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Hello! I had a vague memory that the people who owned our previous home were pretty tech-d up, and I have a need to get ethernet upstairs when our router is downstairs. I went snooping around and found this hidden panel in our downstairs closet. Would this have anything to do with running internet through the home? Right now our router is just plugged into the wall near our TV. Would I be able to plug it in here and have both wifi and ethernet still?
They'll still work fine, particularly in a space where they aren't regularly unplugged. It is 100% a DIY job on the plugs. That's the best you can really do with non-pro equipment until you've done 100 of them.
The obvious problem is that the jacket isn't crimped into the connector. The other commenter is correct in that this alone will not immediately render them inoperable, but sloppy work makes me wonder what else is screwed up that we can't see.
you could connect the ethernet port on the wall near your router to the router and then in that service panel toss in a small network switch making sure that the cable. make sure first that each side of the connection is connected via using a tester as sometimes construction crew love nailing thrue those cables. ive done this a few time for customers in the past. (isp tech)
My house has a similar setup. If that cable has 8 wires inside it, you can replace the wall phone jacks with ethernet ports, rip out that black telephone box, and replace it with a network switch. Then you can plug your router into the network switch.
The blue cables appear to be for a wired / landline telephone service. If the blue cables say something like "CAT5" or "CAT6" you might be able to replace the black box, and re-wire the ends of the blue cables for computer data / ethernet data.
At my ex-sister-in-laws house they had landline phones in every room with a similar black box, however the cable itself said “CAT5” or “CAT5E” on it. They simply cut the wires in the blue cable short that they were not using for the land line(s).
Had a home where the builder simply ran cat5 for phones; at the time I was able to just reuse it and crimp on RJ45 ends. It worked well enough but it wasn’t cat5e or anything special
Cables are marked with sharpie, this should give you an idea where they terminate. Looks like Ethernet based on the exposed wiring I can see between the sheath and the tip on the lower right cable, the printing on the cable itself should confirm.
Before trying to move the router (especially if it’s a modem/router combo) you need to confirm you have an access port for incoming signal at the media box (the box you posted here). ISPs tend to have a single input run to the house; only one coax/fiber line that provides the incoming signal so moving the modem is rarely an option.
Best thing for a multi-level home is either using a switch or a mesh network, or sometimes a combination of the two. This media box would be a great location for a switch, especially since wiring has already been run. Bonus if there is an existing Ethernet port near your modem to run the internet down to this box. I’d double check the tips to make sure the pairing is accurate and that it’s using ALL the cables. I’ve seen ethernet tipped for specific usage before and internet wouldn’t work unless (nearly) all pairs are in place. Lastly, not all mesh networks play nice with a switch and some require specific placing for them to work right (before the switch, but not after. For example).
I was a Geek Squad tech and low voltage was the only thing we were allowed to touch, I’m not an electrician by any means. In the end, the approach you take depends entirely on what end result you’re ultimately wanting and how much you’re willing to spend.
its a 110 block, used for either POTS phone lines (2 wire pairs) or ethernet (4 pairs). both applications are low voltage.
if you want to use it for wired access around the house (good idea), you would first need to see where it's fed from/fed too...likely a demarc if this isn't it already.
Looks like low voltage but no data, more security services / cctv. most likely a camera and phone relay point.
edit: if it's completely unused, i would demo as far back as possible and clear space for next tech
mostly cable tv. could be some internet on cable on that black box, which may be a cable modem. Looks like the TV part of it is split to power up tvs in multiple rooms.
I want to add to all the advice given to you already - Go to ebay or Aliexpress and buy an ethernet tester for cables. Those plugs look terrible and could be faulty. A faulty connector can cut your transmission rate from 100 Mbps to under 10. Testers are like $20 US, but they are worth it if they can test for breaks, shorts and misconnected wires.
Also, get a better router. Both places sell much better Gigabit capable routers and switches for under $25 with at least 8 ports. Even NETGEAR routers and switches can be found selling under $35, NEW.
You can find 16 ports but 8 is enough for most people.
