What do I have here?

[generaltso]

I just bought a house and it looks like it is wired for ethernet. However, I'm a networking noob so I don't really know exactly what I have and how I can use it.

Here is a picture of it:
http://cdn.imghack.se/images/c006f0aa8f6e42184f9777a7126707cc.jpg

How can I set this up with my router so that I can plug an ethernet cable in to any room and have the router see the device and issue an IP? Currently, the router is near one of the receptacles (each room has one).

Thanks

 

[imagoon]

You have Cat5 wired up for phone use. You would pull the cat5 cables off the 110 splitter block, and put a small patch panel in there. Then hook your switch to that.

See the sticky at the top of the forum.

--edit--

I find it amusing that they actually bought extra parts to make it less "end user friendly" Basically if they had just terminated the cat5 on to a rj45 patch panel from the start and used a RJ11 fan out / splitter from the start it would have been more useful.

--edit 2--

Never mind that is what the first panel on the left is. It splits the incoming pair into 6 RJ11 jacks... They actually made it less useful with extra parts meaning the installer didn't have a clue what he was doing.

--edit 3--

What is the part # of the middle piece?

I pulled the pdf from Leviton for the left part. I would likely buy a cat5 patch panel that would fit in that those slots. Maybe 2 if you needed more slots, patch the cat5 wire on the right to those patch panels, then plug those RJ11 jumpers in to the sockets I wanted phones at. Top to bottom the left side of the phone panel is "line 1+2" the middle is Line3 and right is Line4. Then run patch cables to the rest and put a switch in the cabinet. You wouldn't need the middle and left boards mounted in the cabinet.

Path to the PDF:
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibcGetAttachment.jsp?cItemId=.kEkXkUHqt9pDz6v2B8f4A&label=IBE&appName

You have the "previous version"

 

[kevnich2]

As imagoon has stated, eliminate the 3rd pcb board (the one all the way to the right), buy some more of the middle board (a stripped down patch panel) and then patch each of your cables into it. Then for the ones you need for phone use, plug in cables on the far left phone board to the corresponding jack of the patch panel.

How big of leviton cabinet do you have, height wise? You could purchase a more condensed patch panel module and plug it in on top of the existing ones. I have the same modular leviton cabinet in my house and have a 24 patch panel for every jack then I split off of that for either phone or to my data switch.

 

[imagoon]

As Jack has stated,

:O

I'm not jack

 

[kevnich2]

:O

I'm not jack

LOL - Sorry! I was reading another post that him on it and guess I got it confused. My apologies

 

[generaltso]

I'm pretty lost here

I don't need home phone service, so the phone isn't an issue. Does this make it any easier?

 

[imagoon]

I'm pretty lost here

I don't need home phone service, so the phone isn't an issue. Does this make it any easier?

Where are you lost exactly? Have you looked through the cabling sticky?

 

[generaltso]

I didn't notice it before but now that you mentioned it, I did look through it.

My situation is this - my router and switch are in a certain room. This room has a cat 5 wall plate, not being used right now. Everything I need is connected via wifi right now, but I want to be able to hard wire stuff.

I ran out of ports on my router so I added a switch. What if I ran cat 5 from an empty port on the switch to the wall plate. Will I then be able to plug in to any other room and hook in to the network (via the switch/router)? That is the end game here.

Does this patch panel I have act like a hub or a switch? I am used to having an "uplink" port on hub, and I am wondering how to make the wall plate in the room with the router in to the "uplink" connection.

Thanks a lot for your help man.

 

[imagoon]

I didn't notice it before but now that you mentioned it, I did look through it.

My situation is this - my router and switch are in a certain room. This room has a cat 5 wall plate, not being used right now. Everything I need is connected via wifi right now, but I want to be able to hard wire stuff.

I ran out of ports on my router so I added a switch. What if I ran cat 5 from an empty port on the switch to the wall plate. Will I then be able to plug in to any other room and hook in to the network (via the switch/router)? That is the end game here.

Does this patch panel I have act like a hub or a switch? I am used to having an "uplink" port on hub, and I am wondering how to make the wall plate in the room with the router in to the "uplink" connection.

Thanks a lot for your help man.

The patch panel is neither a hub or a switch. The issue is your house is wired with cat5 for telephone service. You will need to get a proper cat5 patch panel, attach the house wiring to that then install a switch in the panel. From there a connection from your existing router would go to the wall jack and all the other jacks would now have Internet.

