Home networking mystery

[Wolfhound33]

I recently moved into a house and every room seems to have a wired ethernet connection. Down in the basement I found something that looks like this:

I would like to know what this thing is, but more importantly, I am wondering how do I connect this wired network to the internet through my cable modem.

 

[jumpncrash]

I'm thinking that's for your home phone service, do you think that could be possible?

How many of the pairs are used in each cable?

 

[Wolfhound33]

Possible, of course, but I thought it was ethernet since each cable has four twisted pairs of wires.

 

[Wolfhound33]

I'm thinking that's for your home phone service, do you think that could be possible?

How many of the pairs are used in each cable?

Hey, you were right! It is a phone network! The cables are cat5e but they are wired into a phone network. Thanks a lot for the suggestion! I am going to change the keystone jacks from phone to ethernet and put a switch in the closet where this assembly of wires is located. What would the best way to connect this mess of wires to a switch? Just unhook them and put jacks on them?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Get a patch panel, terminate all the cables with that, then use patch cables from activate the port to the switch.

something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Intellinet-24-Port-Cat5e-Patch-513555/dp/B000WL326Q

 

[Wolfhound33]

Thanks! What's the advantage of using that panel vs. just crimping the jacks on the cables?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Thanks! What's the advantage of using that panel vs. just crimping the jacks on the cables?

Troubleshooting. Once the in-wall runs are terminated correctly, then troubleshooting connection issues starts by changing out patch cables, changing switch ports, etc...

Tidiness. Really helps with cable management.

 

[Doomer]

At first glance it looks like a horses ass.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

At first glance it looks like a horses ass.

At first I thought you were being mean, then I squinted.

Nice catch.

Our house in the same way - RJ45 jacks everywhere, but it's all 4-conductor to the POTS block. Dunno why, probably just contractors buying everything in bulk.

 

[kevnich2]

That's a 110 punch block. Technically it can be used for data but would require a patch panel and crossover cables to connect from 110 punch down to patch panel to use to connect to switch. Actually surprised the contractors would run that for phones, nice job. Those are usually used in business structured systems. Makes changes and troubleshooting easier later.

 

[Wolfhound33]

I will go with the patch panel then. An maybe use my router as a switch at first, and then get a proper switch to connect all the cables (I only need to use for connections for now). Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Mushkins]

At first I thought you were being mean, then I squinted.

Nice catch.

Our house in the same way - RJ45 jacks everywhere, but it's all 4-conductor to the POTS block. Dunno why, probably just contractors buying everything in bulk.

It's nice that they do though They used Cat5e for both data and voice runs in my office back when we had POTS lines to the desks. Now that we moved to VOIP, bam, every desk has two data jacks without running any more cable or tearing out cat3. Now if only they were labeled correctly and I didnt have to play "trace the mystery line" so often :\

 

[ghost_willis]

Get a procurve, recap the ethernet runs and plug into that. No need for a patch panel in a house