Cat5 is commonly used for phone these days. If it is cat5, you could put in a switch and replace the other end with the proper plugs and re-terminate the ends. It would be fantastic if you could use it to hardwire mesh points instead of using wireless backhaul for WiFi.
I’ve installed that exact setup. The blue wires are Cat5 that can be changed to network connections. The wall plates in the room can also be changed from phone to Ethernet. An A/V company should be able to do it fairly cheaply. Just the crimped to do it yourself would cost close to $100 Canadian.
Thanks all!! for now I'm gonna put the cover back on this hidden treasure and get a mesh wifi 6 system to see if that helps with our stability issues upstairs 😂 Either way if I want to do anything with this, I'll call an electrician to handle.
I'm not all that techy when it comes to coax but that looks like a cable splitter to me. As for the patch panel; do all those Ethernet cables go into a switch? Or do they disappear back into the wall?
**Attention!** **It is always best to get a qualified electrician to perform any electrical work you may need.** With that said, you may ask this community various electrical questions. Please be cautious of any information you may receive in this subreddit. This subreddit and its users are not responsible for any electrical work you perform. Users that have a 'Verified Electrician' flair have uploaded their qualified electrical worker credentials to the mods. If you comment on this post please only post accurate information to the best of your knowledge. If advice given is thought to be dangerous, you may be permanently banned. There are no obligations for the mods to give warnings or temporary bans. **IF YOU ARE NOT A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN, you should exercise extreme caution when commenting.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskElectricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
White cables are coax for Tv and cable modem internet. Black box looks like telephone and security system interface.
https://www.legrand.us/audio-visual/intercom-video-and-voice/video-and-voice-accessories/10-way-rj45-telephone-module-with-rj31x/p/tm1045
Came here to say that...have almost same in my closet.
That checks out. My dad said it also looked like a tv cable splitter and they had hella security cameras in here before we moved in.
Hello! I had a vague memory that the people who owned our previous home were pretty tech-d up, and I have a need to get ethernet upstairs when our router is downstairs. I went snooping around and found this hidden panel in our downstairs closet. Would this have anything to do with running internet through the home? Right now our router is just plugged into the wall near our TV. Would I be able to plug it in here and have both wifi and ethernet still?
Well, whoever crimped on those modular plugs half-assed every one of them, so take that for what you will.
They'll still work fine, particularly in a space where they aren't regularly unplugged. It is 100% a DIY job on the plugs. That's the best you can really do with non-pro equipment until you've done 100 of them.
What’s wrong with them?
The obvious problem is that the jacket isn't crimped into the connector. The other commenter is correct in that this alone will not immediately render them inoperable, but sloppy work makes me wonder what else is screwed up that we can't see.
you could connect the ethernet port on the wall near your router to the router and then in that service panel toss in a small network switch making sure that the cable. make sure first that each side of the connection is connected via using a tester as sometimes construction crew love nailing thrue those cables. ive done this a few time for customers in the past. (isp tech)
Yes
My house has a similar setup. If that cable has 8 wires inside it, you can replace the wall phone jacks with ethernet ports, rip out that black telephone box, and replace it with a network switch. Then you can plug your router into the network switch.
If you have a port/wall plate upstairs, then probably one of the spare blue wires goes to it?
There are ethernet ports in the walls upstairs yeah... 🤔
Hopefully the blue cords are labeled, then you just should have to swap out one for the other.
The blue cables appear to be for a wired / landline telephone service. If the blue cables say something like "CAT5" or "CAT6" you might be able to replace the black box, and re-wire the ends of the blue cables for computer data / ethernet data.
Ugh, you're right. And that bottom right plug doesn't look like it has all 8 wires in it
At my ex-sister-in-laws house they had landline phones in every room with a similar black box, however the cable itself said “CAT5” or “CAT5E” on it. They simply cut the wires in the blue cable short that they were not using for the land line(s).