 

[generaltso]

The patch panel is neither a hub or a switch. The issue is your house is wired with cat5 for telephone service. You will need to get a proper cat5 patch panel, attach the house wiring to that then install a switch in the panel. From there a connection from your existing router would go to the wall jack and all the other jacks would now have Internet.

Thanks a lot for your help man, I really appreciate it. As I said I am a network noob... but it's starting to make more sense now.

Referencing my picture from the first post, is the board all the way on the right a regular patch panel? Or is it a special patch panel for telephone and network?

So they make switches for these types of cabinets? Can you point me in the direction as far as buying the proper patch panel and switch for my cabinet?

 

[imagoon]

The far right is a telco board for phones. The middle one *might* be but I can't read the part number. You have a leviton structured media console. They list all the parts on the net for it. The link below is a cat5e module. You would attached the cat5e wire to it then use short patch cables to attach a switch. I know leviton sells switches that mount in the box but expect the price to be higher for that.

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ProductDetail.jsp?partnumber=47605-C5B&section=39699&minisite=10251

 

[generaltso]

I'm starting to pick up more and more from you

But one basic question - what is the point of a patch cable? I understand in my situation that it's to run phone line through the house. But lets talk data - without a hub or switch, there is no way to set up the configuration I want.... where I want to be able to plug in to any wall jack and have internet access?

 

[generaltso]

I have no idea why they did what they did... it doesn't make much sense. Why didn't they just terminate the incoming cat 5 in to the middle board?

Am I correct in stating that the 2nd through 6th patch cables going from the left board to the middle board do absolutely nothing?

 

[rickon66]

You have the basics of a great wired network, the hard part is done, the wires are in place. To use an inexpensive switch you will need to terminate the wires to RJ45 plugs. Mount the switch near the terminal blocks and connect the wire from the room where your router is located to feed the switch and connect the rest of the wires to connect the individual rooms.

 

[generaltso]

You have the basics of a great wired network, the hard part is done, the wires are in place. To use an inexpensive switch you will need to terminate the wires to RJ45 plugs. Mount the switch near the terminal blocks and connect the wire from the room where your router is located to feed the switch and connect the rest of the wires to connect the individual rooms.

Can't I just terminate the cat 5 to the middle patch panel then run cables from that patch panel in to the switch?

 

[imagoon]

I'm starting to pick up more and more from you

But one basic question - what is the point of a patch cable? I understand in my situation that it's to run phone line through the house. But lets talk data - without a hub or switch, there is no way to set up the configuration I want.... where I want to be able to plug in to any wall jack and have internet access?

The patch panel converts the wires to an RJ45 jack. You then plug a patch cable from the switch to the ports on the patch panel.

 

[imagoon]

You have the basics of a great wired network, the hard part is done, the wires are in place. To use an inexpensive switch you will need to terminate the wires to RJ45 plugs. Mount the switch near the terminal blocks and connect the wire from the room where your router is located to feed the switch and connect the rest of the wires to connect the individual rooms.

Actually he doesn't. He needs to rip out the telco stuff and put network patch panels in place.

 

[imagoon]

Can't I just terminate the cat 5 to the middle patch panel then run cables from that patch panel in to the switch?

No. Ethernet cannot be "split". That far left panel is a 1 to many panel. IE the panel patches in at the top and splits the signal to the other 110 blocks ala phone patch panel style.

I have asked several times for the part number on the middle panel, please provide it.

 

[generaltso]

No. Ethernet cannot be "split". That far left panel is a 1 to many panel. IE the panel patches in at the top and splits the signal to the other 110 blocks ala phone patch panel style.

I have asked several times for the part number on the middle panel, please provide it.

I realize ethernet can't be split. But with this setup, can't I take all the incoming cat 5 cable and run it in to the patch panel in the middle? Then run short patch cables in to a switch that is mounted in the box?

The serial number of the panel in the middle, as you asked, is PWA 58159-51
Close up of middle patch panel:
http://cdn.imghack.se/images/a63c715ae9eeacf73723d7b507ecf033.jpg

Should I just get a new patch panel? I don't intend to use the phone line for the time being, and can't see a use for it in the future.

