Question Help setting up wired network in new house

[Retreaux]

Hello,

We just moved into a great new house and discovered that there are Ethernet connections in most of the rooms connected to some kind of Ethernet hub built into a closet in the basement. I'm trying to figure out how to get internet into the hub so that we can utilize a hardwired network.

We have cable from Comcast and I have a coax coming in close to the hub but so far my attempts to connect the modem to the hub have been unsuccessful.

Image of hub:

https://imgur.com/jb44ytz

View: https://imgur.com/jb44ytz


Is this some kind of DSL-only hub?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thank you for reading!!

M

 

[ex_bubblehead]

That's not a hub, it's a patch panel. You still need a switch/router and patch cables to complete the setup.

 

[Retreaux]

That's not a hub, it's a patch panel. You still need a switch/router and patch cables to complete the setup.

Thanks for the reply! If you don't mind me asking, I have a router, hub, and lots of ethernet cables, how would I go about connecting them?

 

[kanewolf]

Thanks for the reply! If you don't mind me asking, I have a router, hub, and lots of ethernet cables, how would I go about connecting them?

First thing you need to verify is if that patch panel is actually wired correctly for ethernet. Unmount it from the board and look at the wiring. Are all 8 wires from each of the incoming cables connected?
That is a 12 port patch but I only see about 4 or 5 cables. You will need to determine which ports are wired and which aren't. There is no labeling on the panel or wires, so you also need to figure out where each wire goes and label it.
I would recommend you get an inexpensive ethernet tester like this -- https://www.amazon.com/Klein-VDV526-052-Scout-Junior-Tester/dp/B004CI9NRM
It will let you verify that all 8 wires are connected correctly and will help you identify which cable goes where.
AFTER you have all that done, then you can think about using this capability.
Basically you need: internet -> modem -> router (might be integrated) -> switch -> devices. The switch may be the one built-into the router if 4 ports is enough.
any of the "->" lines above could route through that patch panel.

 

[Retreaux]

First thing you need to verify is if that patch panel is actually wired correctly for ethernet. Unmount it from the board and look at the wiring. Are all 8 wires from each of the incoming cables connected?
That is a 12 port patch but I only see about 4 or 5 cables. You will need to determine which ports are wired and which aren't. There is no labeling on the panel or wires, so you also need to figure out where each wire goes and label it.
I would recommend you get an inexpensive ethernet tester like this -- https://www.amazon.com/Klein-VDV526-052-Scout-Junior-Tester/dp/B004CI9NRM
It will let you verify that all 8 wires are connected correctly and will help you identify which cable goes where.
AFTER you have all that done, then you can think about using this capability.
Basically you need: internet -> modem -> router (might be integrated) -> switch -> devices. The switch may be the one built-into the router if 4 ports is enough.
any of the "->" lines above could route through that patch panel.

I really appreciate the response.

I checked the back of the patch panel and each Cat 5e cable appears to have all 8 connections securely attached.

I plugged the modem in, verified that the internet is functional, and proceeded to connect it directly to each connected port on the patch panel while checking upstairs on all 3 bedroom ethernet ports each time to figure out which was which. I got a signal from none of them. Is this a valid way to verify the connections, or am I missing something?

If these ethernet jacks upstairs aren't connected to the patch panel, then where the hell could they be? I really must be missing something...

Back of patch panel:

https://imgur.com/vDY7z57

View: https://imgur.com/vDY7z57