Never been able to fix/setup my Ethernet connection

[goalieburns]

I have been trying to fix/setup my ethernet connection off and on for the last 2 years now and its really annoying me so I decided to come here to get some help.

I am able to connect using an ethernet cord through a wireless access point but its pretty much the same as a wireless connection still. I dont know a lot about networking but i would rather have someone help me here for free than hiring someone to setup my stupid ethernet connection.

here is some background info you might want to know.

- I am trying to connect through a cat5e outlet (Picture here https://imgur.com/a/bselyDu)

- here is my ip config that you might need:

C:\Users\goali>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-21R3K1B
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 30-9C-23-85-3F-68
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::6c01:332b:597d:8306%2(Preferred)
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.131.6(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 120626211
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-22-91-A0-2E-30-9C-23-85-3F-68
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

 

[anotherdrew]

Hmmm ... you ipconfig seems to indicate that Ethernet port is "live" (you are connecting to another Ethernet device, like a switch or something), but you are not connecting to DHCP server that would give you an IP address. Normally, the DHCP server is part of the modem/router that connects you to your ISP.

So, do you know where the Ethernet line that starts with the port in the picture ends? Probably a place with a bunch of Ethernet plugs and some Ethernet equipment. Maybe a closet or basement? (The exception might be if you are in an apartment and another ISP put that plug in. In that case it is possible that plug would not work unless you contracted with that specific ISP). Do you know where the device (router/modem) that you are currently using to connect to your ISP is? (this is probably the WiFi device that your AP is connecting to). The key will be to get an Ethernet line from your current device (router/modem) to the place where all the plugs is.

I know this is kind of vague and may leave you with more questions, but without more knowledge of your setup it is hard to be definite. Please use this information to investigate and then ask more questions. Feel free to post pictures, they help.

 

[jsmithepa]

i would rather have someone help me here for free than hiring someone

Just be aware forums like this, folks answering your question are not paid Toms employees, we are just hobbyists like you with limited time and patience, mostly more than happy to unstuck you, but to hold your hand step-by-step single step maybe impossible. Part of it is, folks here use standard tech language to be precise and can't always translate 568A to plain english. Suggest use Google liberally for basic definitions.

Now, you shown what seems like a Network jack, but we have no idea if the jack is hooked up or what's on the other side. Are you saying this machine works if you run a long CAT cable directly to the modem/router but doesn't work with the wall jack? is that your problem? Warning, people asking wall wiring question seem to not able to handle it and walk away, even though to us not that hard. Lots of it is, wall wiring not proper for networking and require the user to call somebody to rewire.

Next question, you have access to wirings correct, this is YOUR home. If not, I am done.

 

[goalieburns]

i would rather have someone help me here for free than hiring someone

Just be aware forums like this, folks answering your question are not paid Toms employees, we are just hobbyists like you with limited time and patience, mostly more than happy to unstuck you, but to hold your hand step-by-step single step maybe impossible. Part of it is, folks here use standard tech language to be precise and can't always translate 568A to plain english. Suggest use Google liberally for basic definitions.

Now, you shown what seems like a Network jack, but we have no idea if the jack is hooked up or what's on the other side. Are you saying this machine works if you run a long CAT cable directly to the modem/router but doesn't work with the wall jack? is that your problem? Warning, people asking wall wiring question seem to not able to handle it and walk away, even though to us not that hard. Lots of it is, wall wiring not proper for networking and require the user to call somebody to rewire.

Next question, you have access to wirings correct, this is YOUR home. If not, I am done.

Yes this is actually my parents home and I have access to the wiring, And yes it will work with a long CAT cable directly into my modem but I cannot do that since my parents dont want wires running through the house. I tried to take off the backplate but for some reason I couldnt get it off no matter the force I used (and yes I unscrewed it). And where my modem is (also where the other end of the network jack goes) I have some CAT5e cables that are vaguely labelled and i believe its one of those that are on the other side of the wall jack. Now here is the dumbest question you will see, the CAT5e wire will plug into one of the LAN ports on the modem correct?

On my Modem I have 1 WAN Port, 4 LAN Ports, and 2 DSL ports just so you know what I have

here are some pictures i took of my modems closet:

https://imgur.com/a/NAb3v2F

https://imgur.com/a/K2rSHZM

https://imgur.com/a/P3oaT1X

https://imgur.com/a/PDlVdwT

 

[goalieburns]

Hmmm ... you ipconfig seems to indicate that Ethernet port is "live" (you are connecting to another Ethernet device, like a switch or something), but you are not connecting to DHCP server that would give you an IP address. Normally, the DHCP server is part of the modem/router that connects you to your ISP.

So, do you know where the Ethernet line that starts with the port in the picture ends? Probably a place with a bunch of Ethernet plugs and some Ethernet equipment. Maybe a closet or basement? (The exception might be if you are in an apartment and another ISP put that plug in. In that case it is possible that plug would not work unless you contracted with that specific ISP). Do you know where the device (router/modem) that you are currently using to connect to your ISP is? (this is probably the WiFi device that your AP is connecting to). The key will be to get an Ethernet line from your current device (router/modem) to the place where all the plugs is.

