Connecting existing house Ethernet cabling

[simmotech]

I’ve just moved into a new house (new to me, it’s about 11 years old) and noticed that each room has a network faceplate (RJ45). Nice surprise!
I then noticed 7 unterminated Cat 5e cables next to the distribution panel in the garage.

Here’s what I plan to do. Could you please tell me whether I am on the right lines.

1. Buy a crimping/testing kit from Amazon and put connectors on each of the Cat 5e cables.
2. Buy an 8-port switch, install it in the garage and plug all the cables into it.
3. When Plusnet get my internet access running next week (using a 1-bar iPhone hot spot for my PCis painful!!), everything room port should just work once the router is plugged into one of the sockets.

Question:
Is the internal wiring to be terminated as ‘straight through’? (I assume a crimping kit will tell me which wires go in which order)

The house is over 3 floors and I was looking for a mesh WiFi 3-pack to make sure internet from the front room where the BT socket is, reaches my office on the top floor at the back. But should I be looking for a 2/3 unit system that supports Ethernet backhaul instead for the WiFi?

Are the testers that come in any the crimping kits able to test via the wall socket? (I assume I need plug part of the tester into each room socket and the main tester on the end of each cable) to identify which is which)

Any help or item links gratefully received.

 

[ChrisD.]

If there are cables with no ends on, you'd be better off buying a patch panel, then use a krone tool to terminate them into the panel. Then connect the front of the panel to a switch using patch cables.

 

[WJA96]

If there are cables with no ends on, you'd be better off buying a patch panel, then use a krone tool to terminate them into the panel. Then connect the front of the panel to a switch using patch cables.

^^^^This. Firstly, it’s just the right way to do it. Secondly it’s MUCH easier to punch down into a patch panel than it is to terminate into an RJ45 plug. And the tool is cheaper. Given that it’s only 8 cables you could possibly buy boxes and fix them to the wall then terminate your cables into RJ45 wall sockets.

https://www.cablemonkey.co.uk/10-patch-panels/9511-12-port-cat5e-10-utp-patch-panel.html but with that you need a 10” cabinet which makes it neat but adds to the cost. https://www.cablemonkey.co.uk/home-network-cabinets/9508-8u-mini-office-cabinet.html

And you’ll want some power probably… https://www.cablemonkey.co.uk/mini-office-cabinets/41968-3-way-10-uk-socket-soho-rack-pdu.html

If you’re wondering why they didn‘t terminate the cables properly the £100 equipment cost would probably explain it.

or 2 x https://www.cablemonkey.co.uk/switc...ertical-outlets.html#!/130-no_of_ports-4_port

We use a huge number of those vertical entry wall boxes. They’re just really easy to use. You screw it on the wall, the cables go in the top of the box and you punch down into the connectors inside. Then clip the cover back on.

This is the punch-down tool all of our installers use. It’s not cheap, but it’s also not expensive and it works first time, every time.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TRENDnet-Punch-Krone-Blade-TC-PDT/dp/B0000AZK4D

 

[WJA96]

Having thoroughly read your post, you will need to unscrew one of the existing face plates and determine if they are wired system A or B. It’s colour coded and it should be obvious from the socket. All the punch downs in the faceplates and patch panels I’ve linked have A and B colour coded into them. Once you’ve done one you’ll stop stressing about it and find it’s quite easy, especially as CAT5e is really bendy abd doesn’t have a re-enforcement spline running down the middle of it like CAT6 and above do.

As for cable testers, if they pass data at 1Gbps then that’s all the test you need. And they usually do. If they don’t then see if someone will lend you a tester. They’re not crazy expensive but most of them are pretty junky.

 

[WJA96]

And as regards a mesh system, I wouldn’t put a mesh system in, I’d go for one centrally positioned access point - something like a UniFi FlexHD or U6-Mesh and put that as close to the centre of the building as possible.

