Pre Wired Apt for Internet?

zod96

Platinum Member
May 28, 2007
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Moving into a brand new Apt Complex. They have per-exsisting wiring in place. Does this mean that if I take my Comcast Modem and my Router in one room, that in all other rooms I just plug a short ethernet cable into the wall jack that is pre wired and I will have internet connection?
 

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
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You'd have to ask the apartment complex manager how the apartments are wired. They might have a central ISP service that is shared to all of the units, or the units might be wired separately with their own individual patch panels. If it's the first one, then you wouldn't use your Comcast modem at all. If it's the second one, you'd connect the modem to a router (can be wired or wireless) and then connect that router either directly to the patch panel or to one of the wall ports and then plug your individual devices into the other wall ports to get access to the Internet and to the other devices on your network.
 

zod96

Platinum Member
May 28, 2007
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Its bring your own service to the Apt so looks like it would be option 2 which you described which is exactly what I was hoping for :) Thanks for the input...
 

seepy83

Platinum Member
Nov 12, 2003
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If it's the second one, you'd connect the modem to a router (can be wired or wireless) and then connect that router either directly to the patch panel or to one of the wall ports and then plug your individual devices into the other wall ports to get access to the Internet and to the other devices on your network.

You're missing the step where all of the network drops being used would need to be connected to a switch at the patch panel.
 

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
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You're missing the step where all of the network drops being used would need to be connected to a switch at the patch panel.

True. I assumed that if the apartment complex had everything pre-wired, they would also have everything centrally connected, but I should have included a step to check for that and to get a switch (or just use the ports on the router if there are less than four total wiring points) if there isn't one already there.
 

seepy83

Platinum Member
Nov 12, 2003
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I only mentioned it because a lot of people that don't know any better expect that the patch panel will light up every network drop (similar to how you would wire a house for telephone).