Ethernet Wired house help!?

Question

I have searched everywhere to help with my problem and kind find a fix so I am in need of help. My house is prewired for 2 ethernet(cat5e) connections in every room. I just don't know how to get internet connections to run to them. I have a patch panel in my house for all the ethernet and cable lines to run to so Does anyone know how to send an internet connection through my patch panel? I have a cable internet connection with wireless but it has a very poor connection which is why i want to use ethernet. Do I have to buy a router and pat all 16 ethernet hookups into one and run that to my cable modem? By the way my patch panel isn't anywhere near my main cpu if that makes a difference.Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

First, yes, you need a router. Everyone using DSL and up should be using a router for security anyway. It's hard protection, combined with software protection like Norton Internet Security is a good combination to keep you safe.

Connect an Ethernet cable between your main computer and the router. Each router interface is accessed through your favorite web browser. You select the options you want and then save. Usually the main thing to select is the type of security encryption you want to use. Today the most popular method is called WAP. I won’t get into encryption here, since it’s a huge deal. You want to set the router as the DHCP, or (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. In short, this means the router is the server, that gives each pc connected either wirelessly, or wired it’s own identification number. Much like a postal address, needed for the router to know who gets what data information from the modem next. This does two things: frees up your computer to not have to act as the server for any other computers on the network and makes the network ‘pc independent‘. In other words, no pc has to be on for the network and modem to be ready to use at any given time. Nice for just wanting to hook your Sony play station in, or Vonage phone, whatever.

After the router is programmed, you can either use it wirelessly, or wired depending on your preferences and signal strength. I’d start out with a Linksys WRT54G. It’s supported by most manufacturers and is a inexpensive way to get started and familiar with home networking. The Modem typically would be placed next to the router if possible. There are ways around that, but since you didn’t ask, I’ll leave that out for now. The WRT54G can have an external cable and antenna attached to it. So you can put the antenna on the roof for example, for maximum range. Only one of the antenna ports does both send and receive. So make sure that if you go that rout, you are using the right port. The other can have the stock antenna left on it. In some cases, just the addition of the Linksys range extender is needed. See www.linksys.com for more on what you can get.

Okay so this is probably the most typical setup as you need it to be. First Cable from your computer Ethernet port, to Ethernet wall outlet. Then find that (Hopefully marked and identified.) cable port on your patch panel. Plug a cable from that Ethernet port to the back Ethernet port on your router. 4 wired ports is what comes with the WRT54G. Then take another Ethernet cable and plug it into the back of the router WAN (Wide Area Network, AKA Internet.) port on the router. Take the other end of that Ethernet cable and plug into the modem. I’d let the router and the modem fully boot, before turning on the pc.

Each additional cable you want to hook from the corresponding Ethernet wall outlet would go to the back of the WRT54G and it does not matter in what order. I keep track of order strictly for organizational purposes only. If you need to go more than 4 wired ports into the back of the router, then you need to either add additional Linksys gateway like the Linksys BEFSR41. You would plug it into one of the empty ports on the back of the Linksys WRT54G and gain an additional 4 ports and so on. Or you could go with a router with 8, or 16 ports if you like. The more ports, the more money obviously. This is why Wireless is superior. In the long run it can be less money and less headache.

The only device that needs to be hooked to the modem is the router through the WAN port. All computers would get their internet access through the router, either wired, or wirelessly.

Hope this helps some.

Answer 2

Here's the deal. You do need a router in the patch panel area. There are several options, because I do not know where you internet connection is in comparison to your patch panel.

You can think of the patch panel as one long cable. That is all that it is. The reason you have a patch panel is so you have one location where you have access to all the lines in your room.

So lets assume that you panel and your internet modem is in the same room. You would then get a router/switch and place it next to the patch panel. The modem would plug into the router and the router would connect to the ports (holes) in the patch panel related to where you want the internet to go. There are several questions you have to ask. How many rooms do you want internet in? You can get a 4 Port router for about $50 from linksys, but you can buy bigger ones at greater costs.

If your internet connection is not next to the patch panel, you have to get it there. So you would plug the modem into the closest connection in the room it is in, then you would connect that port on your patch panel to the router and you are golden again.

Just remember don't look at the patch panel as more than long wires. If you have more questions you can always walk into a local computer store and they should be able to help. I think you can send email on this thing, so if you are unclear of anything I said feel free to ask.

Answer 3

The patch panel is a good place to hub everything but you will need a router or a switch. These days they are about the same thing. Patch your line in from your modem to the “hub”. run it into your switch and then to the patch board make sure every room you need “hot” is plugged in. you can likely hook your main pc in at the modem to avoid a redundant run back to that location if that is where the modem is.
Several different but good scenarios are diagramed at this link.
http://wiki.wireshark.org/CaptureSetup/Ethernet

Answer 4

Well you can run a long network cable. You can even have 2 long cables and couple them together. With a Cat5e cable you can go about 300 feet. So first measure off how many feet away the cable will travel and which direction you will take. Jot out a floor plan for both inside and outside installs. You might find running it outside easier. You can buy cables that match the decor of the house and a 'coupler' if you need to connect 2 longer network wires. They do make repeaters and boosters for very long connections, but then that cost money. You can get a 150' foot long Cat5e cable for under $30.00. Good luck!

Answer 5

your house a standard structured wiring package. each room contains one segment of Cat 5 for voice and one for data. most of the time voice will be the top RJ45 jack and the data will be the bottom RJ45 jack.

if you go to the Smart Panel all of the connections you will need are in there. there will be a splitter for the RG6 coaxial cable that enters the house from the NID (grey box located on the exterior of the house normal by the garage). you need to connect a piece of coaxial cable from the splitter to the cable modem. then connect a length of Ethernet cable from the cable modem to your hub of switch. now install Ethernet jumpers from the hub/switch, etc. to the ports that you want to make active. they should be labeled as data with the locations on them. your done after that, it's all hardware, no software is needed.

Answer 6

You could try running the wire directly from the modem to the panel. and a router on the other end. They also sell small routers that sell cheaply and have about 4-7 ports

Answer 7

very interesting question