Apartment Ethernet Setup

[wolffenjugend]

Each room in my condo unit has a co-axial cable as well as ethernet cable outlet in it. I currently have cable internet. My modem is set up in my office as follows: co-axial outlet > modem > router > computer. I also run wireless off my router.

I want to run a hard line network connection to my xbox (due to poor wifi signals). There is an ethernet outlet behind my xbox but when I plug it in nothing happens (I don't think it's hooked up).

My apartment has a utility closet. In it I can see 6 co-axial cables (each labelled for a different room and the last labeled as Main 1, which I believe is the main line from the building). 5 of them join together in a junction box. The 6th co-axial cable (labelled Main 2) is unused.

Also in the utility closet is a bundle of 5 Cat5e cables. 3 of them end in loose wires and the other two connect to unused phone jacks (I don't have/want a landline). I'm thinking that because these cables are hanging loose and not connected to anything, the ethernet outlets in all the rooms don't work.

Any idea how I can get the ethernet outlets in the rooms of my apartment working?

I was thinking if I install a second router with multiple ethernet ports in the utility closet, and terminate the loose Cat5e wires with RJ45 plugs, then plug the Cat5e cables into the second router, that would help but it would be a "closed" loop since my internet comes in through the co-axial cable and (I think) I'd need to somehow connect the Cat5e cables to an internet connection.

Help??

Pictures of utility closet:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a20y4341irrfvbq/photo%201.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rlro251jp7srduh/photo%202.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jmjq680obipcv6k/photo%203.JPG?dl=0

 

[USAFRet]

You do not need a second router. That is rarely the solution in a single family residence.

You just need to somehow tap off the original router, and then into the Cat5e that goes to the room in question.

You have: coax->modem->router-PC
What might work is:
From your router, another Cat5e back into the wall scenario, feeding back down to the central point.
There, you have a switch
All of the other cables for the other rooms connect to that switch. poof, all enabled.


Or, have the router in that central point, and feed all the Cat5e directly off that.

 

[wolffenjugend]

You do not need a second router. That is rarely the solution in a single family residence.

You just need to somehow tap off the original router, and then into the Cat5e that goes to the room in question.

You have: coax->modem->router-PC
What might work is:
From your router, another Cat5e back into the wall scenario, feeding back down to the central point.
There, you have a switch
All of the other cables for the other rooms connect to that switch. poof, all enabled.


Or, have the router in that central point, and feed all the Cat5e directly off that.

Should have added to my original post, I did try and run an ethernet cable from my router to the ethernet outlet in the same room. I figured that would "power" the other outlets. But nothing happened (no connection).

I'm trying to avoid putting my router in the utility closet because that will hurt my wifi.

 

[USAFRet]

You do not need a second router. That is rarely the solution in a single family residence.

You just need to somehow tap off the original router, and then into the Cat5e that goes to the room in question.

You have: coax->modem->router-PC
What might work is:
From your router, another Cat5e back into the wall scenario, feeding back down to the central point.
There, you have a switch
All of the other cables for the other rooms connect to that switch. poof, all enabled.


Or, have the router in that central point, and feed all the Cat5e directly off that.

Should have added to my original post, I did try and run an ethernet cable from my router to the ethernet outlet in the same room. I figured that would "power" the other outlets. But nothing happened (no connection).

I'm trying to avoid putting my router in the utility closet because that will hurt my wifi.

These type of things are very hard to diagnose without either eyes on, or a reliable wiring diagram.
But basically, the wires from the rooms all terminate back to that central closet, right?

And if inside the closet, they're not connected to anything....you get no connection, no matter what is on the room end of the wire.

 

[wolffenjugend]

You do not need a second router. That is rarely the solution in a single family residence.

You just need to somehow tap off the original router, and then into the Cat5e that goes to the room in question.

You have: coax->modem->router-PC
What might work is:
From your router, another Cat5e back into the wall scenario, feeding back down to the central point.
There, you have a switch
All of the other cables for the other rooms connect to that switch. poof, all enabled.


Or, have the router in that central point, and feed all the Cat5e directly off that.

Should have added to my original post, I did try and run an ethernet cable from my router to the ethernet outlet in the same room. I figured that would "power" the other outlets. But nothing happened (no connection).

I'm trying to avoid putting my router in the utility closet because that will hurt my wifi.

