I think my home is wired for Cat5E

**TestudoAubreii** · June 20, 2012, 09:11 AM

Hello,

Images

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

I noticed that my house has Cat5E jacks all through out it (the jacks say CAT5, but the actual cable says CAT5E). In my closet near the middle of the house, there is what looks like a hub or maybe some sort of switch. I never really thought anything of it because I use a wireless router to access the internet throughout my home. However, I plan on moving my office to another room and I need the cable modem to be out in that room. My ISP told me that I would need someone to come out and activate my cable outlet for my internet. Apparently, you cannot just hook your modem up to any cable jack in the house, it has to be activated for data usage. Anyhow, I thought that if I have to have some one come out and activate a cable jack, why not have them activate the one that is in the closet with the hub/switch or whatever it is.

So, I guess what I am trying to find out is if this is what I think it is. I think that if I activate this one, then I will be hardwired for internet all over my house. They are CAT5E cables that run throughout the entire house.

Here are some of my questions:

What exactly am I looking at?
Am I right in assuming that my home is wired for this?
And, if so, should I look into upgrading the cables to CAT6?
Is there a huge difference between CAT5E and CAT6?

I am sure that there are more questions and I will probably think of them after I post this. If any of you have any advice of helpful comments, they will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any and all comments and help.

Testudo

**irishron** · June 20, 2012, 09:25 AM

Could very well be. The old resident have a security setup?

**TestudoAubreii** · June 20, 2012, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by irishron

Could very well be. The old resident have a security setup?

I am not sure, but I would say no only because I don't see any remnants of that.

**Squid** · June 20, 2012, 09:59 AM

As long as the cables say cat5e. The easiest way to check if you'd have connections all over the house would be to plug two computers into the panel and see if they can see each other, if they can your internet connection should work everywhere. The plastic ends and jacks are all the same for cat5, cat5e, and cat6. Unless you have the special tools required there's no point in rewiring to cat6, because you'll need a special tool to upgrade the wiring going into the patch panel. There is a difference between cat5e and cat6, in that cat6 has a higher guaranteed top speed, but in most cases with the speed of current internet connections you'll never notice it, especially if that connection is being split across multiple computers.

**TestudoAubreii** · June 20, 2012, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Squid

As long as the cables say cat5e. The easiest way to check if you'd have connections all over the house would be to plug two computers into the panel and see if they can see each other, if they can your internet connection should work everywhere. The plastic ends and jacks are all the same for cat5, cat5e, and cat6. Unless you have the special tools required there's no point in rewiring to cat6, because you'll need a special tool to upgrade the wiring going into the patch panel. There is a difference between cat5e and cat6, in that cat6 has a higher guaranteed top speed, but in most cases with the speed of current internet connections you'll never notice it, especially if that connection is being split across multiple computers.

Thanks!

Yeah, the cables do indeed say Cat5e. So, I would just plug two computers into the jacks on the actual panel? Would I need t buy a switch for something like this, or will it work just by simply hooking up my cable modem in that closet?

**Squid** · June 20, 2012, 10:10 AM

That's what you'd be checking by hooking two computers up, if they can't see each other you'll need a switch or a router. Some internet modems have a built in router, I know mine does, which would save you from having to have both a modem and a router/switch. You'll probably want a router instead of switch though, especially if you'll want to have wireless.

**TestudoAubreii** · June 20, 2012, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Squid

That's what you'd be checking by hooking two computers up, if they can't see each other you'll need a switch or a router. Some internet modems have a built in router, I know mine does, which would save you from having to have both a modem and a router/switch. You'll probably want a router instead of switch though, especially if you'll want to have wireless.

Cool. I have both a router and a cable modem, I just do not have that cable line that is in the closet activated for data use yet. I have to get my ISP to come out here and activate it.

This is the modem that I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SURFb.../dp/B0040IUI46

I don't know if it has wireless capabilities (the tech didn't say that it did or didn't), but it does have four ethernet jacks in the back.

I guess first I would check and see if the computers can see each other. If they can, cool. If not, I have to hook up my modem and see if that works. Now, there is no internet connection out there, so I would imagine that I would have to get that sorted out before the computers will see each other, right?

**DisgruntledGoat** · June 20, 2012, 11:06 AM

If that amazon link is your modem it does have wireless network capability. 802.11n so you are all set. It also has Ethernet ports as well. A net connection doesn't matter as you can have your modem function as a router only. At least that way you can set up the home network.

**TestudoAubreii** · June 20, 2012, 12:42 PM

So, should I be able to keep the modem in my office (where the data cable jack is), then put the router in that closet and hook it up to the patch panel, or should I have my ISP come out and activate that cable that is hanging in the closet?

Would that be considered a bridge?

**Bolkonsky** · June 21, 2012, 06:19 AM

If the wiring's good, then yeah, you'd be fine.

Also, judging by the coax cable in your closet there, "activating" the cable is probably as simple as figuring out which one goes where, and plugging it into the box that runs out to the street. (Usually they put that in the basement near you breakers.)

**TestudoAubreii** · June 25, 2012, 07:59 AM

Thanks for all of the helpful responses

. I have everything hooked up and I have wired internet to two rooms in my house. To get the rest of the house internet ready, I think I need a switch. Can you guys recommend any switches that will work with the patch panel that I have? I mean, I am sure that any switch will work, but I think that I am getting a little confused when searching for one. Can I use any switch? I am looking at a few on Amazon that are inexpensive, but I don't know if they will work.

Sorry if that was kind of choppy. I just want to be sure before I buy something.

Thanks!

Testudo