Question New Build Ethernet Help | Router in different location to my patch panel

[lifestylecs]

Hi,

I have recently moved into a new build property on a new development. I had requested an Ethernet port to be installed into my office which was successfully done.
I also had virgin media come in last Friday to install my new network, which again, was successfully done.

The issue I have now is that the Ethernet that was installed in my office is coming from the cupboard under the stairs (Pictured below, ignore the openreach box)

https://imgur.com/a/EhnRyyV

View: https://imgur.com/a/EhnRyyV


My router is installed in my living room.. Now, I can't use my ethernet ports in the office due to the router being in a different location. My router can't be moved either as it is connected to the TV line as well meaning it will most likely need to stay in the living room.

Is there a way for me to make these ethernet ports live without needing to move my router? The router is pictured below

https://imgur.com/a/LjXziVI

View: https://imgur.com/a/LjXziVI


A ELI5 would be useful in this scenario as I'm not 100% familiar with ethernet / networking.


Happy to hear suggestions on this.

 

[bill001g]

So is there a ethernet port in the living room near the router and if so where does it go

 

[lifestylecs]

So is there a ethernet port in the living room near the router and if so where does it go

Sorry for not including that! Yes, there is an Ethernet port in the living room which is actually connected to the router.

There is a secondary Ethernet port in the living room by one of the plug sockets. I would imagine that one is actually fed back through to the "patch panel" (I think that's what that is called) which is why there are 2 ports in the patch panel (Office & Living Room)

From the pictures down below, you can also see the broadband cable which is actually connected to a splitter also shown in the picture below. an Ethernet and broadband cable running from the splitter to the router, and there is also an Ethernet and broadband cable running from the splitter to the TV box.

https://imgur.com/a/7z9SBPW

View: https://imgur.com/a/7z9SBPW

 

[bill001g]

Thats kinda silly if the router just connects to a wall port that is not used for anything.

Most times there are more than 2 ports in the central location. Since you only have 2 just hook a ethernet cable between them. You will then in effect have a long ethernet cable between the office and the router just following kinda strange path.

 

[Ralston18]

Just curious: what is that thin looking Ethernet cable in LAN Port 4?

Where does that cable go?

And if not being used or going to be used, remove that adapter in TEL port 1.

 

[gggplaya]

I have a similar set up in my house when moving ethernet between floors, and I did it myself on purpose.

1. Ethernet cord in the basement runs from my main network switch up to the living room on 1 port.
2. 2nd ethernet port on the same living room panel has an ethernet cord that runs upstairs to the 2nd floor.

This gives me some flexibility.
A. If I don't want to run any devices in the living room, I simply use a short patch cable and plug them into both ports to keep the upstairs ethernet port active.
B. If I do want to run ethernet devices in my living room, I can install a network switch in the living room and connect it to both ports. The upstairs port remains active, but so are the additional port on the network switch.

If this is what they did, then all you have to do is connect both ethernet ports in your living room to the router. Which should then activate the office.

A patch panel is a central location where all the ethernet ports of the house run to. It's an end termination point, like a central station for trains. From the patch panel, you would connect all the ports to a network switch to activate all the ports.

 

[lifestylecs]

Thats kinda silly if the router just connects to a wall port that is not used for anything.

Most times there are more than 2 ports in the central location. Since you only have 2 just hook a ethernet cable between them. You will then in effect have a long ethernet cable between the office and the router just following kinda strange path.

Yeah, I just unplugged that ethernet from the wall and it didn't affect my internet or anything.. Not entirely sure what that is used for in that case? Unless the virgin guy thought it would activate the other ethernet ports (office and the other in my living room) he was aware that I did have an additional ethernet port in the office so that's all I can think of..

In terms of hooking the 2 ports up to the ethernet, do you mean the ports under the stairs and just hook a port up between them? If that's the case, I had already did that yesterday and it had no affect. I'm not entirely sure if I need to do be doing anything under the stairs to get the port I need active. and if so, what exactly needs to be done.

 

[lifestylecs]

Just curious: what is that thin looking Ethernet cable in LAN Port 4?

Where does that cable go?

And if not being used or going to be used, remove that adapter in TEL port 1.

