New Home, just built, Wired but need hlep w/network

GeorgiaGuy · 09-19-2008, 10:12 PM

I bought a spec home that had been pre-wired with Cat-5 throughout the house. Great, except that when I went down in the basement to see exactly how the person who had run the cable, what I found was a thick bundle of cables that had been run to a single point, tied off and left for dead. Seeing this as my opportunity to set up my network correctly the first time, I need help to figure out exactly how to get the most out of the work that's been done and not break the bank making major adjustments. Perfect world, I'd like to be able to access the internet from any of the outlets in any room that has one in the house. We have one PC, will be getting another PC for my son and another laptop for my wife. I also have a work laptop that I use in my home office. We also use Vonage for our home phone service. I have a LInksys wireless G router that I use to access the internet from my laptop. the desktop is directly connected. OK, now what?

My thought was to run the internet connection into the house, connect that to the modem, connect that to an 18 or 24 port switch (connected all of the cables from each of the rooms), run that to the wireless router??? Please if anyone has done this, I could really use the help. Thank you in advance.

**johnwill** · 09-20-2008, 11:59 AM

If this is wired correctly, then each of the wires in that bundle is a "home run" from one of the jacks in the various rooms. That being the case, all you need to do is to obtain a switch with enough ports for all of the cables, and then crimp connectors onto the connections. Install the switch in the basement where the cables terminate and connect all the cables to the switch. You can then simply connect a port from your router to any one of the room cables, it'll go to the switch and be distributed throughout the house.

The wireless part is serviced directly from the router's location and won't have anything to do with the pre-wiring.

GeorgiaGuy · 09-22-2008, 06:51 AM

Whew! That's what I was hoping I would hear. Thanks!

**johnwill** · 09-22-2008, 11:38 AM

I did presume it was wired as it should have been for CAT5.

If they daisy-chained them like phone wiring, you have a much better problem.

09-19-2008, 10:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
GeorgiaGuy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2 OS: xp	New Home, just built, Wired but need hlep w/network I bought a spec home that had been pre-wired with Cat-5 throughout the house. Great, except that when I went down in the basement to see exactly how the person who had run the cable, what I found was a thick bundle of cables that had been run to a single point, tied off and left for dead. Seeing this as my opportunity to set up my network correctly the first time, I need help to figure out exactly how to get the most out of the work that's been done and not break the bank making major adjustments. Perfect world, I'd like to be able to access the internet from any of the outlets in any room that has one in the house. We have one PC, will be getting another PC for my son and another laptop for my wife. I also have a work laptop that I use in my home office. We also use Vonage for our home phone service. I have a LInksys wireless G router that I use to access the internet from my laptop. the desktop is directly connected. OK, now what? My thought was to run the internet connection into the house, connect that to the modem, connect that to an 18 or 24 port switch (connected all of the cables from each of the rooms), run that to the wireless router??? Please if anyone has done this, I could really use the help. Thank you in advance.

09-20-2008, 11:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,983 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: New Home, just built, Wired but need hlep w/network If this is wired correctly, then each of the wires in that bundle is a "home run" from one of the jacks in the various rooms. That being the case, all you need to do is to obtain a switch with enough ports for all of the cables, and then crimp connectors onto the connections. Install the switch in the basement where the cables terminate and connect all the cables to the switch. You can then simply connect a port from your router to any one of the room cables, it'll go to the switch and be distributed throughout the house. The wireless part is serviced directly from the router's location and won't have anything to do with the pre-wiring. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-22-2008, 06:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
GeorgiaGuy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2 OS: xp	Re: New Home, just built, Wired but need hlep w/network Whew! That's what I was hoping I would hear. Thanks!

09-22-2008, 11:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,983 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: New Home, just built, Wired but need hlep w/network I did presume it was wired as it should have been for CAT5. If they daisy-chained them like phone wiring, you have a much better problem. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience