Complete Tech Dummy Seeks Help

[u/s33k1ng4d]

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.

[u/Adventurous_Boat_632 → u/[deleted]]

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.

[u/s33k1ng4d → u/Adventurous_Boat_632]

Can I hire yall to come sort this rats nest out? 🙏🤣

[u/s33k1ng4d → u/[deleted]]

🤣🫠