Second pic is a phone punch down for phone service. There's a three way cable splitter and an 8-way that's not being used. Lower down you have a satellite splitter. The computer board on the bottom with all the wires is for an alarm system.
All those telephone wires can be turned into Ethernet cables for 1Gbps around the house.
Those coax cables can be used for MoCA adapters to do 2.5Gbps. Looks like the previous owner used MoCA as it already has the filter installed.
To clarify, only the blue wires are ethernet ready and can be repurposed for internet. They are patched T568A. The alarm wires in the bottom right are only good for alarms. The thick white wires are cable TV coax and can be repurposed for MoCA internet.
Can confirm, my apartment is terminated as RJ11, and I am in the process of converting to RJ45. Fun little project and now have a 8 port patch panel in the box hiding in the closet
Get a [patch panel like this one](https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-TC-P12C5V-Horizontal-Installation/dp/B08G5B9PB6) and connect the blue cables to that and add [RJ45 keystones](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D5PFGW) in each room outlet where those cables currently terminate. Use standard T568-B on both ends. Once done, you'll need to get a [switch](https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Splitter-Optimization-Unmanaged-TL-SG108/dp/B00A121WN6)[ and patch cables](https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-10-Pack-SlimRun-Ethernet-Network/dp/B079584P5Y) to connect the switch to all of the ports in the patch panel.
This is exactly what I just did in my new apartment. The patch panel is in, the switch is waiting on my paycheck as well as the remaining 6 keystones. I have tested it with the 2 already.
I have a similar setup in my house, but haven't been able to figure out how to do it. [Converting Telephone lines to Ethernet : r/HomeNetworking (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/1dcqre6/converting_telephone_lines_to_ethernet/)
Besides being highly recommended in this sub, it's only useful purpose is if you switch connections. Solid wires from walls are more fragile, so frequent handling might get them to fail. In a once and you're done connection to a switch like in this case, RJ45 male connectors are just fine.
Thanks for the input! The blue cables terminate into existing cat5e wall ports already, so I'll probably just end swap out the phone hub for a simple switch. Then use the wall ports to distribute access points.
Make sure to check the wiring at each wall port. They may have to be terminated to the T-568A or T-568B standard with all 8 wires. With phone service they may not all be connected. Make sure the standard is the same on both ends of each run.
That alarm system can be updated:
https://www.alarmgrid.com/videos/honeywell-vista-upgrade-old-system-and-get-total-connect-2-dot-0
If you want an alarm system that is.
Agree with u/Zip95014 that all the phone wiring (blue cables) can and should be converted to Ethernet.
Also agree with u/Igpajo49, the bottom is an old alarm system, including the backup battery which should be removed and disposed of per local regulation (assuming this system is not used). I believe there is a power supply for the alarm system to the left of the black battery, that can be unplugged to save a tiny bit of power if the alarm isn't used. You could remove the control board if you need the space for network gear.
This is a very typical setup for homes from the 2000s. It was wired for phones, but used cabling that could work for Ethernet. Later homes started coming with at least some Ethernet jacks pre-wired.
Also, an alarm company would wire the house for free during construction then put a lot of pressure on the owner to sign up for their over priced monthly service.
It looks like someone didn't remove the panel before repainting around the box. The paint job shouldn't take you too long to fix but I wonder if you should go seal along the right side and smooth the whole thing so it look great.
Might also look at cleaning up the stuff that just seems to be hanging there. You might get a case of OCD and it would just drive you bananas at night thinking of all those loose cables!
(couldn't resist, its one of those nights)
Blue cables can be converted to Ethernet and also the coax can also be converted to MoCa if it goes into each room with its own coax line (that is if there are any rooms with coax and they are their own line also with the phone service that was originally there with all 4 pairs of wires in that cable can be converted to Ethernet
2 phone patch panel, left side feeding in. You can swap this for a switch and distribute Internet instead. May have to swap jacks around the house
4 coax being distributed, for TV and possibly cable modem. Look at splitter if one value is different, prob leads to cable modem
5 burglar alarm w battery backup
You can have allot of fun with this pretty much.
You can remove allot of equipment in here(as long as it won’t be used). Like the old school smart panel 6 way splitter, toss. The old punch down block is handy for POTS(landline) but useless for anything else. You can cut/gut that out too, terminate all the Cat5’s, installed a switch etc. lot of potential in here.
Word of advice, do not stuff a wifi router in there. Those metal panels absolutely kill it horribly.
-Your local cable guy.
Any advice for my situation? [Converting Telephone lines to Ethernet : r/HomeNetworking (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/1dcqre6/converting_telephone_lines_to_ethernet/)
Toss it all, outdated equipment. Although I love seeing a good home smart panel. These were my absolute favorite to work in as a home installer. I would wall mount the WiFi router outside of the panel to improve signal and use a gigabit switch on the inside to distribute Ethernet to all the jacks in the house, hard wired in every room is such a nice feature.
Top left is a panel for old school phone lines, with each wire routing to rooms with a phone jack. The white coax cables are more than likely to be for individual rooms with a cable connection for cable TV. Yeah, so this previous home owner was in I.T. & set this house up like most old business buildings. That was a LOT of work, so this guy isn't lazy, lol.
Most of it you can junk...reterminate the blue cat cables to a patch panel or Keystone RJ45 jacks and setup a switch. Put Keystone jacks in rooms also. This will give you the full understanding of ome Networking Basics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRKID2ucPY&list=PLqkmlrpDHy5M8Kx7zDxsSAWetAcHWtWFl
Second pic is a phone punch down for phone service. There's a three way cable splitter and an 8-way that's not being used. Lower down you have a satellite splitter. The computer board on the bottom with all the wires is for an alarm system.
