Quick noob wired home network question

[rivethead]

I know I need to research the sticky.....right now a lot of that is over my head. But I'll keep studying.

Here's my question:

I have a home built in 2007. Almost every room has a coax and phone jack. The phone jacks all say Cat5e.

All the cables are wired to one central module in the back of my closet. The module is a On-Q 9x6 Basic Combo Module: http://www.onqproducts.com/catalog/model_364400-05.htm?popup=1

Question: If I wanted a wired home network, is it simply a matter of taking out that On-Q Basic combo and replacing it with a network interface module (something like this: http://www.legrand.us/onq/voice-data-communications/data-modules/363486-01.aspx )? Or is it more complex than that?

Thanks in advance!

 

[imagoon]

At a quick glance that looks like it would work. You may need to terminate the far ends if they only have RJ11 jacks. I don't have On-Q experience but that looks like the exact same issue Generaltso was having with his Leviton panel. (had phone stuff, needs to replace it with RJ45 / Cat5e Data boards and patch it all in.)

 

[rivethead]

Thanks! I will read that thread and study the sticky some more and decide if that's something I can handle....

 

[rivethead]

Ok. I've done some research and studied the sticky.

Here's something I've been bothered with: what does the patch panel do?

Based on this: http://www.havetheknowhow.com/Home-network.html

You don't really need a patch panel. You can wire directly to a switch. I'd love to hear some thoughts about that. That seems simple to this noob.

One more question: I have one location where there is no Cat5e outlet but there is a coax outlet (a tv nook in the family room). If I went: switch to patch cable to RJ45 to F Coax Adapter (a $10 part) would that work? Or would I need a RJ45 to Coax Converter ( a $80 part part). Depending on ease and/or cost, I may just have to go wireless to that TV.

Thanks!

 

[rivethead]

I'm trying to understand the differences between a switch and a router.

If I had this configuration:

DSL -> DSL Modem -> Switch -> 8 ports

then I would only be able to connect to the internet with one port at a time, correct? If I tried to use two or more devices connected to the ports at the same time they would conflict. At least that's my understanding.

Instead I would need:

DSL -> DSL Modem -> Router -> Switch -> 8 ports

Is that correct?

Thanks!

 

[imagoon]

Ok. I've done some research and studied the sticky.

Here's something I've been bothered with: what does the patch panel do?

Based on this: http://www.havetheknowhow.com/Home-network.html

You don't really need a patch panel. You can wire directly to a switch. I'd love to hear some thoughts about that. That seems simple to this noob.

One more question: I have one location where there is no Cat5e outlet but there is a coax outlet (a tv nook in the family room). If I went: switch to patch cable to RJ45 to F Coax Adapter (a $10 part) would that work? Or would I need a RJ45 to Coax Converter ( a $80 part part). Depending on ease and/or cost, I may just have to go wireless to that TV.

Thanks!

You never wire directly to the switch. (don't waste money on an RJ45 crimper, you don't need it.) Solid core in wall cables are not supposed to be moved after install because they can break. You terminate the bare copper to the patch panel and use stranded patch cables to connect the switch. This has the side benefit of allowing you to switch a pull to phone quickly with out cutting and terminating.

For the coax part, no that won't work. Cable system coax is the wrong ohm rating and needs active parts to convert the signal. You would need to use MOCA adapters to use standard house cable.

 

[imagoon]

I'm trying to understand the differences between a switch and a router.

If I had this configuration:

DSL -> DSL Modem -> Switch -> 8 ports

then I would only be able to connect to the internet with one port at a time, correct? If I tried to use two or more devices connected to the ports at the same time they would conflict. At least that's my understanding.

Instead I would need:

DSL -> DSL Modem -> Router -> Switch -> 8 ports

Is that correct?

Thanks!

You typically need your second option. {router}

Trying to equate this to cable (sort of, it doesn't work this way) The router is like an ONT (for fiber optic cable like FIOS) where it bridges the two networks together. The switch is like a cable splitter (at the residential level at least.)