These type of things are very hard to diagnose without either eyes on, or a reliable wiring diagram.
But basically, the wires from the rooms all terminate back to that central closet, right?

And if inside the closet, they're not connected to anything....you get no connection, no matter what is on the room end of the wire.

Correct on both counts. All the Cat5e cables terminate back to the central closet and they're all hanging loose (two connected to phone jacks that are also hanging loose).

 

[USAFRet]

You do not need a second router. That is rarely the solution in a single family residence.

You just need to somehow tap off the original router, and then into the Cat5e that goes to the room in question.

You have: coax->modem->router-PC
What might work is:
From your router, another Cat5e back into the wall scenario, feeding back down to the central point.
There, you have a switch
All of the other cables for the other rooms connect to that switch. poof, all enabled.


Or, have the router in that central point, and feed all the Cat5e directly off that.

Should have added to my original post, I did try and run an ethernet cable from my router to the ethernet outlet in the same room. I figured that would "power" the other outlets. But nothing happened (no connection).

I'm trying to avoid putting my router in the utility closet because that will hurt my wifi.

These type of things are very hard to diagnose without either eyes on, or a reliable wiring diagram.
But basically, the wires from the rooms all terminate back to that central closet, right?

And if inside the closet, they're not connected to anything....you get no connection, no matter what is on the room end of the wire.

Correct on both counts. All the Cat5e cables terminate back to the central closet and they're all hanging loose (two connected to phone jacks that are also hanging loose).

All those cables in the closet need to be connected to a switch (8 port?), and that switch fed from your main router.

 

[wolffenjugend]

Could I just connect the cables directly to the router without a switch? (assuming enough ports on my router)

 

[USAFRet]

Could I just connect the cables directly to the router without a switch? (assuming enough ports on my router)

That requires the router to be in the central collection point. Which then screws your WiFi.

 

[USAFRet]

In your room with the coax/modem/router, that ethernet cable goes back down to the central point, right?
A $15 switch at that closet location will completely solve the problem. (assuming there is a working power outlet there)

 

[wolffenjugend]

In your room with the coax/modem/router, that ethernet cable goes back down to the central point, right?
A $15 switch at that closet location will completely solve the problem. (assuming there is a working power outlet there)

Correct, the room with the modem/router is connected back to the closet.

There is a working power outlet in the closet.

Right now my modem/router isn't plugged into the wall ethernet outlet.

So I think you're saying, put a switch in the closet, connect the cat5e cables to it (which will close the loop), then connect my router to the wall outlet (which will add my router into the loop and thereby give internet access).

Have I got that right?

 

[USAFRet]

In your room with the coax/modem/router, that ethernet cable goes back down to the central point, right?
A $15 switch at that closet location will completely solve the problem. (assuming there is a working power outlet there)

Correct, the room with the modem/router is connected back to the closet.

There is a working power outlet in the closet.

Right now my modem/router isn't plugged into the wall ethernet outlet.

So I think you're saying, put a switch in the closet, connect the cat5e cables to it (which will close the loop), then connect my router to the wall outlet (which will add my router into the loop and thereby give internet access).

Have I got that right?

Yes. Pretty sure that will work. Assuming all the wires are wired correctly...😉

 

[wolffenjugend]

Heehee, we'll see. I have to put RJ45 connectors on the ends of the wires (they're currently bare). That will be my first challenge. Doesn't look too hard though.

 

[USAFRet]

The chain of events would be:
coax->modem->router->switch in the closet->Cat5e out to the rooms.
In the room with the router, 1, 2, 3 other devices directly off the router.
WiFi as needed.

 

[USAFRet]

Heehee, we'll see. I have to put RJ45 connectors on the ends of the wires (they're currently bare). That will be my first challenge. Doesn't look too hard though.

Then you really, really need an inexpensive tester device. Will verify connection between A and B.
The first dozen terminations you do...you will be tearing your hair out. "WHY THE PUCK DOESN'T THIS WORK?!?"

With practice, it gets easier.

 

[wolffenjugend]

How do I go from the router to the switch in the closet? They're in different rooms.

Do you mean router > wall outlet > that Cat5e cable to the switch then all the other Cat5e wires to the switch?

 

[USAFRet]

How do I go from the router to the switch in the closet? They're in different rooms.

Do you mean router > wall outlet > that Cat5e cable to the switch then all the other Cat5e wires to the switch?

Yes, exactly that.

 

[wolffenjugend]

Ok thanks