advice needed: what tools I need to run home network

[laugh]

My house is CAT5 wired. I found this network panel:

pic1
pic2

I am running Comcast cable Internet (and digital cable TV service).

I am quite ignorant with networking. I am wondering, what tools do I need so that I can connect the CAT5 out from cable modem to the white panel shown in the picture? I guess I need a switch, but still, I don't know how to connect a CAT5 port to the thin wires in the panel.

Thanks!!

 

[Goosemaster]

router + switch

just get any old router at bestbuy or something (the cheapest one you cah find will do) and an 8port switch.

 

[d33pt]

From the looks of it, the cables are not terminated to any jacks. I'm assuming those blue cables are cat5, not phone.

if so, you'll need a jack panel mounted somewhere. you'll need a punch down tool to connect cat5 from the jack panel to the punchdown box you see there.

Then you'll need patch cables to go to the new switch that you bought.

Then you'll need to uplink that switch to your router. Your router will connect to your cable modem. Done.

The hardest part will be mounting the jack panel and punching all that stuff down.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: d33pt

The hardest part will be mounting the jack panel and punching all that stuff down.

Aye. In haste I missed that part of the post