How to Connect Multiple CAT6 Ethernet Cables

[HampshireNavvy]

Hello,
I want to run 4 CAT6 ethernet cables to individual RJ45 wall outlets in 4 different rooms in my 1900's home.
Please can anyone recommend how to connect the four cables to my router hub in a neat/integrated fashion. I have BT Openreach entering the front of the house and plan to run the cables under floors and into the walls.
Do I just run the individual CAT6 cables to a 4 port RJ45 wall plate (similar to the image below) and connect each port to the back of the router (if I have enough router ports)?
Or, is there a better way to connect the 4 CAT6 cables together in a wall fixture near the router?
Many thanks for any advice.

 

[ericmark]

The device is called a switch, and it allows you to split one lead to many. It normally needs power, so where used depends on where you have power.

 

[SUNRAY]

Hello,
I want to run 4 CAT6 ethernet cables to individual RJ45 wall outlets in 4 different rooms in my 1900's home.
Please can anyone recommend how to connect the four cables to my router hub in a neat/integrated fashion. I have BT Openreach entering the front of the house and plan to run the cables under floors and into the walls.
Do I just run the individual CAT6 cables to a 4 port RJ45 wall plate (similar to the image below) and connect each port to the back of the router (if I have enough router ports)?
Or, is there a better way to connect the 4 CAT6 cables together in a wall fixture near the router?
Many thanks for any advice.

View attachment 355240

If you have 4 ethernet ports and don't require them for any other purpose then yes it's simply 4 cables between the router and the socket.

 

[mattylad]

Yes, using wall plates can be a neater and easier way of adding the network cables, especially if your not used to fitting the plugs on the end of these cables.

The wall plates with the use of a punch down tool can be quite easy, get yourself a simple ethernet tester too.
Then from the wall plates you can run further premade leads to the devices to connect and also to the hub.

However, if your running cables to each room it may be wise to throw in some extra cables and use a dual port in the rooms, then a switch (like an ethernet hub) near the router and a single lead from the switch to the router.
This way you will not be stuck when you find that you want more than 1 ethernet connection.

 

[FrodoOne]

Hello,
I want to run 4 CAT6 ethernet cables to individual RJ45 wall outlets in 4 different rooms in my 1900's home.
Please can anyone recommend how to connect the four cables to my router hub in a neat/integrated fashion. I have BT Openreach entering the front of the house and plan to run the cables under floors and into the walls.
Do I just run the individual CAT6 cables to a 4 port RJ45 wall plate (similar to the image below) and connect each port to the back of the router (if I have enough router ports)?
Or, is there a better way to connect the 4 CAT6 cables together in a wall fixture near the router?
Many thanks for any advice.

View attachment 355240

If you have 4 ethernet ports and don't require them for any other purpose then yes it's simply 4 cables between the router and the socket.

SUNRAY has provided the answer to your question.

However,
should you need one, or more, extra Ethernet "ports" (in these or other rooms) in the future,
you will need to install an additional "Switch" (as mentioned by ericmark), with a sufficient number of "outlets/ports"
and (possibly)
a "Patch Panel".
(Your existing "router hub" is a "Switch".)

Because of this, I suggest that you "read up" on both
"Ethernet Switches"
and
"Patch Panels".

Further, I suggest that you (or anyone) should not use the term RJ45 - or similar - when referring to "Ethernet" connectors.

RJ45 was a term used by the Bell Telephone Company in the United States for their "Telephone" "Registered Jack" -
"Registered" with the US Federal Communications Commission
(with several "variations")
for various connections of that which is properly termed a
8P8C "Modular Connector". (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_jack )
This is a "Modular Connector" with 8 "Pins" and 8 "Connections".

"Modular Connectors" come in various other "configurations". (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modular_connector#8P8C )

4P4C (or even 4P2C) "Modular Connectors" are often used on "Handset Telephone" cords.

 

[HampshireNavvy]

Many thanks for all your advice @ericmark, @SUNRAY,@mattylad and @FrodoOne!
So, are my basic options as below if I don't expand to dual port outlets?

 

[hovertoast]

Yep, perfect. You could even add additional switches downstream at any or all of the 4 Ethernet outlets.

Do you definitely have 4 LAN ports available on your router? Some only have 4 total ports and one ends up being the WAN port with an external modem/ONT setup like yours. Others have a dedicated WAN port.

 

[SUNRAY]

Yep, perfect. You could even add additional switches downstream at any or all of the 4 Ethernet outlets.

Do you definitely have 4 LAN ports available on your router? Some only have 4 total ports and one ends up being the WAN port with an external modem/ONT setup like yours. Others have a dedicated WAN port.

My current BT hub has 5 LAN, WAN & 2 phone ports

 

[FrodoOne]

My current BT hub has 5 LAN, WAN & 2 phone ports

Better than the Telstra (Australia) offering:-
4 Lan Ports, 1 (Input) WAN Port and one Telephone (4P2C) "Modular Connector".

 

[FrodoOne]

Many thanks for all your advice @ericmark, @SUNRAY,@mattylad and @FrodoOne!
So, are my basic options as below if I don't expand to dual port outlets?

View attachment 355341

For now, you may not "need" an additional "Switch", as in Option 2.
You can always add one later and "reconfigure".

Network Switches come in various sizes, usually starting at 5 "Ports" (1 In , 4 Out).
(See https://www.amazon.co.uk/Network-Hubs-Switches/b?ie=UTF8&node=430573031 )

You can also get "Splitters" - One Input, Two Outputs.

 

[securespark]

I have your option 2.

Modem...Router...Switch.

But from there cables go round the house. Some end in sockets, most others (TVs, PCs) just have the lead plugged straight into them.

 

[securespark]

The last pictures are of an RJ45 outlet.

I know we have been told not to call them that, but even Cable Monkey (where I got the socket parts from) call them that.

There is a keystone coupler, which fits into front plate which in turn fits into a single Euro module faceplate, in this case, MK's LogicPlus.

 

[opps]

SUNRAY has provided the answer to your question.

However,
should you need one, or more, extra Ethernet "ports" (in these or other rooms) in the future,
you will need to install an additional "Switch" (as mentioned by ericmark), with a sufficient number of "outlets/ports"
and (possibly)
a "Patch Panel".
(Your existing "router hub" is a "Switch".)

Because of this, I suggest that you "read up" on both
"Ethernet Switches"
and
"Patch Panels".

Further, I suggest that you (or anyone) should not use the term RJ45 - or similar - when referring to "Ethernet" connectors.

RJ45 was a term used by the Bell Telephone Company in the United States for their "Telephone" "Registered Jack" -
"Registered" with the US Federal Communications Commission
(with several "variations")
for various connections of that which is properly termed a
8P8C "Modular Connector". (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_jack )
This is a "Modular Connector" with 8 "Pins" and 8 "Connections".

"Modular Connectors" come in various other "configurations". (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modular_connector#8P8C )

4P4C (or even 4P2C) "Modular Connectors" are often used on "Handset Telephone" cords.

Thank you for the clarification. I must confess that I often use the term RJ45.

 

[securespark]

And me and cable monkey...

 

[IJWS15]

Better than the Telstra (Australia) offering:-
4 Lan Ports, 1 (Input) WAN Port and one Telephone (4P2C) "Modular Connector".

My current BT hub has 5 LAN, WAN & 2 phone ports

Be wary if you get ftth, the new hub had one fewer port. Bu**er, I was using all 5!