Centric fiber hardwire question

[sthbnd]

I am purchasing a new home in WellPoint in 2 weeks (3/4/25) and have been voraciously reading lots of relevant threads here in search of answers to the usual questions when one moves. I’ve found lots of very helpful info too.
It seems, based on other “centric” threads that my lovely new home is prewired, connected, and already live - just waiting for me to arrive and connect. That is beyond awesome since all of my experience has been with Comcast….one of the most reviled companies on the planet. They have a monopoly where I currently live and are well deserving of their poor reputation.
Here’s my questions:
1. Is the centric fiber network Wi-Fi only? I have 2 iPhones, 1 older iPad, an older Netgear Nighthawk router along with an older HP desktop and a Brother bw printer. I have 1 newer Sony Bravia smart tv Wi-Fi capable. The desktop is not wifi compatible and must be hardwired. That said, it’ll be replaced soon with a new dell windows based laptop.
2. From reading the centric threads, I’m a bit confused. It sounds like there are connection ports in all rooms but not finished? Ends need to be terminated?
3. I’m open to upgrading router if needed. I’d like to have the capability, if possible and not over the top cost-wise, to continue to use hardwired desktop for another year. However, I can purchase laptop if that’s the easiest solution. I use Bitdefender and VPN on all devices as well.

Any/all suggestions, info appreciated. I’m a one and done kinda guy and would prefer the centric tech resolve these issues and setup my system right the first time. I may also use the centric tv package although that’s dependent on if their channel guide offers trutv so I can watch Motogp.

Thanks
Steve

[jrref]

I am purchasing a new home in WellPoint in 2 weeks (3/4/25) and have been voraciously reading lots of relevant threads here in search of answers to the usual questions when one moves. I’ve found lots of very helpful info too.
It seems, based on other “centric” threads that my lovely new home is prewired, connected, and already live - just waiting for me to arrive and connect. That is beyond awesome since all of my experience has been with Comcast….one of the most reviled companies on the planet. They have a monopoly where I currently live and are well deserving of their poor reputation.
Here’s my questions:
1. Is the centric fiber network Wi-Fi only? I have 2 iPhones, 1 older iPad, an older Netgear Nighthawk router along with an older HP desktop and a Brother bw printer. I have 1 newer Sony Bravia smart tv Wi-Fi capable. The desktop is not wifi compatible and must be hardwired. That said, it’ll be replaced soon with a new dell windows based laptop.
2. From reading the centric threads, I’m a bit confused. It sounds like there are connection ports in all rooms but not finished? Ends need to be terminated?
3. I’m open to upgrading router if needed. I’d like to have the capability, if possible and not over the top cost-wise, to continue to use hardwired desktop for another year. However, I can purchase laptop if that’s the easiest solution. I use Bitdefender and VPN on all devices as well.

Any/all suggestions, info appreciated. I’m a one and done kinda guy and would prefer the centric tech resolve these issues and setup my system right the first time. I may also use the centric tv package although that’s dependent on if their channel guide offers trutv so I can watch Motogp.

Thanks
Steve

From what I know, it’s all Wi-Fi unless you’ve paid extra to terminate all the connections in the data cabinet so that you have hardwire to the rest of the house. I know centric will do this for you if you pay them extra if you don’t want to use them reach out to me I’d be happy to come over and set it up for you. John

[sthbnd]

From what I know, it’s all Wi-Fi unless you’ve paid extra to terminate all the connections in the data cabinet so that you have hardwire to the rest of the house. I know centric will do this for you if you pay them extra if you don’t want to use them reach out to me I’d be happy to come over and set it up for you. John

Thanks John! I really appreciate the offer and I will absolutely take you up on it if I get stuck. I’m thinking one possibly 2 hardwired outlets only as everything else is WiFi. I’ll have the Centric tech do it but if cost is unreasonable or I have other questions (& I will and already have lots) I’ll reach out. Expect a ping from me sometime in March for suggestions re:tv channel packages and other issues 🤓👍
Thank you

[jrref]

No worries, glad to help. I have all the connectors and tools and test equipment. I've been helping friends and neighbors in the Villages for a while now.

The problem with Centric is, if you didn't get the "Smart Home" package, you will need a small hub in the data cabinet in the garage in order to activate other outlets in your home. They usually chage about $100 plus labor to install this. I can tell you which switch to get on Amazon at half the price and connect it up for you.

Here is something else to consider.

Centric's work vs my work.

[sthbnd]

That’s awesome, I’m sold. I’ve read a bunch of threads re:centric and network issues and your name is often mentioned. Your reputation precedes you! 👍
I’m scheduled to close on the new house in WellPoint on 3/4/25. The delivery window for the moving truck to arrive is 3/5 thru 3/15, although I’m guessing earlier rather than the later. I don’t need to wait for furniture to arrive so how can I contact you after 3/4 and we can schedule a day/time you can come over and tell me what I need, etc…and hook it all up once I get it?
Thank you for the kind offer!
Steve

[Bilyclub]

No worries, glad to help. I have all the connectors and tools and test equipment. I've been helping friends and neighbors in the Villages for a while now.

The problem with Centric is, if you didn't get the "Smart Home" package, you will need a small hub in the data cabinet in the garage in order to activate other outlets in your home. They usually chage about $100 plus labor to install this. I can tell you which switch to get on Amazon at half the price and connect it up for you.

Here is something else to consider.

Centric's work vs my work.

That's the cleanest low voltage box I've ever seen. I see the fans, do you keep the door open all the time?

[smurphy]

For your desktop, why not just buy a USB wifi connector/adapter. You just plug it into an available port and it is like have built in wifi. The come starting at $20 and up. To future proof you purchase, make sure it is wifi 6 or above. When you get your replacement desktop, just move the adapter to the new machine if is doesn't have built in wifi.