The thin looking ethernet cable in LAN Port 4 is connected to the splitter and I had shown a picture of above. We don't plan on using a telephone so I've just unhooked that for now. Thanks!

 

[lifestylecs]

I have a similar set up in my house when moving ethernet between floors, and I did it myself on purpose.

1. Ethernet cord in the basement runs from my main network switch up to the living room on 1 port.
2. 2nd ethernet port on the same living room panel has an ethernet cord that runs upstairs to the 2nd floor.

This gives me some flexibility.
A. If I don't want to run any devices in the living room, I simply use a short patch cable and plug them into both ports to keep the upstairs ethernet port active.
B. If I do want to run ethernet devices in my living room, I can install a network switch in the living room and connect it to both ports. The upstairs port remains active, but so are the additional port on the network switch.

If this is what they did, then all you have to do is connect both ethernet ports in your living room to the router. Which should then activate the office.

A patch panel is a central location where all the ethernet ports of the house run to. It's an end termination point, like a central station for trains. From the patch panel, you would connect all the ports to a network switch to activate all the ports.

So at the moment, I have 1 ethernet socket in my living room connected to the router (seems to have no effect on the internet if I remove it) In terms of connecting the other ethernet socket.. Since I'm not the best with networking, would you be able to explain how connecting up the 2nd ethernet socket in the living room to the router would help activate the one in the office? From what I can tell, the secondary ethernet port has no connection to the one connected to the router already as it is on the other side of the living room and looks similar to the one in my office.

I would have thought I would need to do something under the stairs where the 2 empty ethernet sockets are (the one with the Virgin media logo and the other sort of connector that was pictured in the main post)

Sorry for what is probably dumb and basic questions but I'm just trying to understand everything so I have a good picture in my head on what can be done to get the office ethernet activated.

EDIT: Actually, just had a look.. the secondary ethernet port in the living room (next to the 2 sockets( is actually a telephone line and not an Ethernet port, so that port I called a weird looking port under the stairs is also a telephone line. Not sure if that changes anything as I know you mentioned that I would need to connect bother ethernets in the living room up to get them activated. That is no longer the case as I now only have 1 port in the living room which is connected to the router (but seemingly has no effect when I take the Ethernet out)

 

[lifestylecs]

Bit of an update..

I have directly connected an ethernet socket under the stairs to my laptop which now works. (picture below) @bill001g the ethernet port connected to the router that you said was useless, is to actually make the 2 ethernet ports under the stairs active. Once I took that port out, my laptop went straight back to WiFi again.

So now we know that the ethernet port in the living room that connects to the router powers the 2 under the stairs. What would the potential next steps be? As I mentioned previously, connecting 1 ethernet port between the 2 under the stairs had no effect and did not activate the ethernet port in my office. Not sure if I am doing anything stupid or not in that regard.

https://imgur.com/a/YBvVPHi

View: https://imgur.com/a/YBvVPHi

 

[lifestylecs]

Okay... Another update, this time a good one...

I've just connceted the 2 ports under the stairs together and tried then connecting it to the office port again.. Turns out it actually does work now?? might have been a dodgy cable I tried but it now works!!

Thanks everyone for your help on this. I really appreciate this

 

[Ralston18]

Suggestion:

Sketch out a simple diagram of your network including all wall outlets, switches, and devices, and connecting cables. Label all as appropriate. Names, number, location. No harm in including telephone and coax cable runs either.

If you have a copy of your home's floor plan or can make a copy - that is even better. Mark up the copy as necessary to show everything along with the cable runs.

Diagram does not need to be fancy. Just comprehensive enough so that anyone looking at the diagram will be able to see the proverbial "big picture".

Doing so will prove very helpful for future troubleshooting and network expansion. Especially a few months from now when something stops working....

 

[gggplaya]

Okay... Another update, this time a good one...

I've just connceted the 2 ports under the stairs together and tried then connecting it to the office port again.. Turns out it actually does work now?? might have been a dodgy cable I tried but it now works!!

Thanks everyone for your help on this. I really appreciate this

So the installer did what I did, ran both floors to a central panel, and all you needed to do was connect them together.