I have several Ethernet wall ports throughout my house that seem to be dead. Once in a while, my PC will recognize one, but it can't identify the network. For context, I connected an old laptop directly to the router, and it worked just fine. However, when I try to use any of the wall ports or the ones in the upstairs box, none of my computers can get a connection. The electrician insists everything is hooked up correctly and claims it's the best setup he's ever seen. I'm starting to think there must be an issue with the physical wiring, or am I just losing my mind? I've also tried everything software-wise and tested multiple Ethernet cables. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
It looks like the Digihub you’re using is specifically for phone lines, which might be causing issues with your Ethernet. I’d suggest getting an Ethernet switch, preferably gigabit, to connect everything properly. Also, check if there’s a power socket in that box since the switch will need power to function.
Have you confirmed that you have a router or network switch connected at the other end of those wall jacks? Since you mentioned an upstairs box, it sounds like there might be a patch panel involved. A tip: the picture you shared makes it look like the wall plates are on different panels. Ensure the router is plugged into the right patch panel to get a proper connection. The cable coming from your garage may be a telephony cable rather than Ethernet, so that could be a problem.
The white box you mentioned seems to connect to a blue cable going to the rooms. If there's no other router involved, that box might be part of the problem.
It’s likely that the black MatchMaster box is part of your issue. That device looks like it’s meant for old-school POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) rather than Ethernet, which could be why the ports aren’t working. To get everything up and running, you might need to run a proper Ethernet cable and switch it out for the MatchMaster box altogether or make sure it’s wired correctly for Ethernet use.
Sounds like a plan! I’ll definitely look into crimping a proper RJ45 onto that blue cable and getting a suitable switch.
When you plug your laptop directly into one of the upstairs lines marked for the wall plates, does it connect? That may help pinpoint where the problem lies. If it doesn’t recognize the network, the wiring could indeed be faulty.
I just tried that, but there’s still no connection on the laptop.
Check to see if the switch in your setup is powered on. If the connection appears sound but you can’t get online, consider getting a keystone and punchdown tool. That way, you can replace the wall plate connections to ensure they are secure. If it still doesn't work, the issue might be with the cable coming in from the garage, so keep that in mind.
Just make sure that the connections you’re messing with are for computer networking and not just for old phone lines. It sounds like your electrician may not be familiar with the network setup.
Great suggestion! I'll get a crimper for the cables and see if I can connect everything properly with an Ethernet switch.