So I just bought a house, and there is actually an RJ45 port in about every room, wired. I found the box in closet where all the wire ends up I think, and its all plugged into something, not really sure what it is, but I don't think its a router or anything like that. I really haven't gotten to take a good look at it.

So to get all this to work I'm thinking I just need to get a router in there and plug the cables in? I'm not really sure what the device is that all the Cat5 is already plugged into. Anyone have a place that's wired that knows what that thing is and the significance? Thanks!

6/21/2007 3:02:06 PM

i think you need a switch. not a router.

6/21/2007 3:05:44 PM

Pretty much all consumer routers have switches built in to them.

And he might need a router, if he doesn't have one already, AND a switch, if the router doesn't have enough ports.

6/21/2007 3:10:43 PM

It's probably plugged into a patch panel. If that is the case then you'll have to buy a switch to make them all live.

6/21/2007 3:32:44 PM

needs router and switch and valid internet connection

how many ports total in the house? and do they come in with rj-45 connectors on them or are they hardwired into a wireharness?

6/21/2007 3:43:31 PM

HEY.

i have a d-link 24-port switch if you're interested...brand new

but i'm leaving the country in 2 days for 5 weeks...let me know!

6/21/2007 4:51:41 PM

Why don't you snap a pic or at least grab the manufacturer/model number off of whatever device everything is plugged into? That would make this a whole lot easier. Are you planning to use RoadRunner?

6/21/2007 5:24:06 PM

i'm guessing they're plugged into a GreyFox or IBM HomeDirector type system.

6/21/2007 5:51:08 PM

Its more than likely just a patch panel, depending on the panel it may have simple CAT5 ports to come out of it that you could plug into a switch or you may have to just patch a cable from the panel and then connect the other end to the switch/router.


I used a levitron home networking patch panel to bring all my connections together ( Cheap from Home Depot) and then just patched that into a linksy's all in 1 (router switch and cable modem).


If you want some free help just let me know I will be glad to help out.

6/21/2007 6:05:41 PM

When I was building my house I ran Cat5e (Gigabit speeds) - 2 ports in every room (2 in each of the 3 bedrooms, 2 in kitchen, 2 in living room). I ran the cables up through the attic and into the bonus room over the garage.

The cables in each of the bedrooms, kitchen, and living room are connected using a keystone jack


and wallplate (like this one except two ports).


so that I simply plug in an ethernet cable. In the bonus room where all the cables meet I have the same setup except I have one 4-port wall plate and one 6-port wall plate (10 ports total).

I use a Netgear 8-port gigabit switch and a Netgear 802.11g wireless router. I have one cable running from the router to the switch and then I use shor cables to go from the switch to the wall plates. I have 10 ports available but I only use 4 of the ports (on a regular daily basis) so the 8-port switch has more than enough ports for now.

I could have just gone wireless - I get coverage in my whole house (even with the router being upstairs in bonus room above garage and the entire rest of the house (except attic) is downstairs) but I wanted the speeds and reliablity of a wired network.

[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 11:58 AM. Reason : edit]

6/22/2007 11:57:32 AM

^...and you want to tell someone about networking?

This asshat doesn't even know the difference between a 128Mb and a 512Mb stick of RAM when it's marked right on the fucking thing...

6/24/2007 9:55:24 PM

^ are you stalking him?

6/25/2007 2:40:23 AM

^faggotry ensues

6/25/2007 8:42:49 AM

^^haha. No, but every time I see his faggot ass in here I take the chance to call him out since he totally fucked me over.

6/25/2007 6:16:59 PM

Try to plug an airport or airport express to it, then you can have wireless in your entire house

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=7EDB1B9B&node=home/mac_accessories/airport_wireless

6/25/2007 6:19:17 PM

^ and if you leave it unsecured, you cant be held responsible for what gets downloaded.

6/25/2007 9:30:18 PM

Do you have a picture of this network setup?

It'll make a bit of a cost difference if you need to buy a large switch to operate with a router to get network access throughout the house. :E

6/25/2007 10:37:56 PM

My original post was correct. I just needed to put a router in the closet where all the cat 5 originates. I'm not really sure what that box does, but everything works fine.

Only problem is they didn't put an outlet in the living room, so I gotta go wireless with the PS3.

6/27/2007 9:11:44 AM

ewww, what a waste

6/27/2007 9:16:58 AM