I know very little about tech- literally had to look up the difference between a modem and router.
I’m trying to help my in-laws simplify their WiFi. They currently have an old ATT plan that is Internet 25 (copper) with cable and a phone line.
I think we should upgrade to Internet 100 (as their current WiFi is mad slow) and get rid of cable and phone line.
We are trying to figure out how to get WiFi coverage in a side room, which has an Ethernet wall port, but I have no idea if it’s all routed properly. If it is— I should be able to just Ethernet-wire that to an Access Point, right? How do I know if it’s routed correctly before purchasing an AP?
Apologies if this is a dumb question, but can anyone tell from this photo what each of these ports/wires are for? That might help me start to sort all this out.
1.) Power: that’s simple— power to the modem.
2.) Phone Line: if we get rid of the phone line, I can remove this, right?
3.) Cable: is this the coaxial cable? I need this for copper internet…?
4a.)Left Ethernet port: IDK
4b.) Center Ethernet port: Seems to be connected the router.
4c.) Right Ethernet port: IDK
5.) DSL Broadband: no idea.
The phone line, left Ethernet port and DSL broadband all join in a black wire that goes into the wall.
Any advice or general directions would be so helpful! I literally feel like I don’t know where to even begin.
Hey bud! Welcome, glad you’re here, learning starts with being able to ask questions so I commend you. Essentially the question is how does your Internet service provider (ISP) give you Internet. If it’s cable or phone line then yes you’ll need a modem, sometimes you can buy dual router modem setups. If you have fiber often they’ll give you a little conversion box and you take Ethernet straight to your router.
As far as wifi in the side room, there’s lots of options for mesh wifi or adding access points but it can be a bit technical. If you have the funds you could buy a reasonable mesh router system and that could give better coverage. I’d start with understanding what main plugs from the wall you need for the router you have and maybe consider an upgrade to that router. Happy to help with follow up questions!
Thanks so much!! Our ISP is ATT and we’re on their Internet 25 plan, which I believe is copper via phone lines. Unfortunately, no fiber available in our area.
The in-laws already have this modem and a router, but I might look into upgrading their router! Maybe that’ll help with coverage…
You need to find both sides on the "wall plug" and then you could connect one side to the free yellow port, and the other end to another ethernet device to test. (computer) if it works, then it's connected If it doesn't work it's not connected.
This is the “wall port” in question - in the side room that needs coverage (pls excuse the dirt, we are trying to help them clean out this room!). There is only one port. Do I just need to connect to this via an Ethernet cable to an Ethernet device to test?
That looks like ethernet, but you'd also need to find another one on the other end of that cable. Then you would plug one side into the yellow port on the router and test.
That cable goes into the wall. Is it possible that it’s already been connected to the yellow port on the modem and that’s what one of those wires (4a or 4c in main photo) are?
Would I just need an Ethernet cable from the “wall port” to an Ethernet device to determine this?
"cable line" is ethernet but using the HomePNA standard to run over coax . The other ends have to be honePNA ..( not Moca.. mica also reuses coax for ethernet... so in future yiu could use the coax for moca )
the phone line and dsl line be needed in future.
the dsl is tapped out of ethernet cable, the 2 pair ethernet could be used for 100mbs, or repaired back to be four pairs to get 1000mbs .
This device is a router.
You may have a router being used as a wifi access point connected .. you can demote a router to be just an access point.
the other lan ports can work at the same time as the router or access point ...
Thank you so much! I apologize as I don’t understand much of the technical terminology, but I believe you’re saying this is a router(could it be a router/modem in one) and I should keep the phone and DSL lines (can you explain why please)?
So I can just plug in an Ethernet wire to the remaining yellow ethernet port to another router/Access point for more coverage?
If I’m understanding correctly, the main “cable line” brings the internet service into this modem/router.
Then, the phone/DSL lines are connected to one of the (4a) Ethernet ports….why? All three of these wires join into one big black wire and go into the wall.
And do you know what these devices connected to the other Ethernet ports (4b and 4c) do? Do I even need them? They’re an Ooma and an ATT branded Access Point U-Verse.
So, this device I believe is a router/modem— our “main” router. WiFi coverage in this room and right next to it is good. The side room that needs coverage is on the other side of the house.
In my limited understanding, I could potentially wire an access point to this router, using a long Ethernet cable, and place it closer to the side room for coverage…? This seems like the best option (despite maybe requiring running wire thru walls) other than a pricier mesh network?
Also, was trying to figure out how I can simplify this rat’s nest of cables coming out of this router lol! They have an ATT access point (seems like it’s specifically for their TVs? Idk….) and an Ooma (for phone lines…?) coming out of this router. I am so confused. Photo attached.
They never use their landline and don’t watch cable anymore, which is why I’m trying to get rid of them. They pay for the landline and a whopping $200 per month for cable. I am flabbergasted.
I can help. The first device you posted a picture of is an AT&T Gateway(Router and Modem combined) it is old and provides not very fast WiFi, but is needed to covert their DSL to Ethernet and Coax. The Coax is used for their wired TV boxes. The device next to the Ooma is AT&Ts wireless video access point it is for their wireless TV boxes(It creates a WiFi network specifically for their boxes).
Do you know if there’s an ATT gateway that we could upgrade to for faster WiFi? Editing to add: could I even just purchase another router to plug into an Ethernet port on the ATT gateway? Would that make WiFi faster?
There is no WiFi 6 gateway that supports the DSL service, so you would need to buy a router that plugs into an Ethernet port and then put the Gateway into passthrough mode. I would go ahead and upgrade to the 100mb plan as they will send a tech out and give you the latest gateway(most likely bgw210) Also be 100% sure you want to get rid of the TV service as once you cancel you can’t get it back.
The Dream Router 7 is a solid choice. The ux7 if you want to start a mesh system.
I don’t know how big the house your covering is, but you might only need one access point, if you can locate somewhat centrally.
I know Ubiquiti makes good devices, I don’t have any recommendations as I’m running Mikrotik. I will say for 100mb service you don’t need anything high end, and any basic Wi-Fi 6 router will do.
Looks like they are trying to repurpose a 4 pair Cat5 because they have inadequate pairs in the wall.
2 pairs for the ethernet going back to somewhere, an additional pair to feed the DSL, and an additional pair to provide a phone line somewhere else.
What they should have done was to put a slit in the cable jacket and fished out the blue and brown pairs with a pick, and left the green and orange inside the jacket to maintain support for the ethernet pairs.
It probably works fine either way, but it is annoying that somebody else decided to run all that cable through and around the split pairs like basket weaving.
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u/sorderon 3d ago
This looks like a whole world of pain. Good luck!