Was thinking of maybe getting this:

http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-476TM-...sr_1_5?ie=UTF8

But back to my first question, can I terminate my cat 5 in to that middle panel and go from there? Or since it is a combination RJ11/RJ45 will it slow it down?

 

[imagoon]

Ok that part number cross references to a phone board so no you can't use it for data. However you are in luck:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

001-47603-0C5 Expansion boards are a whole $3 each on Amazon. I would order two, install them in place of the middle and right board, and patch it all down. Then patch in like you mentioned. You can leave the left board if you want, up to you.

 

[generaltso]

imagoon,
Thanks for your response and help. The $3 boards aren't from reputable sellers, its more like $15. It says these boards are voice/data... so if I installed two of those I could go with all data and ignore the board on the left...

However, lets say I wanted to have some phone lines some day. I would run a short patch cable from the left board to whichever cat 5 line I would want the phone line running too... is that correct? Then on the other end of that line, I would have to replace the RJ45 connector with a RJ11?

Is there anyway to wire this up so that the connections in the room can accept both a RJ11 or RJ45... then if I want to have phone lines, I would just have to make adjustments in my SMC?

I am still thinking of getting this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...TF8&s=hi&psc=1
(the 12 port version runs $71)

Is there any advantage to this one as opposed to two of the boards you recommended? I know its a cleaner look, but I am wondering why else it will cost $71 as opposed to $30 for 2 of the boards you mentioned.

Thanks again, you have been very helpful

 

[imagoon]

Make sure that panel bolts in your cabinet. Otherwise: Yes you just patch over the phone to the RJ45 inside the panel. No you do not need to replace the RJ45 with an RJ11, the RJ11 will plug in to the RJ45 and work as as a phone wire with no need to rewire anything. Some people will tell you that the RJ11 "may damage the RJ45 connecter" but I have worked in buildings that ran that way for a decade and not had issues. Besides, worst case you have to replace the RJ45 jack.

As for the $3 thing, Amazon tends to be really good about resolving conflicts. And for $6 I might be willing to chance it. Up to you.

 

[generaltso]

Still waiting on the patch panels to arrive. In the mean time, I need to get more cable. I will probably get a box of 1000 feet from monoprice. What is the deal with solid vs stranded? I am pretty sure I have solid now.

On the side of the cat 5e cable they installed in my home is a bunch of stuff:

HCM CATEGORY 5E --- 4PR/24 AWG (UL) TYPE CMR/MPR C(UL) - TYPE FT4 - (UL) VERIFIED TO CAT 5E - ETL VERIFIED TO EIA/TIA 568A CAT 5 - 10/01 (A3021) M#3 R#2B 0474

This is mostly greek to me... but basically, I have cat 5e cable in there now ... right? 24 awg is the gauge of the wire I assume. What is the rest of that?

I am pretty sure the current cable is solid. When you look at a piece that cuts, can you see the difference if it is stranded vs solid?

 

[imagoon]

Solid is for in wall, stranded is used to build patch cables. You shouldn't build patch cables, they are far cheaper to just buy from monoprice.

Don't worry about the cable info other than the "Cat5e" part. It basically says 4 Pair, 24 gauge (rare to see anything else), UL listed for flammability via test FT4 (Cable meeting UL 1666) (MPR I think is the Euro standard) and it was verified CAT5E using the 568A wiring scheme. 568B is also met when 568A is met.

Yes you can see the difference if you cut it. You have solid core. It is stiff giving it that wavy look that you see punched down.

 

[kevnich2]

Can't I just terminate the cat 5 to the middle patch panel then run cables from that patch panel in to the switch?

No offense to the other posters, but the p/n of the middle board indicates that it IS in fact a patch panel. Leviton lists that as a voice/data distribution and my leviton guy says it has a 110 punch block to an RJ 45 jack for CAT5 cabling. It can then be used with either phone or data as you see fit (You can plug a telephone cable into an RJ45 jack, which is exactly what was done in your cabinet)

Just pull the wire terminations from the far right block, re-punch them with a punch down tool to the middle block and then plug a patch cable into the corresponding RJ45 jack and plug that into a switch.

That is only a 6 port patch panel and you have more than 6 cables so you will need another one of those blocks

I'm really not sure why the installer punched them down to the telco board on the far right side - it's not needed at all for that kind of install but they probably were just doing as they were instructed with the equipment they were given.