Want to convert Coax to Ethernet/CAT5 for home distribution

[MGarlick74]

My house is wired for Ethernet via a CAT5 punchdown block located in my basement. I would like to use this to distribute wired internet through the house, and I'm wondering what the best option for this would be. I have Coax coming into the house at the same spot, but don't necessarily want to put a modem down there as the modem/router from my cable/internet provided is located in my living room as my home phone is also connected to it (VoIP). I've tried researching Coax to Ethernet adapters, but I keep finding either passive adapters or MoCA adapters, which won't do what I want to do. Any suggestions?

 

[jsmithepa]

Don't get excited just yet, oftentimes CAT5 on punchdown block signals CAT5 BUT used for landline configuration. U must answer question 1) RJ45 or RJ11 on rooms? 2)How many CAT5 cables do u see?

 

[MGarlick74]

Don't get excited just yet, oftentimes CAT5 on punchdown block signals CAT5 BUT used for landline configuration. U must answer question 1) RJ45 or RJ11 on rooms? 2)How many CAT5 cables do u see?

The jacks are all RJ45, and there are currently 5 CAT5 cables with all 8 wires for each cable terminated on the block (I have 5 CAT5 jacks throughout my house). If it's currently punched down for landline configuration, I can change it so that it's configured for Ethernet configuration, that's not a problem.

 

[jsmithepa]

OK that's a good sign.

Since the "junction" is in the basement, this is naturally where the ISP modem wants to be.

Do you have regular landline cables at this location and terminate at rooms on RJ11? If so u can use these for your VOIP phones. U can also use the CAT5 for phones but then you won't get LAN at that room unless such room has 2 CAT5 jacks. U can potentially split the 4 pairs into 2+2 for phone + ethernet but your ethernet will only run at 100 mbit max.

 

[MGarlick74]

OK that's a good sign.

Since the "junction" is in the basement, this is naturally where the ISP modem wants to be.

Do you have regular landline cables at this location and terminate at rooms on RJ11? If so u can use these for your VOIP phones. U can also use the CAT5 for phones but then you won't get LAN at that room unless such room has 2 CAT5 jacks. U can potentially split the 4 pairs into 2+2 for phone + ethernet but your ethernet will only run at 100 mbit max.

All of the jacks are RJ45...there are no RJ11 jacks in the house. I only have the one VoIP phone that plugs into the phone jack on the back of the Modem/Router from my ISP (XFinity X-1 service). I really don't want to have to put this in the basement, because I don't want to split any of the ethernet ports into a VoIP port. Would the best way to do this be to purchase another cable modem and put it down there? Not my first option, as I would have to run a new electrical line and install an outlet as there isn't one there (closest one is 20 feet away) but wondering if that might be the only option...

 

[jsmithepa]

Would the best way to do this be to purchase another cable modem and put it down there?

Many people ask this and the answer always the same: NO. Unless you want to pay for a 2nd ISP account.

Not my first option, as I would have to run a new electrical line and install an outlet as there isn't one there (closest one is 20 feet away) but wondering if that might be the only option...

Well if you want ethernet in the house, the ethernet switch needs to be at the junction, and ethernet switch needs power.

Am starting to get the gist you have lots of limitations of what you can do in this house.

 

[MGarlick74]

Would the best way to do this be to purchase another cable modem and put it down there?

Many people ask this and the answer always the same: NO. Unless you want to pay for a 2nd ISP account.

Not my first option, as I would have to run a new electrical line and install an outlet as there isn't one there (closest one is 20 feet away) but wondering if that might be the only option...

Well if you want ethernet in the house, the ethernet switch needs to be at the junction, and ethernet switch needs power.

Am starting to get the gist you have lots of limitations of what you can do in this house.

The basement is unfinished, thus only one usable electrical outlet down there right now, and the walls are poured concrete. I can put another outlet in, just not my first choice. We have a second modem already set up in our home office (my wife works from home and needs a dedicated modem for her work computer and phone), and we don't pay for a second account...we just had to call the ISP to activate the modem as we own that modem. I just wanted to see if there was any other kind of adapter that could be used to go from the coax into ethernet without having to do another modem.