessarily connected to your provider’s signal. Whether the cables in a house link together depends on how it was wired and whether splitters are used, so outlets can be unused or disconnected at the source.
Reasonable ways to check:
- Look for outlets in other rooms and note which have a coax cable plugged in.
- Try the modem on an outlet and see whether it gets a connection (the online or internet light eventually turns solid).
- If it does not connect, ask your provider whether the outlet is active.
Not every coax cable is suitable either. Use a proper coax cable with secure connectors, and avoid long chains of adapters, as they can weaken the signal.
Steps to move a cable modem safely
- Unplug the power from the modem and router.
- Disconnect the coax cable from the modem and any cables between the devices.
- Move the equipment to the new location.
- Connect the coax cable to the new outlet and tighten it by hand.
- Connect the modem to the router (if separate) with Ethernet, then plug in power.
- Wait several minutes for the lights to settle. If the internet light does not come on, contact your provider, and see the internet light keeps blinking for what the pattern may mean. Some providers need to re-register the device or activate the outlet.
If you are unsure what the lights mean, see what the lights on your router mean.
When you cannot move it
If the equipment must stay put, consider a Wi-Fi extender, a mesh system, or powerline adapters to improve coverage elsewhere. Read repeater vs bridge to understand extender types, or how to connect a TP-Link extender to a Spectrum router if that is your setup.
Where not to put the router
- In a basement or closet, which can block signal.
- Inside a cabinet or behind a TV.
- Next to microwaves, cordless phone bases, or large metal objects.
- In a far corner of the house.
FAQ
Are all coax cables in a house connected? Not necessarily. It depends on how the home was wired. Some outlets may not be linked to your provider’s line.
Can I use any coax cable for internet? Standard coax cable of reasonable quality generally works, but poor cables, damaged ends, or many splitters can weaken the signal.
Will I need my provider? Only if the new room has no live outlet, if you have fiber equipment, or if the modem does not connect after the move.