I am remodeling my home. I installed a 9×8 On-Q combo module, giving me a phone jack, a cable TV coax outlet in all six rooms, with some connectors to spare. At the same time, I ran two Cat5 cables in each room. It all looks great and feels better. The phone and TV outlets are all done. The next step is to terminate the Cat5. The wires end at the On-Q cabinet in a storage closet, where I also installed a power outlet.
My initial plan was to terminate the Cat5 to two Network Interface modules (via punchdown). But now, I noticed that any On-Q (or similar) item with the word Network in the description suddenly jumps in price. And I wonder if I really need that. They don’t seem to offer an advantage over a typical switch.
Here’s what my napkin plans indicate; excuse the beer glass stains. One coax port from the combo module feeds into an internet-compatible signal amplifier which then feeds into a cable modem. The Cat5 cable from the modem connects to the wireless router in the adjoining rec room. The router has 4 built-in wired ports. Port 1 connects to an 8-port fast-ethernet switch that connects the cables in my garage / workshop / computer lab / safe haven. Port 2 connects to an 8-port fast-ethernet switch that connects the upstairs rooms. Port 3 connects to a printer and Port 4 will be used direct and can quickly accommodate another switch when my son’s friends congregate on gaming nights.
So, aside from making it all look cool inside the On-Q cabinet, what advantage would I have in punching down on a network interface module over simply crimping RJ45 cable ends and connecting direct to the switches and the router? I have room by the On-Q cabinet to stack the switches.
Any thoughts? Please not too complicated. Seems this subject always conjures up tremendous explanations that nobody including the author can understand.
Hmmm. I was just thinking. Maybe I should have wired the bathroom as well.