New Home Wired...now what.

[rcpratt]

For our new home that we recently closed on, we had the builder('s subcontractor) wire our family room and both bedrooms with CAT5. My understanding was that it would be a fully functional home network. Turns out, they just ran CAT5 from each location to a central location in the garage...but none of it is networked together. That central location has no easy/direct access to a power outlet. When AT&T was out this weekend to set up our internet, he was kind enough to splice one bedroom and the family room (modem/router location) together, but now our other bedroom CAT5 is just hanging out by itself.

Beyond the fact that I'm going to give the contractor hell tomorrow for their lack of actually completing what we requested...is there any simple networking solution that will allow us to complete our home network that I'm not seeing?

 

[JimKiler]

Unless you were specific running the wires is enough for building a house. Just like coaxial cable need to be hookup up once your cable or sat company does the install. It sounds like your house may have been done corrrectly.

But the lack of an outlet to the garage is bad. Actually why did it go to the garage instead of the utility room?

You need a switch in the garage and either ends on the wires or you need a patch panel. I put in a patch panel per the recommendation of others. I also did double runs in all the rooms per their requests. I wish i would have done three runs in a couple rooms since my phone company uses Cat6 for the cable channels which means only my BD player or TV can be networked unless i want to have a switch in the room. Oh well live and learn.

 

[rcpratt]

The garage is just the standard location that the builder uses for CAT5/coax/etc. It is actually on the wall that backs up to the utility room, but it's not accessible from the utility room (to my knowledge).

 

[imagoon]

The garage is just the standard location that the builder uses for CAT5/coax/etc. It is actually on the wall that backs up to the utility room, but it's not accessible from the utility room (to my knowledge).

That would bug me... all my gear out in to the heat / summer, cold / winter + humidity from rain and snow melting off the car etc.

 

[kevnich2]

The garage is just the standard location that the builder uses for CAT5/coax/etc. It is actually on the wall that backs up to the utility room, but it's not accessible from the utility room (to my knowledge).

If the utility room is close, you may have enough slack in the cable to pull it to the utility room. You definitly want it near a power outlet. Install a 4x4 wall board to the wall and install a patch panel, terminate all the cable to the patch panel and then run patch cables to a switch. You don't need the modem/router in that area at all. Where the modem/router are at, take a cable that goes to that room and plug it into one of the LAN ports and that should get you up.

 

[mammador]

The garage? Hmm... seems a bit odd. Even a cupboard/closet would suffice, since a home router and switch take up much room.

And Cat 5? You wouldn't even get Gigabit Ethernet on that.

 

[rcpratt]

The garage? Hmm... seems a bit odd. Even a cupboard/closet would suffice, since a home router and switch take up much room.

And Cat 5? You wouldn't even get Gigabit Ethernet on that.

It is, obviously, Cat5e. That wasn't the point.

 

[rcpratt]

Here's what I'm working with.

 

[JimKiler]

Here's what I'm working with.

That is really nice, I did not get that but then again i am in an unfinished basement so it would be pointless at this point. They build patch panels that will fit inside that case but i am not sure if monoprice sells them.

If the utility room is close, you may have enough slack in the cable to pull it to the utility room. You definitly want it near a power outlet. Install a 4x4 wall board to the wall and install a patch panel, terminate all the cable to the patch panel and then run patch cables to a switch. You don't need the modem/router in that area at all. Where the modem/router are at, take a cable that goes to that room and plug it into one of the LAN ports and that should get you up.

Good point. I have my modem in the basement next to the patch panel but the router is in my 2nd floor office. so my data go from the modem to the 2nd floor, then back to the basement where the switch is, then back up to whatever room needs the data being sent or received.

 

[kevnich2]

That is really nice, I did not get that but then again i am in an unfinished basement so it would be pointless at this point. They build patch panels that will fit inside that case but i am not sure if monoprice sells them.




Good point. I have my modem in the basement next to the patch panel but the router is in my 2nd floor office. so my data go from the modem to the 2nd floor, then back to the basement where the switch is, then back up to whatever room needs the data being sent or received.

I would move your router to where your modem is so you're not using a cable just for that. So move your router to where your modem is, connect a simple patch cable from modem to WAN port, then connect router LAN port to your patch panel port that connects to your basement switch.