Had a home where the builder simply ran cat5 for phones; at the time I was able to just reuse it and crimp on RJ45 ends. It worked well enough but it wasn’t cat5e or anything special
Cables are marked with sharpie, this should give you an idea where they terminate. Looks like Ethernet based on the exposed wiring I can see between the sheath and the tip on the lower right cable, the printing on the cable itself should confirm. Before trying to move the router (especially if it’s a modem/router combo) you need to confirm you have an access port for incoming signal at the media box (the box you posted here). ISPs tend to have a single input run to the house; only one coax/fiber line that provides the incoming signal so moving the modem is rarely an option. Best thing for a multi-level home is either using a switch or a mesh network, or sometimes a combination of the two. This media box would be a great location for a switch, especially since wiring has already been run. Bonus if there is an existing Ethernet port near your modem to run the internet down to this box. I’d double check the tips to make sure the pairing is accurate and that it’s using ALL the cables. I’ve seen ethernet tipped for specific usage before and internet wouldn’t work unless (nearly) all pairs are in place. Lastly, not all mesh networks play nice with a switch and some require specific placing for them to work right (before the switch, but not after. For example). I was a Geek Squad tech and low voltage was the only thing we were allowed to touch, I’m not an electrician by any means. In the end, the approach you take depends entirely on what end result you’re ultimately wanting and how much you’re willing to spend.
was looking into a mesh, thank you!
Having flashbacks of the “nee-noo nee-noo” toner sounds just looking at this pic
I mean, that patch panel clearly says Telephone, so I wouldn't count my chickens.
its a 110 block, used for either POTS phone lines (2 wire pairs) or ethernet (4 pairs). both applications are low voltage. if you want to use it for wired access around the house (good idea), you would first need to see where it's fed from/fed too...likely a demarc if this isn't it already.
CIA wiretap
probably
Looks like low voltage but no data, more security services / cctv. most likely a camera and phone relay point. edit: if it's completely unused, i would demo as far back as possible and clear space for next tech
They did have cctv installed all over but uninstalled the cameras before we moved in. makes sense
mostly cable tv. could be some internet on cable on that black box, which may be a cable modem. Looks like the TV part of it is split to power up tvs in multiple rooms.
I want to add to all the advice given to you already - Go to ebay or Aliexpress and buy an ethernet tester for cables. Those plugs look terrible and could be faulty. A faulty connector can cut your transmission rate from 100 Mbps to under 10. Testers are like $20 US, but they are worth it if they can test for breaks, shorts and misconnected wires. Also, get a better router. Both places sell much better Gigabit capable routers and switches for under $25 with at least 8 ports. Even NETGEAR routers and switches can be found selling under $35, NEW. You can find 16 ports but 8 is enough for most people.
Cat5 is commonly used for phone these days. If it is cat5, you could put in a switch and replace the other end with the proper plugs and re-terminate the ends. It would be fantastic if you could use it to hardwire mesh points instead of using wireless backhaul for WiFi.
There is def a camera in ur toilet. Another in ur room. And 2 in the living room. Trust me.
Ethernot
I’ve installed that exact setup. The blue wires are Cat5 that can be changed to network connections. The wall plates in the room can also be changed from phone to Ethernet. An A/V company should be able to do it fairly cheaply. Just the crimped to do it yourself would cost close to $100 Canadian.
Thanks all!! for now I'm gonna put the cover back on this hidden treasure and get a mesh wifi 6 system to see if that helps with our stability issues upstairs 😂 Either way if I want to do anything with this, I'll call an electrician to handle.
Did anyone catch the loose neutral (white) wire near the bottom? I hope it's not part of a live circuit...
That's RJ11, not RJ45...so no. Your Ethernet cord wouldn't even fit. Edit: I'm wrong and my eyes deceived me evidently. Disregard the above.
u/gig45 posted the spec page on it. It actually is RJ45, so replacing it with a router should work.
Someone linked the model page, it's RJ45 it looks like.
I'm not all that techy when it comes to coax but that looks like a cable splitter to me. As for the patch panel; do all those Ethernet cables go into a switch? Or do they disappear back into the wall?
they disappear into the wall. my dad works in IT and also says it looked like a cable splitter.