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Modernizing old house network wiring - Part 4 - CAT5 Problem Solving

In the last two posts I described my attempt to transition all of the old Cat5 cabling in my house from analog telephone use to Ethernet use.  After cutting out the RJ11 telephone jacks from each cable end and replacing them with RJ45 plugs, I was able to identify and test each cable run.  Unfortunately, about half the cables were not working.

The Cat5 cable in the kitchen is connected, but one of the conductors (specifically, wire #8) is broken.  Since I don't really care much about the port in the kitchen, I'll put off repair of this cable.

Sadly, all the Cat5 cables to the upstairs bedrooms are weird.  My low-end network cable tester only shows conductor #5 being healthy.  Basically none of the cables upstairs seem to work at all.

My Upstairs Plan

Before addressing the upstairs cabling, I want to think about why I want Ethernet in the upstairs at all.  There are a few reasons:

First, the bedrooms are likely going to partially serve as home offices.  Kids study.  I work.  My spouse works.   We'll have computers and printers and potentially other fixed equipment.  Although WiFi will be available throughout the house, Ethernet is a great alternative for fixed equipment like printers.

Secondly, the attic is a useful place for antennas - and I plan to have two network devices with antennas:
  • I plan to use a Wireless ISP for my home Internet connectivity. I will likely need an WISP antenna in the attic, which will need to connect to a WISP modem that connects into the Ethernet network.  And maybe someday I'll be able to sign up for StarLink!
  • I plan to distribute over-the-air TV over my home network.  I will want a TV antenna in the attic which connects to a TV-to-Ethernet streaming device.  It's a cable cutter's dream.

Fixing the Broken Cat5

Considering my general plan for Ethernet in the upper levels of my home, I'll need working Ethernet up there.  But the current cables don't work.

There is only one Ethernet cable in the basement that shows any kind of connectivity to the upstairs levels. I speculate that this cable runs up the plumbing chase and into the attic, where someone spliced in the cables from the bedroom for telephone use.

I went into the attic, and after a couple minutes of poking around I found the distinctive blue Cat5 cabling.  I love the fact that a lot of Ethernet cabling is colorful - it's very easy to see.  Beige or putty colored cabling would be far more difficult to identify.  Anyhow, after following the blue cable for a few feet, I found a sloppy junction hacked into the cable.

Three Cat5 cables have been spliced together,  with a couple of wire nuts tying all the blue, and all the white/blue conductors together.  Nothing else was connected - the other 6 colors were wrapped up in a little disconnected ball.

Splices and taps do not work for Ethernet - instead, taps need to be made by an Ethernet switch or hub.  There are no exceptions.  So I need to cut out the splices and attach an RJ45 plug onto to each of the cables.  Then I'll have individual cables from each of the bedrooms, and an individual cable running to the basement.

Attic work is a PAIN.   It's hard to see in the attic, and it's hot up there.  It's really hard for me to differentiate the white/blue and the white/green conductors with the low light and crappy work environment.  But I was able to do it.  Now I have three RJ45-terminated Ethernet cables in the attic, one from the basement and two from the bedrooms.  My tester shows that all three cables are working!  Yay! 

Now I have three more Ethernet cables that plug into.... nothing yet.

Data Equipment in the Attic?

So how am I going to plug in all this Ethernet cable?  And into what?

Given my plan to have Ethernet in the attic and bedrooms, I have a few options:
  • I can add a switch to the attic.  All the bedrooms will connect to the switch, as will the cable to the basement.  Any new attic devices can be plugged into the same switch.  This is easy, but it's another piece of equipment.  And the attic gets stupidly hot and cold.  And there is no power in the attic, so I'll have to figure that out.
  • Extend all these cables directly to the basement.  This is a lot of work, but will give higher performance.  But it doesn't eliminate the need for antenna-related equipment in the attic. 
  • Add a telecom panel to one of the closets on the 2nd floor, and have all the upper-level Ethernet cabling meet in that closet. This is likely better than placing equipment in the very hot or very cold attic.
Yes, I think I will do nothing now.  There is no rush here.

Next Steps

I think I'm done with the Cat5 for now.  All the Cat5 is tested, understood, and labelled.  None of it is connected to any equipment, and none of the wall plates have jacks, but I can do that later.

Next time, I'm going to identify and test all of the Cable TV/Coax cables.





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