Turning on all Ethernet connections in your new home?
Turning on all Ethernet connections in your new home?
Make sure you have the ability to modify the cabling, especially if you own the apartment.
I suggest relocating your router into the cabinet.
If you're going for a more direct approach, cut several LAN cables in half and connect one end to the WAN port of the router.
Link the other half to the LAN ports on the router side and attach the remaining ends to the various ports leading to remote areas.
I recommend swapping the punch-down block for a small patch panel so you can use standard Ethernet cables.
This method functions with the half cables, though it may look less professional and increases the risk of accidentally pulling a cable.
And what appears along the length of those cables connecting the wall jacks?
Ethernet and coaxial connections.
It seems you should be able to read some markings on either end or somewhere along the cables if they aren’t completely buried in walls or conduits.
FYI:
https://www.electronicshub.org/ethernet-pinout/
Check the wiring diagram on the photographed patch panel (block diagram).
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As previously mentioned, you’ll need a router, but ideally only one should be present in your network. For covering other parts of your home, an Access Point is necessary. This can be a router with DHCP turned off.
But if there are Ethernet ports available, that would be the best choice (and it’s what I suggest).
You might have several options, but the main goal is to identify what’s currently installed.
It's quite straightforward... there are 8 CAT5 cables linked to that punch block. Each cable travels throughout the house. Apply a Network Toner to every cable to identify its destination, and assign a label to each one.
Continue with the prior steps... you may need to swap in a switch for the punch block.
Make sure all RJ45 connections use T568B connectors: WO/O/WG/B/WB/G/WBr/Br for optimal speed.
To connect the internet to the remaining rooms in the house, you'll require two ethernet cables from the Living Room to the Patch Box. One cable will supply the router with WAN access, while the other will distribute the network to the other areas through a switch. If you lack both cables, you must relocate the Router into the Patch Box and install a switch there to accommodate more rooms than the number of jacks available on the router.
Also from Post #13 (
@dingo07
)
Ensure you employ T568B connections for all RJ45 links: WO/O/WG/B/WB/G/WBr/Br will provide optimal speed.
Examine the current color scheme in the wiring closet patch panel. The specific colors aren't crucial, but consistency and correct punching on both ends are important. 568B is the standard to follow; 568A is also viable.
Regarding the existing cables: they might be for telephone use. There’s no labeling on those cables or the COAX lines.
Having just four pairs isn’t sufficient to classify them as Ethernet cables.
It seems there’s a cable-to-cable pairing involving a gray wire next to a white coax cable, exiting as a pair in another room. This makes sense if each upstairs area—bedroom, study, living room—has an RJ-45 jack and a coax connector.
From the photo, I observe only one connection has been punched. That appears to be the jumper from the upper right patch panel block to the lower right block, as mentioned by @cruisetung. This could connect to the living room WAN port router.
So far, you have at least one functional wired path and wireless access via the router to network devices.
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Based on my current understanding, I’d suggest placing the router inside or near the wiring closet shown in the photo. Connect the WAN port router there, then use short Ethernet cables from the router (four ports) to each room served by the patch panels—using Cat 5e or Cat 6a cables (red and green) with proper terminations at both ends. Please note these runs are genuine Cat 5e or Cat 6a.
Many routers have four ports, so a switch might not be necessary. What model router or modem/router do you have?
One path could be:
---- from "building" ----> [WAN Port] Router [LAN Port X] ----> [Port #1] 568B Patch Panel Punchdown block [Punchdown #1] ---- > Ethernet cable to Living Room Wall jack [Wall Jack port] --> connection to wired device.
Repeat this for the remaining three rooms (bedroom, upstairs study, etc.).
Another concern is the modem. It’s unclear how ISP service reaches the patch panel and then the router.
Keep in mind that the 500 Mbps plan you’re using could be shared with others, leading to slower speeds on your devices.
It's not black magic to me either, but every apartment I've ever lived in Korea had a similar setup where the ISP (only three providers: SKT, LG U+, KT) would have an FTTB connection and it was installed centrally in the building. From there, they made sure your unit's ethernet port was connected to receive the service you paid for. I don't see much reason to worry about someone tapping into the network, because this is the standard setup in most apartments across the country.
Assuming the house uses CGNAT, your router will receive a private IP instead of a public one. This doesn't change how you connect it. The updated photo without the center piece is ready, and you're confirming the ports in other rooms are indeed RJ45 Ethernet connections, not RJ11 phone ports. As noted by others, placing the router next to the patch panel is recommended.