I know this is kind of vague and may leave you with more questions, but without more knowledge of your setup it is hard to be definite. Please use this information to investigate and then ask more questions. Feel free to post pictures, they help.

Yeah my modem is in a closet in my basement. I would like to stay way from running wires through the house and/or walls if i can and to be honest I have no idea what I am doing so i dont know where to go from here or what questions to ask

I wasnt able to get the backplate off but I have some pictures of my modems closet that might be able to help you find a solution

https://imgur.com/a/NAb3v2F

https://imgur.com/a/K2rSHZM

https://imgur.com/a/P3oaT1X

https://imgur.com/a/PDlVdwT

 

[anotherdrew]

Yes, if those blue cables are the ones that go to the cat5e ports around the house, then plugging the correct one into the LAN port of the modem will give you service in your room.

Here is the weird thing. Your ipconfig information seems to indicate that the correct cable is already plugged into something ... otherwise you would get this:

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : attlocal.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : E0-D5-5E-A3-F6-12
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes



Notice the Media State .... I don't see that on your ipconfig /all

Is there another device that some of the blue cables are plugged into?

 

[goalieburns]

Yes, if those blue cables are the ones that go to the cat5e ports around the house, then plugging the correct one into the LAN port of the modem will give you service in your room.

Here is the weird thing. Your ipconfig information seems to indicate that the correct cable is already plugged into something ... otherwise you would get this:

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : attlocal.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : E0-D5-5E-A3-F6-12
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes



Notice the Media State .... I don't see that on your ipconfig /all

Is there another device that some of the blue cables are plugged into?

yes actually a few years ago when we finished our basement and home theater we setup another tech closet for all the stuff for the home theatre which includes a router that has 2 or 3 different ethernet connections for it but that was all setup by the guys that did our home theater so I have no idea how they did it. I was doing some research a while ago to try and help myself and would it work if I had setup a router in my room and used that to get ethernet connection with? the only problem i ran into when trying to do that is how to get an Internet cable plugged into the router because i could figure out a way to get the cable from my basement to second floor?

 

[anotherdrew]

So, the reason I ask (and it may be moot because I may have misunderstood) ... In your picture I see way more blue lines than are plugged into your router/modem (I refer to the blue lines because there does seem to be some color coding in your closet). I assume therefore that there are some that are just hanging there, not plugged into anything. On might think that plugging those in at random could get you connectivity. But ipconfig indicates the line to your room is currently plugged into something (here is where I'm not sure I understood) ... Is the line from your computer plugged into a router in your room or directly to the wall?

If the line from your computer is connected directly to the wall, then the corresponding line in the closet is not hanging free. It might be connected to that other switch (media center). You should then move the line (I wish I could tell you which one) from the other switch to the modem/router. Here is the danger ... if the other switch (media center) has lines not carrying standard Ethernet, but something else with more voltage, then moving the line could fry your modem/router.

If the line from your computer is connected to a router and then to the wall, then all bets are off and it could be any of the blue lines in the closet.

 

[goalieburns]

So, the reason I ask (and it may be moot because I may have misunderstood) ... In your picture I see way more blue lines than are plugged into your router/modem (I refer to the blue lines because there does seem to be some color coding in your closet). I assume therefore that there are some that are just hanging there, not plugged into anything. On might think that plugging those in at random could get you connectivity. But ipconfig indicates the line to your room is currently plugged into something (here is where I'm not sure I understood) ... Is the line from your computer plugged into a router in your room or directly to the wall?

If the line from your computer is connected directly to the wall, then the corresponding line in the closet is not hanging free. It might be connected to that other switch (media center). You should then move the line (I wish I could tell you which one) from the other switch to the modem/router. Here is the danger ... if the other switch (media center) has lines not carrying standard Ethernet, but something else with more voltage, then moving the line could fry your modem/router.

If the line from your computer is connected to a router and then to the wall, then all bets are off and it could be any of the blue lines in the closet.

there are some blue cables that are not connected to anything and others dont even have an RJ45 on them so I hope we dont need them and My line is directly to the wall no router. And by the other switch do you mean the other router I was talking about in the other closet because if so I dont think I have a way of getting the cable to the other closet.

I probably did misunderstand something that you said there about the other switch or media center so if I did then please correct me and if not what else should I try

 

[anotherdrew]

Are you willing to spend $40 on things you will never use again (maybe)? One of those blue wires in the closet goes to your room (hopefully). A line tracer will tell you which one.

https://www.amazon.com/Meterk-Multifunction-Instrument-Maintenance-Continuity/dp/B071K8L32H

For example. I have never used that item and do not vouch for it. Once you determine which one goes to your room, you might need to put an RJ45 plug on it. The wires will have to be in the right order. The correct order depends on how the plug in your room is wired. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/UbiGear-Crimper-Connector-Network-Crimper315/dp/B008UY5WL0

Again, I have never use this item and do not vouch for it. I have put plugs on wires before and it's not as easy as you would hope. My failure rate is still about 25%.