On-Q LeGrand Home Network -- Need Help Please!!

[NewGirl]

Hi there,

I have a On-Q at home but have not used it. I think I found a solution, but wanted to check with you guys to see if this is correct.

Below is my setup:

1. The yellow cat5 cables are not terminated on anything. They are just cut off. It sounds like I need to get this 8-Port Network Interface module to terminate those cables.

2. I have the DSL wireless router on the first floor. I connect a patch cable into the wall from the router, which leads to one of these yellow wires in the home network. (I have no idea which one it is, so I just have to do a process of elimination by checking each one.) I can check each one by connecting a cat5 cable into the 8-Port Network Interface module by plugging it in and seeing if I get an internet connection when connected to my laptop.

3. Once I find which is the "live" wire. I can connect that into the cable modem port in a switch by using a patch cable. Then using patch cables, connect the rest from the Interface module onto a switch.

4. I should be able to get wireless as usual on the first floor and get wired connection on the second floor in other rooms by connecting right into the wall jack.

5. If I wanted wireless in another room that doesn't get a good signal from the first floor, can I connect a wireless router to the wall to increase the signal?

Please let me know if all of these make sense and if I am correct or totally off base. Give a girl some help here!!!

Thanks,
NG

 

[kevnich2]

Your post wasn't clear at all on what you were wanting to do ? I see your On-Q in wall structured media closet which looks like all the home run cat5e's are unterminated. By your post it indicated you have a wireless router in another room and you mentioned a cable modem but didn't mention where that was located? Is your wireless router and cable modem both in the same room next to each other? What are you wanting to accomplish in the end?

 

[NewGirl]

Sorry, I didn't specify. I'm trying to get all the ethernet wall outlets to have a connection and also expand my wireless network range. The wireless router (no modem, it's DSL) is on the first floor while all the bedrooms are on the second floor. I don't get a good wireless signal upstairs.

 

[ch33zw1z]

1. DSL will require a modem of some kind, what is the model of the device you use?

2. Ethernet wall outlets: you have two choices, you can either terminate the cables into a patch panel or keystone jacks, and use patch cables to connect to a switch. Or, you can put RJ45 connectors on the ends and plug them directly into a swtich.

3. If one of the ethernet runs goes to the 2nd floor, then you can add a Wireless access point on the 2nd floor somewhere.

 

[NewGirl]

1. DSL will require a modem of some kind, what is the model of the device you use?

2. Ethernet wall outlets: you have two choices, you can either terminate the cables into a patch panel or keystone jacks, and use patch cables to connect to a switch. Or, you can put RJ45 connectors on the ends and plug them directly into a swtich.

3. If one of the ethernet runs goes to the 2nd floor, then you can add a Wireless access point on the 2nd floor somewhere.

Thanks ch33zw1z.

1. The device is the one given to me by the service provider. I believe it's an "all-in-one" modem and router

2. I think i'm going to go with this network module from On Q: legrand.us/onq/networking/wired-networks/data-modules/363486-01.aspx

3. I thought so. What are some good devices/brands for Wireless access points?

Where do you usually get patch cables? Monoprice?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Ok, cool:

http://www.legrand.us/onq/networkin...3486-01.aspx&utm_medium=redirect#.Uq9UX9_ztTM

For this, you'll need a 110 punchdown tool to terminate the cables.

Monoprice is good for patch cables. I strongly suggest using something like paypal on monoprice if possible.

 

[NewGirl]

Argh. I didn't think I needed a new tool for the patch panel. Which is easier? Patch panel or RJ45 connectors on the ends and just directly connect to a switch?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Easier? neither is difficult. I would go with what your plan was. once you get the cables terminated into the patch panel, and the panel stationary, there's little that can go wrong with the run from the rooms to the panel.

 

[NewGirl]

Thanks again ch33zw1z.

If i'm using this patch panel: legrand.us/onq/networking/wired-networks/data-modules/363486-01.aspx

and then using patch cables to connect to a switch,

Is there some device that combines the two? That way I can just use the punchdown tool and terminate the wires into the switch. Am I making sense?

 

[ch33zw1z]

I don't know of any devices that are a patch panel and switch in one unit. You're basically creating the runs to the rooms, then using a patch cable to go from the patch panel to the switch, to complete the run.

 

[NewGirl]

ok. I get it now. big ups to cheesewhiz. Wish me luck.

 

[ch33zw1z]

good luck, any ?'s....you know where we are.

The hard part is already done for you, pulling cables to the rooms...that is the tough part!

Are the cables going to the rooms already terminated in the rooms, like in a keystone/wall plate?

If they are, then you'll need to inspect them and find out what cabling pinouts were used. It's usually 568A or 568B. Just make sure it matches on both ends when you're done.

edit: here's a pic of 568A and B standards for ethernet pinouts:

 

[NewGirl]

Yes the hard part is already done. The cables are already terminated in the rooms into a wall plate.

If I'm terminating to a patch panel on the other end, does it matter what cabling pinouts? Since I'm using patch cables from the panel to the switch, none of the ends are getting RJ45 connectors. If it does matter, how do I tell the difference between 568A or 568B? I believe 568B is more common, right?

