How do I use each Ethernet port in my home?

[chriise]

http://imgur.com/a/a4N59

I moved into this apartment a few months ago and found an Ethernet port in each room. I found what I think is the switch/hub in a kitchen cupboard (shown in photo above). There are no power outlets that I can use, so I assume i don't need to wire up my modem/router here. The green and red cables running into it are Cat5e. I have no idea what the NET port is.

When I had VDSL installed the guy set up the router in the living room. He then linked up the "Line 2" and "Living" ports together and I now have an Ethernet cable running from my living room port to the DSL port on the back of my router. There are 3-4 other Ethernet ports on my router being used for wired connections in the living room.

Now I want to set up a wired connection in the bedroom (port 5), but nothing is picked up when connecting my laptop up to it. I've tried running a line on the "switch" from "Line 1" to "M-Bed", but no help.

It seems I may need to hook up the router/modem in the cupboard and have each of the 3-4 spare ports on the back of the router lead back into each of the rooms on the 'switch'... But no power outlets means this will be messy and seems like a shoddy set up.

Anyone know what i can do to get this working?
Thanks,
Chris.

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

I moved into this apartment a few months ago and found an Ethernet port in each room. I found what I think is the switch/hub in a kitchen cupboard (shown in photo above). There are no power outlets that I can use, so I assume i don't need to wire up my modem/router here. The green and red cables running into it are Cat5e. I have no idea what the NET port is.

When I had VDSL installed the guy set up the router in the living room. He then linked up the "Line 2" and "Living" ports together and I now have an Ethernet cable running from my living room port to the DSL port on the back of my router. There are 3-4 other Ethernet ports on my router being used for wired connections in the living room.

Now I want to set up a wired connection in the bedroom (port 5), but nothing is picked up when connecting my laptop up to it. I've tried running a line on the "switch" from "Line 1" to "M-Bed", but no help.

It seems I may need to hook up the router/modem in the cupboard and have each of the 3-4 spare ports on the back of the router lead back into each of the rooms on the 'switch'... But no power outlets means this will be messy and seems like a shoddy set up.

Unfortunately that's just a patch panel, not a network switch. Assuming the panel and jacks are wired correctly, you'll need to move the modem./router to this panel in order to connect multiple ports.

 

[chriise]

Unfortunately that's just a patch panel, not a network switch. Assuming the panel and jacks are wired correctly, you'll need to move the modem./router to this panel in order to connect multiple ports.

Would i just connect LINE 2 to the ADSL port in my modem/router, and then connect each room to one of the 4 LAN ports on the back? If I could get power into the cupboard, is there any other equipment i could wire up instead? WIFI from a closed cupboard isn't going to be great...

 

[bill001g]

That will work and I would suggest you disable the wireless in your router....you can leave it on depending on coverage. I would then add a second router that you run as a AP in your living room. You could use the extra lan ports to connect your current wired devices and let the wireless be broadcast from this device. You in effect split the wireless router into 2 parts.

Once you put the router in the cabinet there are many options as to what you connect in each room you can put in switch or more AP.

As you mention no power means someone did not think trough how data patch panels are used. You may also have to leave the door open all the time since I bet it is not a door with vents and you could have heat issue with equipment in there.

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

Would i just connect LINE 2 to the ADSL port in my modem/router, and then connect each room to one of the 4 LAN ports on the back? If I could get power into the cupboard, is there any other equipment i could wire up instead? WIFI from a closed cupboard isn't going to be great...

Yes, the DSL port to Line 2, and LAN ports to each of the rooms.

Because a jack is required to get DSL to the modem/router, keeping it in a room would be difficult since you would need to have a LAN port going back to the patch panel. Running DSL and Ethernet on the same cable isn't recommended, since one could interfere with the other and degrade service. There are some other options though.

- If you are lucky, you might have two jacks directly opposite each other on one wall (i.e. sharing the same wall cavity but feeding adjacent rooms). With a little work you can use one for DSL and the other to backfeed LAN to the panel. You would need to have a (powered) network switch at the panel to connect more than one other room jack at the panel.

- Place the modem/router by the panel and purchase a wireless access point that can be placed in a room of your choice. (Any consumer router can be easily configured to work as an AP only)

 

[chriise]

I'm not lucky enough to have two jacks close together. If i had one close to LIVING could i link it back to the panel that way? Would this work if I used ethernet-over-power adapters?

If I need to run power to the cupboard i don't think i'll bother. Such a shame it seems it wasn't planned out too well.

Thanks for your help!

 

[chriise]

Yes, the DSL port to Line 2, and LAN ports to each of the rooms.

Because a jack is required to get DSL to the modem/router, keeping it in a room would be difficult since you would need to have a LAN port going back to the patch panel. Running DSL and Ethernet on the same cable isn't recommended, since one could interfere with the other and degrade service. There are some other options though.

- If you are lucky, you might have two jacks directly opposite each other on one wall (i.e. sharing the same wall cavity but feeding adjacent rooms). With a little work you can use one for DSL and the other to backfeed LAN to the panel. You would need to have a (powered) network switch at the panel to connect more than one other room jack at the panel.

- Place the modem/router by the panel and purchase a wireless access point that can be placed in a room of your choice. (Any consumer router can be easily configured to work as an AP only)

I'm not lucky enough to have two jacks close together. If i had one close to LIVING could i link it back to the panel that way? Would this work if I used ethernet-over-power adapters?

If I need to run power to the cupboard i don't think i'll bother. Such a shame it seems it wasn't planned out too well.

Thanks for your help!

 

[chriise]

That will work and I would suggest you disable the wireless in your router....you can leave it on depending on coverage. I would then add a second router that you run as a AP in your living room. You could use the extra lan ports to connect your current wired devices and let the wireless be broadcast from this device. You in effect split the wireless router into 2 parts.

Once you put the router in the cabinet there are many options as to what you connect in each room you can put in switch or more AP.

As you mention no power means someone did not think trough how data patch panels are used. You may also have to leave the door open all the time since I bet it is not a door with vents and you could have heat issue with equipment in there.

Hi Bill, thanks for your explanation it was very clear.

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

I'm not lucky enough to have two jacks close together. If i had one close to LIVING could i link it back to the panel that way? Would this work if I used ethernet-over-power adapters?

If I need to run power to the cupboard i don't think i'll bother. Such a shame it seems it wasn't planned out too well.

If you had another jack close to the living room, you could backfeed to the panel, but would unfortunately still need a switch to activate more than one room.

Ethernet-over-power adapters might be a good alternative depending on the wiring configuration of the apartment. It's recommended buying from a retailer with a good return policy in case they don't work well.

You're right about the panel...some builders leave out the crucial nearby power outlet needed for a well-networked home.