Can the Ethernet cable in my wall connect other rooms to the network?
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MellowCedar42
My router is connected to the fiber box, power, and a yellow LAN/Ethernet cable that disappears into the wall. Does this wiring distribute a wired internet connection to Ethernet outlets in other rooms, so I can connect devices without running a cable through the apartment? The building was completed in 2019, and I have several apparently unused wall openings near the electrical outlets. What should I look for to determine where these cables lead?
Answers
If you’re renting, the landlord or building manager may have a diagram or know where the wiring cabinet is. A network technician can trace the cables with a cable tester and identify which wall outlets are connected, although that may involve a service charge.
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It might. The cable could run to Ethernet wall outlets in other rooms, but it depends on how the building was wired and what’s connected at the other end. Look for wall plates with RJ45 Ethernet jacks, often marked with a network symbol or numbered ports. There may also be a central wiring cabinet or patch panel where all the room cables meet.
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A LAN port sends the network connection through an Ethernet cable instead of using Wi-Fi. The yellow cable going into the wall may be feeding the apartment’s internal network wiring, but the cable itself doesn’t prove that every room is connected. You would need to identify the other end and check whether it is connected to a switch or patch panel.
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MellowCedar42: What should I look for? I have several apparently unused openings next to the outlets.