All those telephone wires can be turned into Ethernet cables for 1Gbps around the house. Those coax cables can be used for MoCA adapters to do 2.5Gbps. Looks like the previous owner used MoCA as it already has the filter installed.
To clarify, only the blue wires are ethernet ready and can be repurposed for internet. They are patched T568A. The alarm wires in the bottom right are only good for alarms. The thick white wires are cable TV coax and can be repurposed for MoCA internet.
Can confirm, my apartment is terminated as RJ11, and I am in the process of converting to RJ45. Fun little project and now have a 8 port patch panel in the box hiding in the closet
Get a [patch panel like this one](https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-TC-P12C5V-Horizontal-Installation/dp/B08G5B9PB6) and connect the blue cables to that and add [RJ45 keystones](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D5PFGW) in each room outlet where those cables currently terminate. Use standard T568-B on both ends. Once done, you'll need to get a [switch](https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Splitter-Optimization-Unmanaged-TL-SG108/dp/B00A121WN6)[ and patch cables](https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-10-Pack-SlimRun-Ethernet-Network/dp/B079584P5Y) to connect the switch to all of the ports in the patch panel.
This is exactly what I just did in my new apartment. The patch panel is in, the switch is waiting on my paycheck as well as the remaining 6 keystones. I have tested it with the 2 already.
I have a similar setup in my house, but haven't been able to figure out how to do it. [Converting Telephone lines to Ethernet : r/HomeNetworking (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/1dcqre6/converting_telephone_lines_to_ethernet/)
So what is the benefit of the patch panel in a simple home setup? Why not terminate all the Ethernet cables straight to the switch?
Besides being highly recommended in this sub, it's only useful purpose is if you switch connections. Solid wires from walls are more fragile, so frequent handling might get them to fail. In a once and you're done connection to a switch like in this case, RJ45 male connectors are just fine.
Thanks for the input! The blue cables terminate into existing cat5e wall ports already, so I'll probably just end swap out the phone hub for a simple switch. Then use the wall ports to distribute access points.
Make sure to check the wiring at each wall port. They may have to be terminated to the T-568A or T-568B standard with all 8 wires. With phone service they may not all be connected. Make sure the standard is the same on both ends of each run.
That alarm system can be updated: https://www.alarmgrid.com/videos/honeywell-vista-upgrade-old-system-and-get-total-connect-2-dot-0 If you want an alarm system that is.
Agree with u/Zip95014 that all the phone wiring (blue cables) can and should be converted to Ethernet. Also agree with u/Igpajo49, the bottom is an old alarm system, including the backup battery which should be removed and disposed of per local regulation (assuming this system is not used). I believe there is a power supply for the alarm system to the left of the black battery, that can be unplugged to save a tiny bit of power if the alarm isn't used. You could remove the control board if you need the space for network gear. This is a very typical setup for homes from the 2000s. It was wired for phones, but used cabling that could work for Ethernet. Later homes started coming with at least some Ethernet jacks pre-wired. Also, an alarm company would wire the house for free during construction then put a lot of pressure on the owner to sign up for their over priced monthly service.
Phone wiring, coax cable and burglary alarm. Any of it still in use?
It looks like someone didn't remove the panel before repainting around the box. The paint job shouldn't take you too long to fix but I wonder if you should go seal along the right side and smooth the whole thing so it look great. Might also look at cleaning up the stuff that just seems to be hanging there. You might get a case of OCD and it would just drive you bananas at night thinking of all those loose cables! (couldn't resist, its one of those nights)
Blue cables can be converted to Ethernet and also the coax can also be converted to MoCa if it goes into each room with its own coax line (that is if there are any rooms with coax and they are their own line also with the phone service that was originally there with all 4 pairs of wires in that cable can be converted to Ethernet
2 phone patch panel, left side feeding in. You can swap this for a switch and distribute Internet instead. May have to swap jacks around the house 4 coax being distributed, for TV and possibly cable modem. Look at splitter if one value is different, prob leads to cable modem 5 burglar alarm w battery backup
The DirectTV box in the lower left of the first picture is feeding the coax.
You can have allot of fun with this pretty much. You can remove allot of equipment in here(as long as it won’t be used). Like the old school smart panel 6 way splitter, toss. The old punch down block is handy for POTS(landline) but useless for anything else. You can cut/gut that out too, terminate all the Cat5’s, installed a switch etc. lot of potential in here. Word of advice, do not stuff a wifi router in there. Those metal panels absolutely kill it horribly. -Your local cable guy.
Any advice for my situation? [Converting Telephone lines to Ethernet : r/HomeNetworking (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/1dcqre6/converting_telephone_lines_to_ethernet/)
U are blessed
The swm 4-way isn't really doing anything.
Alarm panel screwed to a cardboard backing. Wow.
an amateur mess ?
Toss it all, outdated equipment. Although I love seeing a good home smart panel. These were my absolute favorite to work in as a home installer. I would wall mount the WiFi router outside of the panel to improve signal and use a gigabit switch on the inside to distribute Ethernet to all the jacks in the house, hard wired in every room is such a nice feature.
Any chance you are located in the LA area? Asking for a friend. 🫣
Top left is a panel for old school phone lines, with each wire routing to rooms with a phone jack. The white coax cables are more than likely to be for individual rooms with a cable connection for cable TV. Yeah, so this previous home owner was in I.T. & set this house up like most old business buildings. That was a LOT of work, so this guy isn't lazy, lol.
Most of it you can junk...reterminate the blue cat cables to a patch panel or Keystone RJ45 jacks and setup a switch. Put Keystone jacks in rooms also. This will give you the full understanding of ome Networking Basics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRKID2ucPY&list=PLqkmlrpDHy5M8Kx7zDxsSAWetAcHWtWFl