 

[JimKiler]

I would move your router to where your modem is so you're not using a cable just for that. So move your router to where your modem is, connect a simple patch cable from modem to WAN port, then connect router LAN port to your patch panel port that connects to your basement switch.

But if I did that then my wireless network signal is in the basement and kills reception outside. I want to walk around my cul de sac and get wireless to a phone or tablet. My neighbor next door gets my wireless signal better than his own, which is in his basement. Since I have fiber i cannot move the modem to the office as it is a huge box for all the services: phone, tv, and internet nor would i want that big ugly box anywhere but the utility room. But I did plan ahead and put three CAT6 runs to my office so i still have an unused line currently.

 

[Mushkins]

That is really nice, I did not get that but then again i am in an unfinished basement so it would be pointless at this point. They build patch panels that will fit inside that case but i am not sure if monoprice sells them.




Good point. I have my modem in the basement next to the patch panel but the router is in my 2nd floor office. so my data go from the modem to the 2nd floor, then back to the basement where the switch is, then back up to whatever room needs the data being sent or received.

That looks like a Leviton cabinet similar to my own. You wont find a patch panel that works in a leviton cabinet outside of what they make. It's BS, but thats how it is. They use these proprietary pushpins and awkward nonstandard measurements for the holes. Of course, you can always drill your own.

I went with leviton patch panels in mine, tried (and failed with) three different screws AND their proprietary pushpins for my modem/router/switch/etc, and eventually just said fuck it and went with velcro tape for all the devices. So regret buying a leviton enclosure :/

 

[Mushkins]

But if I did that then my wireless network signal is in the basement and kills reception outside. I want to walk around my cul de sac and get wireless to a phone or tablet. My neighbor next door gets my wireless signal better than his own, which is in his basement. Since I have fiber i cannot move the modem to the office as it is a huge box for all the services: phone, tv, and internet nor would i want that big ugly box anywhere but the utility room. But I did plan ahead and put three CAT6 runs to my office so i still have an unused line currently.

Easy solution. Put the router in the cabinet like was suggested, but turn off the wireless.

Then buy a wireless access point and put it in the house connected to one of the lines there. Now your wireless originates from the center of your house instead of out in your garage and you can walk around where you please.

 

[Eug]

Can't they just install an electrical outlet in the garage?

 

[rcpratt]

Can't they just install an electrical outlet in the garage?

I suppose they could do a lot of things, but I was looking for a hopefully less invasive and costly solution.

 

[Eug]

I suppose they could do a lot of things, but I was looking for a hopefully less invasive and costly solution.

Isn't that normal anyway for your area? What do you do if you want an automatic garage door opener? What about lights in your garage?

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, it seems an electrical outlet there would be the simplest and most elegant solution, and doesn't have to be all that expensive either. Or, if you already have electrical there in another part of the garage, you could just run an extension cord.

 

[s44]

Easy solution. Put the router in the cabinet like was suggested, but turn off the wireless.

Then buy a wireless access point and put it in the house connected to one of the lines there. Now your wireless originates from the center of your house instead of out in your garage and you can walk around where you please.

^^^this

 

[Midwayman]

I'd want all my wires run to one place. Just not the garage. Stick the modem and a router in there. Possibly a server/nas etc. If you want wireless elsewhere you stick a wireless access point there. I have a similar setup in my basement.

 

[Eug]

That would bug me... all my gear out in to the heat / summer, cold / winter + humidity from rain and snow melting off the car etc.

I take it you have a lot of expensive equipment. 🙂

I have a cheap indoor wireless router outside in my gazebo. It has survived several winters and summers just fine. I think it only cost me $19.99 though. 😉

 

[rcpratt]

Resolved...although it's certainly not up to code. Popped out one of the removable tabs in the enclosure, drilled through the utility room drywall, ran the CAT5e through and connected to a switch in the utility room. Oh well, whatever works.

 

[imagoon]

I take it you have a lot of expensive equipment. 🙂

I have a cheap indoor wireless router outside in my gazebo. It has survived several winters and summers just fine. I think it only cost me $19.99 though. 😉

Yeah If I had a cheap AP in a small weather box I would be fine... My house rack however has a $1500 48 port managed gig switch + some router gear so...