Can I use existing cat 5 wall sockets to set up a network?

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scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#99514 21-Mar-2012 00:34

Hi guys,

I have a feeling this is a very dumb question but here goes… I recently moved into a new house that I'm renting. It is a very small apartment with two bedrooms. In the lounge there are 2 cat 5 wall sockets and another one in each bedroom. Each socket has only one cat 5 plug on it.

Initially I thought this would mean I could plug in my router somewhere and then plug in a computer in the other rooms as well as my ps3 in the lounge. Is this possible? I had a look all over the place in cupboards etc for a main patch panel or something but there is nothing, just these wall sockets. Is it that these cat 5's are just for landline phones or do plug the router in one and the computers into another? I find it weird you would need 4 phones in a house so small.

I don’t fully understand networking so is there a special piece of equipment I need to make this work?

Sorry if I've reposted something similar but I had a look everywhere and I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

Thank you.

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#598009 21-Mar-2012 07:25

Without testing the sockets it's hard to say for sure.
Have you plugged a phone into them to see if you get a tone?
Are there any phone sockets anywhere else?

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scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#598088 21-Mar-2012 10:12

CYaBro: Without testing the sockets it's hard to say for sure.
Have you plugged a phone into them to see if you get a tone?
Are there any phone sockets anywhere else?

Hi,

What I have tried so far is plugging the router in to one socket and then plugging the computer into another and nothing happens. I then ran a cat 5 direct from router to computer and it works. I also switched the router to another socket and it worked but same problem, can't connect to another socket in a different room.

What I didn't think to mention but may be important is that I'm with the Orcon genius plan. They run the phone over broadband and said that you can only plug a phone into the router and won't get tones from other wall outlets. Does this mean I can't get broadband signals to those outlets as well? I don't care about phone, just want my other devices to work.

Thanks.

Zeon

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#598090 21-Mar-2012 10:17

scotteffone:
CYaBro: Without testing the sockets it's hard to say for sure.
Have you plugged a phone into them to see if you get a tone?
Are there any phone sockets anywhere else?

Hi,

What I have tried so far is plugging the router in to one socket and then plugging the computer into another and nothing happens. I then ran a cat 5 direct from router to computer and it works. I also switched the router to another socket and it worked but same problem, can't connect to another socket in a different room.

What I didn't think to mention but may be important is that I'm with the Orcon genius plan. They run the phone over broadband and said that you can only plug a phone into the router and won't get tones from other wall outlets. Does this mean I can't get broadband signals to those outlets as well? I don't care about phone, just want my other devices to work.

Thanks.

If there is no central "patch panel" then by the sounds of it they are daisy chained (why the hell use rj45 sockets if that's the case but that is another discussion). A lot of electricians are blindingly oblivious to the requirements of good house wiring, especially with UFB.

Just triple check everywhere to make sure there is no wiring cabinet and if you can, pull the face plate off one of the sockets then unscrew the socket take a pic of the back and post on here.

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floydbloke

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#598100 21-Mar-2012 10:25

Have you asked the landlord/lady?

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nickb800

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#598102 21-Mar-2012 10:31

Try plugging the dsl input to the modem into the different outlets and see if the modem connects to the internet.

Its possible that there is a master filter installed, but if there isnt, and you can connect to the internet through any of the jacks, then it confirms that the rj45s are just daisy chained onto the phoneline

CYaBro

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#598108 21-Mar-2012 10:42

Is this apartment part of a block of them or is it a seperate building?
If it is a block of apartments then there may be central coms cupboard somewhere else in the building perhaps??
Also you didn't say if there are any standard BT phone jacks anywhere in your apartment.

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cyril7

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#598118 21-Mar-2012 11:01

Hi, it could be they all go back to the comms room as CyaBro says, have you popped one off the wall to see how they are wired.

Cyril

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scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#598152 21-Mar-2012 12:16

Awesome thank you for all your replies.

I'm not there right now (moving in slowly...) but will see if I can pop the cover off and get a photo next time I'm there. Probably Friday.

There is no separate BT phone line. For example one of the RJ45's comes out of the wall at chest height over the kitchen counter which looked like it was intended for a phone to be placed there.

I have not asked the property manager yet. To be honest (and it's an assumption) I'm not sure they would know about the set up. But I will email her/call her just to double check.

I have plugged the modem into two of the jacks so far (the two in the lounge) and the modem connected to the internet. I will try the other two when I'm next there.

And yes, this is an apartment block. At the bottom of the block there is a power cabinate and I believe the phone lines come in there too. I actually saw a tech in them the other day, but didn't talk to him because I hadn't encountered this issue!

I have noticed a couple of panels screwed shut but these are by the shower and laundry so I haven't opened them up as they are likely access for plumbing. I also assumed a patch panel (if there was one) would be easy to access.

Cheers.

chevrolux

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#598163 21-Mar-2012 12:32

My guess is they just daisy chained the cabling and used RJ45's because they are cheaper than BT. Does seem strange though. Maybe there is a panel on each floor. Definately ask the building manager to see what the story is. Could be wired back to where the switch board for your apartment is. Is there any blank faceplates in a strange place? Cables could just be all multipled up so the phone works everywhere. All it would take to make a little network is fit the other ends off with RJ45s and you are away laughing.

scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#598174 21-Mar-2012 12:52

chevrolux: My guess is they just daisy chained the cabling and used RJ45's because they are cheaper than BT. Does seem strange though. Maybe there is a panel on each floor. Definately ask the building manager to see what the story is. Could be wired back to where the switch board for your apartment is. Is there any blank faceplates in a strange place? Cables could just be all multipled up so the phone works everywhere. All it would take to make a little network is fit the other ends off with RJ45s and you are away laughing.

Yeah I have looked everywhere and can't find anything at all. I think the daisy chain guess is right from the sounds of it.

So do some apartment buildings have an external switchboard for every apartment in a separate cabinate? Would it mean I have to put my router in there or something?

To be honest I'll probably just end up with the modem and router by the tv as there it where I need most of my network connections. I just wanted to be able to have my desktop pc in the other room wired but I can get a wireless adapter or something.

It's so annoying that they have it wired like that and for a little extra effort ($$) would make net working easier. I would rather have everything hard wired than wireless any day.

cyril7

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#598180 21-Mar-2012 13:05

Hi, some do things properly and provide a simple central patch panel others do it badly, but its not normal that your gear is mounted in the floor or building distributor.

Once you open the faceplates more will be revealed, but I would be its just a nasty daisy chain.

Cyril

scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#598322 21-Mar-2012 17:45

cyril7: Hi, some do things properly and provide a simple central patch panel others do it badly, but its not normal that your gear is mounted in the floor or building distributor.

Once you open the faceplates more will be revealed, but I would be its just a nasty daisy chain.

Cyril

Which basically means im screwed for makng a lan right?

cyril7

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#598325 21-Mar-2012 17:55

Not always, you may be able to but shows the pics first

Cyril

chevrolux

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#598335 21-Mar-2012 18:34

If you just want to have your network going from the tv to another room you could use the piece of cat5 that goes from the tv to the room. Doing this rides on 1) a cable has been run directly from the tv to the room you want lan in and 2) the cable that you propose to make a point to point link isn't feeding the jack where you want to get your broadband from. However, if it was a feeder that wouldn't be the end of the world as you could just put the modem on the other end and put a little switch at the tv if more than one link is required.

scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#598349 21-Mar-2012 19:30

All good, thanks guys for help. Much appreciated.

I'll get a photo as soon as I can. I will be a bit nervous about making changs to the wiring since it's not my house but it will be good information for me to know.

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