House pre-wired for Ethernet, need help setting up

[eherk6]

I have lived in my current house for almost 16 years, but am now just setting up the pre-wired Ethernet. I have purchased a gigabit Ethernet switch, but am very confused as to what to do next. Here's a picture of the access panel. https://imgur.com/a/vvJz5. Any and all help would be appreciated, just trying to get my 85/87.5 up/down speeds to my new pc build upstairs!

 

[kanewolf]

Start by un-coiling the ethernet cables. You will have to determine WHERE they go since there are no labels. You could use a laptop and a switch or you could buy a cable tester (I recommend the latter).

Once you have identified which wire(s) you want activated, then you would bring a cable from your existing router to your new switch, which you put near (on a shelf, on top of?) the home run cable box. You connect the desired wires to the switch and you have a wired network.

 

[kanewolf]

Instead of answering your PM, I will continue the thread....

Move the router. You have phone ethernet and coax all at this location. It is the logical place for the router ALSO.
What is "sacred" about where the router is now?

 

[eherk6]

Start by un-coiling the ethernet cables. You will have to determine WHERE they go since there are no labels. You could use a laptop and a switch or you could buy a cable tester (I recommend the latter).

Once you have identified which wire(s) you want activated, then you would bring a cable from your existing router to your new switch, which you put near (on a shelf, on top of?) the home run cable box. You connect the desired wires to the switch and you have a wired network.

Instead of answering your PM, I will continue the thread....

Move the router. You have phone ethernet and coax all at this location. It is the logical place for the router ALSO.
What is "sacred" about where the router is now?

There's nothing sacred about the location, its just that the access panel is hidden behind about 30 jackets in a closet, which may not be an ideal place for a router.

 

[kanewolf]

The switch will have the same problem. If you want to use it you will have to make it accessible.

 

[jsmithepa]

Find out what goes where and label everything.

You may want a cabinet like THIS, which you can mount high up on the wall toward the ceiling and out of the way, depending upon the reach of the existing cable bundle, and mount your switch, router etc in the cabinet.. You can always use a table but I have no idea how high the panel shown is from the floor.

 

[Ralston18]

And carefully label all of the cables on both ends with something permanent - no stickies that dry up and fall off......

Sketch out a room and cable diagram as well. The documentation will all become very useful later on.