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Home Cabling Help

T

TehJams

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
84
Hi all,
I'm in the process of cutting the cord and going to an HTPC setup, but in order to do that, I would prefer to have a hard wired network rather than wireless.

The good thing is that there is already cat5e cable run to all of the rooms, only it's currently being used only as phone line. It's all run to a central panel in a one of my closets.

Here is a picture of the panel:

IMAG0165.jpg


I'm not sure if I can use this panel to facilitate my network or not, as it's labeled Voice Module on the left side. The jack on the lower left side has a label that says "OUT", and the jack above that says RJ31X.

Also, in this cabinet is a bundle of cables, seen here:

IMAG0168.jpg


I opened up one of the wall plates in the spare bedroom and poked around inside and found a grey cat5e cable, like one of the ones in the above picture, with no termination.

Now, I'm not sure if I can use the blue cables with that voice module panel, or if I need to somehow add another patch panel for all of the grey cables.

Please help me so I can cancel DirecTV once and for all.
 
If you need your phone line, leave the blue cat5e in place. Add a cat5e patch panel, punchdown the grey cat5e to the patch panel, then add cat5e keystones to each wallplate. Install a router or switch, patch cables as needed, and you're done.

Option B, terminate the cat5e with 8p8c end connectors and plug them directly into a switch or router at the structured media panel. Then install cat5e keystones to each wallplate. Not preferred. Best to go to a patch panel then to a switch.

Looks like you have one of those structured media panels. They should have cat5e patch panels that fit inside of them. Personally I hate those structured media panels since they cram everything into a 16" stud bay, they aren't deep enough, and the modules are overpriced.
 
Oops, forgot to mention that I don't need the phone lines. I was hoping to just use the blue wires and the existing patch panel, but I wasn't sure if that was possible or where to hook it up to the "Internet In" type of line.

For the first option: I've got a router already, if I plugged a cable from that to the wall and the rest of the cabling was done properly inside the media panel, is that all I would need to do?

Also, thanks a ton for the help!
 
That's not a patch panel. That's a 110 punch down block. It is meant for voice though some will function as a hub. It's basically a nicer alternative to taking all the same color wires, and twisting them together with a wire nut.

You want a switch... It looks like you have 7 cat5 lines. Get yourself a kit like this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cat5-Cat5e-...hernet_Cables_RJ_45_8P8C_&hash=item3a7e3e6ea0 which includes everything you need for $17, and terminate those cables. Connect them to your router and switch and you are done.

If the blue wires are terminated in each room with a jack that says Cat5, it would be easier to use those and just put connectors inside your wiring panel. If they are RJ11, only meant for phone, then you will need Cat5 jacks and a 110 punch down tool as well.

Search youtube for a few how to videos on terminating cat5 spend a few bucks on the tools, then you'll be all set.
 
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So it would be fine to just remove the cables from the existing block, terminate them with a RJ45 plug, and plug them directly into a switch? No need to go through a patch panel?
 
It would be, but I think you'll find a lot of us will recommend a patch panel.
 
TehJams said:
So it would be fine to just remove the cables from the existing block, terminate them with a RJ45 plug, and plug them directly into a switch? No need to go through a patch panel?
Click to expand...

It would be much better to buy a patch panel and terminate those into that. This way you could wire up everything from the patch panel to the switch. Also looks much nicer for resale and you can take your switch hardware with you when you move. Really it also depends on what kind of room you have in that space. Can you fit a switch there or will you need to mount it on the wall / shelf someplace else in the closet?
 
I can easily fit a small switch into the cabinet with the wires, it even has a power outlet inside so I don't have to run power from anywhere.

Thank you guys for the help, I just ordered all the stuff I think I'll need.
 
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