 

[simmotech]

I’ve decided that the patch panel is the way to go but a SOHO cabinet is a bit over the top for just 7 ports.
I’ve got a couple of TP-Link gigabit switches from Amazon. (on sale at £17.48 so I got an extra one for my office)
I’ve got a wall mountable patch panel, 10 x .5m patch cables and tool doodad coming today.
I went for a 3 pack of Deco X50 which should be perfectly suitable anyway should I not be able to get the existing Ethernet wiring/sockets working for whatever reason.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[simmotech]

I’ve decided that the patch panel is the way to go but a SOHO cabinet is a bit over the top for just 7 ports.
I’ve got a couple of TP-Link gigabit switches from Amazon. (on sale at £17.48 so I got an extra one for my office)
I’ve got a wall mountable patch panel, 10 x .5m patch cables and tool doodad coming today.
I went for a 3 pack of Deco X50 which should be perfectly suitable anyway should I not be able to get the existing Ethernet wiring/sockets working for whatever reason.
Thanks for the advice.

I’ve decided that the patch panel is the way to go but a SOHO cabinet is a bit over the top for just 7 ports.
I’ve got a couple of TP-Link gigabit switches from Amazon. (on sale at £17.48 so I got an extra one for my office)
I’ve got a wall mountable patch panel, 10 x .5m patch cables and tool doodad coming today.
I went for a 3 pack of Deco X50 which should be perfectly suitable anyway should I not be able to get the existing Ethernet wiring/sockets working for whatever reason.
Thanks for the advice.

I’ve decided that the patch panel is the way to go but a SOHO cabinet is a bit over the top for just 7 ports.
I’ve got a couple of TP-Link gigabit switches from Amazon. (on sale at £17.48 so I got an extra one for my office)
I’ve got a wall mountable patch panel, 10 x .5m patch cables and tool doodad coming today.
I went for a 3 pack of Deco X50 which should be perfectly suitable anyway should I not be able to get the existing Ethernet wiring/sockets working for whatever reason.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[WJA96]

I’ve decided that the patch panel is the way to go but a SOHO cabinet is a bit over the top for just 7 ports.
I’ve got a couple of TP-Link gigabit switches from Amazon. (on sale at £17.48 so I got an extra one for my office)
I’ve got a wall mountable patch panel, 10 x .5m patch cables and tool doodad coming today.

sounds like a plan.

I went for a 3 pack of Deco X50 which should be perfectly suitable anyway should I not be able to get the existing Ethernet wiring/sockets working for whatever reason.

Well, I tried to get you to use something decent. I’ll see you back here in 6 months when you realise you actually have the infrastructure to run access points and want to do the job right.

 

[ChrisD.]

Agreed, do it properly now, then it’s done.

 

[simmotech]

ChrisD:
The thing is I don’t know for sure the existing cables/sockets work. I definitely won’t be replacing them if they don’t.
With the X50s, I get to use Ethernet backhaul mode if they do work and WiFi mesh if they don’t. No additional cabling.

At the end of the day, I’m only expecting 50mbit max internet.
And a nice man from Sky who just knocked up a temporary long Ethernet cable and a nice neighbour who just plugged it into his switch in the garage got me a usable connection. Bliss!

 

[WJA96]

ChrisD:
The thing is I don’t know for sure the existing cables/sockets work. I definitely won’t be replacing them if they don’t.
With the X50s, I get to use Ethernet backhaul mode if they do work and WiFi mesh if they don’t. No additional cabling.

At the end of the day, I’m only expecting 50mbit max internet.
And a nice man from Sky who just knocked up a temporary long Ethernet cable and a nice neighbour who just plugged it into his switch in the garage got me a usable connection. Bliss!

It’s not just the internet though, it’s general wireless LAN stability. It’s better WiFiCalling if you use that. It’s just the better way to do it. There’s a thread on here somewhere about a user with a mesh system and his phone attaches to a mesh node and won’t let go of it. And there’s nothing that can be done because the mesh system doesn’t expose all the settings.

It’s no biggie though, the first time your phone call disconnects when you move from node to node you’ll be back!