What do I need to complete my network?

Tunney

Tunney

Tunney

Soldato
Joined
11 Oct 2004
Posts
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Location
London
So, I'm in the very lucky position of moving to a house that's already wired up with Cat 5 network cable. However, there's a problem - the central point where all these network cables meet (a cupboard under the stairs) isn't anywhere with a phone socket. There is, however, a network socket by the phone line socket in the living room.

If I was the place the broadband router in the living room and then plug it in to the nearby network socket, what would I need in the cupboard to connect the rest of the house to the broadband router? I assume just a simple switch?

Could anyone recommend me a suitable product?

Thanks! :D
 
Yes pretty much spot on

You don't need anything special for the switch
Normally best to look on the rainforest but overclocks also have a decent selection

You need to select one with enough ports for the number of cables in your cupboard
Look for one rated for 1000Mbs or gigabit
Choose a good brand such as TP-link, Netgear, Cisco, D-link etc...

Perhaps search for 16 port gigabit switch or similar

I have a TP-Link TL-SG1016D which I can recommend, no issues in the past 24 or or months we have had it

Hopefully your cables have finished ends but if not then you'll need to crimp on some connectors but this is easy with the right tool
 
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There are plenty of guides on how to do this on YouTube or looking through google
The tool isn't expensive and the connectors are dirt cheap. Make sure you get the "boots" to protect the cable on the connectors as they can get damaged easily
 
You don't need a switch, but if you have one then you could use more than one socket around the house. If you just want the one socket working you could just run a network cables from the port with the phone socket to the port to the living room.

If its just bare rj45 cable you could use a RJ45 Coupler. But i would install a switch as it would make all the ports working in the house.

Other option is too put the router in the cupboard and connect up to 3 ports around the house and then buy a wap and place them at the end points around the house. It might be better to put the router in the cubpoard because the shorter distance to the router you might find a better quality internet connection. You might even struggle depending on your type of broadband line to have your router in the living room after its goes through a switch.
 
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I'd recommend putting a patch panel in rather than crimping ends onto solid core cable. A little more expensive but it will last longer. You can get surface mount ones with 12 ports on so you don't need to mess around with rack mounting it.
 
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