 

[NewGirl]

Will this punchdown tool suffice? http://www.amazon.com/Trendnet-TC-PD.../dp/B0000AZK4D

Also I don't have a strip tool to strip the cables, so I'm hoping to pick this up too: http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-RJ-45.../dp/B0000AZK4G

 

[ch33zw1z]

I just posted a picture for you. You'll just want to carefully take the wall plate off and look at the key stone to see if it's A or B

Each end of the run must match. It doesn't matter if it's A or B, just match each end.

 

[NewGirl]

It looks like it's 568A according to this cabling guide on the panel of the OnQ legrand enclosure. See pic below:

 

[ch33zw1z]

They want you to use A, but what was used at the keystones in the rooms. They will need to match.

 

[NewGirl]

Good point. I'm assuming the keystones in the rooms are also A, but I won't know until I look behind the wall plate.

 

[NewGirl]

Are they any specific brands/models of switches and wireless access points that you recommend and use?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Will this punchdown tool suffice? http://www.amazon.com/Trendnet-TC-PD.../dp/B0000AZK4D

Also I don't have a strip tool to strip the cables, so I'm hoping to pick this up too: http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-RJ-45.../dp/B0000AZK4G

those look good. I haven't used a punchdown tool in years...so I don't really have a preference.

I have basically the same crimper, be careful with the stripper, it will go right through the cables if you squeeze to hard.

 

[dawza]

I think I understand the question, although I'm unclear on the rationale. It sounds like you want to go from unterminated wire --> switch? I feel like there may be a slight gap in understanding here.

You have unterminated Cat5e bundled in your On-Q box. You have 8 runs of this cable; one end of these cables is terminated, evidenced by the fact that you have 8 (presumably) wall-mounted ethernet jacks around your house. The other end of these 8 cable is unterminated, as we see in your picture.

You want to centralize your wired networking so that you can actually use those 8 wall connections around your house.

To do this, the very first step, no matter what, is to terminate those 8 cables (in your picture). You have two options here:

1. Terminate the cables with RJ45 ends (so they look like one/either end of your typical ethernet cable you buy from the store/get for free with a router/are used to seeing).

2. Terminate the cables into a patch panel (the block that is referenced in the links above).

The end effect is essentially identical, with one key difference: When you terminate to the patch panel (option 2), you end up with a female connection (the same as your current 8 wall jacks around your house have). When you teminate with standard RJ45 plugs (option 1), you end up with male ethernet cables that you can plug into a switch.

ch33zw1z outlined this in his post above.

You really should take option 2. This picture from our condo when we first moved in might help:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2541694/IMG_00000065.jpg

You can see our On-Q cabinet, and above that, we had a local company run the connections a short distance up (behind the drywall) and terminate two wall jacks: the one on the left has 6 female RJ45 outlets, and the one on the right has a single RJ45 outlet + COAX.

I then have some ethernet cables (standard, male-to-male Cat5e/Cat6) that I plug into the wall jacks on one end, and the other end (which you cannot see in the picture) goes into my switch. The COAX goes into the cable modem for internet service. The entire arrangement is as follows:

COAX --> Cable modem --> Router-->Switch
Cables from patch panels -->Switch

Depending on your specific cable modem/router arrangement, your setup may differ slightly, but the principles are the same.

I centralize everything into a 9U rack with a 24-port managed switch. Since that picture was first taken, I've labeled all cable runs at the wall ports around our condo as well as on the cables (on both ends) that are plugged into the patch panels --> switch in the network closet.

This is much neater than having a bunch of ethernet cables coming directly out of the On-Q panel and/or running the cables and out of an ugly hole in the drywall. I don't have to worry about the actual cables that are in the wall getting damaged/connectors coming loose/etc., either.

Hope this helps.

Edit: looks like ch33zw1z got back to you while I was writing. Good luck all the same!

 

[ch33zw1z]

Are they any specific brands/models of switches and wireless access points that you recommend and use?

for WAP's, I don't have a preference really. Others on this forum recommend the UniFi access points.

for switches, depends on what size you need.

I have one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156251

It's a solid switch. I have a couple 10/100 16 port SMC's that were nice too.

 

[ch33zw1z]

@ dawza, the more the merrier. extra information and pictures can't hurt

 

[dawza]

@ dawza, the more the merrier. extra information and pictures can't hurt

Agreed-- although it's good to have a professional in the thread; I had pros do the work, and wouldn't have known the first thing about rewiring and terminating our connections!

As far as equipment, it really depends on your needs and home layout. I have a Cisco WAP321 for 5 GHz wireless-N (wall mounted) and a UniFi AP for 2.4 GHz N/G (ceiling-mount). I picked up a used HP Procurve 1800-24G rackmount switch to segment VOIP traffic and segregate our guest wifi network; my pfsense box handles the routing. All backed up by a rackmount UPS.

But again, it really depends on what you want/need. I went a bit overkill, but it's a hobby for me, and I can justify the spend (to some extent) by reminding my wife that we never, ever have questions along the lines of "is the internet down?" Which is actually important given that we work from our home office a few times/week.

 

[ch33zw1z]

What knowledge you lack at the physical layer, you make up for at the network and transport layers