Behind my wall-mounted TV is a panel with 4 colored connectors (I would call them RCA jacks in the old days…) There is what seems to be a standard Cat5 cable that is connected to the back of the panel, with the individual wires connected, rather than using the port that is also on the back of the panel. See picture for reference.
First question is, what would this be for? I’m not the original home owner. Second question is is there an easy way to use this panel to make an ethernet connection to the TV? I mean without splicing the Cat5 cable. There is not enough play to simply crimp a standard connector on the the end. Does a cable exist that would plug into the panel on one end and terminate at a standard RJ45 on the other? My TV has features I could use with an ethernet connection. I do know where the other end of the cable comes out, and it’s conveniently right where my internet router is.
Wow. I am not sure what that combination is for. Maybe the four satellite speakers, except that the CAT5 cable isn’t suitable for carrying more than a few watts. It’s certainly not for carrying video. I’d call it a completely custom oddity except that it seems to be purpose-made… I just can’t conceive of the purpose, and I have quite a bit of experience with this stuff.
Is the whole cable like that - weird RCA set to weird RCA set, no diversions? Yeah, I think you could put it back to better purpose by crimping a new RJ-45 connector on each end and making it an ethernet line from your router to your TV.
You will want to borrow a cable tester to make sure the run is good electrically and up to 1GB standard, or at least 100MB. A funky cable can cause all kinds of frustrating connectivity and speed issues while nominally “working.”
It’s odder than that… There is a access panel where the cables terminate. It’s also where my internet service (DSL) come into the house. The box the Cat5 cables are attached to is some sort of Telco equipment. See pics. I’m guessing one of those cables is the one coming out by the TV but I can’t fathom why.
Ah. The brand fills in some answers. On-Q is a sort of competitor to X-10 (home control networking) crossed with a media distribution system - the “ultimate” home-wiring system.
Step 1, I’d look into On-Q’s current lineup and components and see if you perhaps want to rebuild the system as intended - the very complex wiring and terminals and such are a big part of its cost. A few hundred invested in replacement gear might be worth it.
Otherwise, you might want to get a few manuals for the overall system so you can parse the wiring and connections, to guide you in repurposing it all. An RF/cable link and an internet jack in every room from a central location is pure homeowner gold, even in these days of wirelessness. Ain’t nuthin’ that works better than wired connectivity - it’s just too expensive and difficult to retrofit, so most people don’t bother.
Me, I run critical points (like the media center) wired, and use wireless only when it’s much cheaper. You’ve got a good asset there even if On-Q is a bit dated.
I think it is component video with digital audio connection. I’m not sure what the network cable stuff is for. It isn’t for component video, but if don’t know about the audio.
Usually these types of wall plates are just a neat/tidy way for hooking up equipment. You have what amounts to barrel connectors - so you usually need cable on both sides.
So when you see a wall mounted HDMI/competent wall plate - usually someone has put a cable behind the wall.
It doesn’t convert or change the information.
I can’t tell from that angle if their are barrel connectors on the other side or not. If the non orange connectors have another connector on the other side, but the orange doesn’t - I would guess that the digital audio is using the network cable.
Not I have never used (to the best of my memory) no optical digital audio - so I am not that familiar with it, but it ain’t for the video. If you want to hook up your tv to the web - it will need (most likely) a cat 5 input (or use wifi). If that cable on the other end is closer to your TV - you might be able to plug it in on the black plug (assuming their is a jack/cable on the other end.
I suggest you look closely at the “cable” and “phone” jacks - they are probably more complex than you think. From looking at that distro panel, it looks like the system uses CAT5 for wired phone service or perhaps combined service (e.g., the “phone” in each room had multiple purposes). You should be able to repurpose that wiring for network use.
Also - depending on what you are trying to do - don’t get too upset about their not being wired connectors in the rooms - it looks like you probably have good RG6 cables in various places - so you should be able to install a cable modem in various locations - then you can put your router there - and have wireless internet wherever you need it.
Hadn’t seen what AB wrote when I posted the last thing - to expand on what he is saying - if it is cat 5 - you can get wall plates for internet connection - plus a tool for punching it in for pretty cheap. It isn’t that hard to do. Might take you 30 minutes your first time, but it is pretty easy.
The reason I am guessing Cat 3 - is Solely based on my bad luck when finding things labeled “telephone”. Although telephone can work easily on cat 5 - in my experience - the builders will try and save $0.50 and go with cat 3. I think I’ve run into this ~10 times and never once lucked out. It does look like it could be Cat 5, but I am a pessimist.
I once made a long VGA cable using Cat5 so I vote for Component video (R, G & B RCA jacks) plus digital audio (orange RCA). However, the Cat5 probably comes from a closet with video sources & an AV receiver, not the location with your cable modem.
The picture with your cable modem or router may actually show eNet or telephone circuits using Cat5.
The module by the router is a TP-TBM10 from On-Q. I now suspect it was for an alarm system the previous owners used. It still doesn’t explain the component jack setup behind my TV though.
Why do you think you don’t have enough cable to put an Ethernet/RJ-45 end on there? It looks like you’ve got at least 6 inches coming out of the wall. I could do it with half that length, or less. Granted, I’ve done at least 1000 or more of them.
That’d be Doing It Wrong. The right way is to crimp a female RJ45 on the cable, mount it in the wall plate, then use a separate male-male jumper cable to reach the TV’s jack.
Several people seem to be using terminology loosely. 8-wire (4-pair) twisted cable is not necessarily “Cat 5” cable. It could be Cat 3, Cat 4, Cat 5, Cat 5e, or Cat 6. Practically the only way to tell the difference is to read the tiny print written lengthwise on the cable itself.
