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Friday, July 21st, 2023 1:51 AM

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I moved into my apartment and none of the Ethernet cables are connected to the router that run into the walls

I moved into my apartment and none of the Ethernet cables are connected to the router that run into the walls.

2 Messages

2 years ago

They’re wrapped in the box in the wall and not connected to anything 

Official Employee

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2.1K Messages

Hey, @user_c82269. Thanks for posting on our community forums. The ethernet cables are used to set up a hardwired connection from the modem to your device (PC, laptop, router if your modem does not provide Wi-Fi). Are you referring to a coaxial connection? The coaxial connection would go from the wall outlet to the modem. Is this what you are trying to set up? 

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Contributor

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16 Messages

2 years ago

Easy ways to tell the difference between coax and ethernet:

1) ethernet cable is generally more flexible. Coax is pretty stiff usually - though not always. If it has ends, coax will have a threaded nut-like thing.

2) If you can see the end of the cable, coax has one copper conductor in the middle with plastic insulation around the center conductor. Ethernet has 8 small copper wires. If it has ends the connector will look like a big telephone plug.

It sounds to me like whoever built or remodeled your apartment never finished the job. Assuming the cable are coax, my experience would say one coax cable should run from outside to where the cables come together and to a splitter. Those cables in place now should have ends put on them and connected to the splitter.  If you have cat5/cat6 cables running in the walls lucky you. They'd just have to be terminated and plugged into a router/switch. Either case seems like something a landlord would be responsible for. They're not usable for any intended purpose as is.

(edited)

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