The beauty of this type of setup is you can put your desktop any where which is convenient.

[jrref]

That's the cleanest low voltage box I've ever seen. I see the fans, do you keep the door open all the time?

I keep the low voltage box door closed. I have the fan on the bottom sucking air in and the one on the top blowing out. I use the fans to keep air moving during the summer months when it get's very hot in the garage. They are inexpensive but are ball bearing fans good for many years of continuous use. I also have a temperature sensor connected to my home automation system to alert me if the temperature gets too hot. I have a fan blowing up on my orbi router as well.

I wish I had the larger box that's now being installed in the new homes down south. I could change my box but it's too much work.

I also have a battery backup in there so when we get those short outages during the summer months my internet stays on-line. The box in the center is my Rachio Irrigation Controller and the box at the top is the Quantum Fiber Smart/Nid/Router in Network Bypass Mode because I'm using the Orbi Router.

I have kind of a unique setup where I have the Orbi router in the garage. It's there feeding my office via hardwired Ethernet that came with the house and its connected wireless to my Orbi Satellite in my livingroom which feeds all my network equipment in my home theater. Unfortumately, when my houes was built there was no ethernet installed in the livingroom by the TV, only Coax. The Orbi 971 I have has a wireless backhaul system where when testing, I was able to get about 8Gbs over that link from my desktop computer as a server in my office. Just wanted to see how much data the Cat5E cable and the wireless backhaul would run at. I don't need all this bandwidth except for my NAS which I stream some video's from but it's fun to set it all up. Who knows what the future holds.

Here is a picture of the whole system with my Orbi router above the cabinet and my whole house surge protector. Eventhough I'm not using cable, I have a surge protector on that as well just in case it gets an induced surge, I don't want it jumping to stuff in my cabinet. Yes, it's nice enough to take a picture of lol!

[ResQme]

Centric does not terminate your Cat-6 cables unless you purchase their switch. I had to purchase their Netgear 5-port switch for $150, even though I had my own faster 2.5GB 8-port switch, just so that they would terminate the cables. In the end, it was worth the $150 (to me) to have my cables terminated (I had contacted other companies to terminate my cables and they weren't cheaper.) I just ended up removing the switch they installed and putting in mine.

[jrref]

Centric does not terminate your Cat-6 cables unless you purchase their switch. I had to purchase their Netgear 5-port switch for $150, even though I had my own faster 2.5GB 8-port switch, just so that they would terminate the cables. In the end, it was worth the $150 (to me) to have my cables terminated (I had contacted other companies to terminate my cables and they weren't cheaper.) I just ended up removing the switch they installed and putting in mine.

Right, I think I saw your post a while back. You did the right thing by installing your own switch which is probably a lot better and more future proof than the one Centric provides. You are lucky to have Centric fiber down south and it's a good company but they have overhead which is why they charge that amount to do a simple wiring job.

I don't have a business but I'm an electrical engineer who worked at Verizon for 30 years and have been helping my friends and neighbors here in the Villages. I have all the tools and parts to make cables. I use cat6 RJ45 connectors and wall jacks if you need them. I have the test equipment to test every cable and connection I make to insure it's perfect. I also "straighten-out" the low voltage data cabinets if needed so if anyone you know needs my services/help, please reach out to me.

[sthbnd]

I want to thank John and everyone who replied with offers of help and/or suggestions. Thanks SSMurphy for the usb Wi-Fi adapter idea 👍.
I’m pointing the SUV southbound out of southern NJ on 2/27 to my destination in Florida where I’ll have an awesome state of the art Wi-Fi network thanks to your help!
Regards
Steve

[sthbnd]

3/19/25
John came over today and connected hardwire to router and then to switch and then to bedroom outlet. He put plug ends on wires, mounted switch in Centric panel in garage, and thoroughly tested everything. As a former Quality Manager, I approve. Thank you John.

[ResQme]

Right, I think I saw your post a while back. You did the right thing by installing your own switch which is probably a lot better and more future proof than the one Centric provides. You are lucky to have Centric fiber down south and it's a good company but they have overhead which is why they charge that amount to do a simple wiring job.

I don't have a business but I'm an electrical engineer who worked at Verizon for 30 years and have been helping my friends and neighbors here in the Villages. I have all the tools and parts to make cables. I use cat6 RJ45 connectors and wall jacks if you need them. I have the test equipment to test every cable and connection I make to insure it's perfect. I also "straighten-out" the low voltage data cabinets if needed so if anyone you know needs my services/help, please reach out to me.


Sorry I just read this reply just now. You're awesome and kind for helping others! I may contact you in the future for hardware help (I'm a software guy and my hardware work is always ugly.)

I also worked for Verizon (Wireless) IT in their headquarters building in Rockland county a long time ago. I resigned when I moved down to FL. (after I handed in my resignation, my boss said I should've let them know I wanted to move down to FL; he would've let me "work from home") Oh well. VZW was a decent company to work for. I work for Lockheed Martin now, which is also another awesome company to work for.

[sthbnd]

I forgot to add…John suggested I purchase the Netgear switch from Amazon, which I did, at a cost of $14, which John installed.
Great setup.

[Killarneytime]

I am late to the game so sorry. Also brand new to this site so hopefully I am following protocol! I love the cleanliness of that setup! Here is my question - I had the TV/Cat6 wired in living room and to Lanai. (Down in Eastport area) When I moved in nothing was terminated in garage so I did that and put in a switch. Here is my question for any experts out there - I have four other unterminated (actually I terminated all of them in garage) Cat6 cables that all go into attic and run to center before spreading out. I just can't get into middle of attic to visually see what walls they spider into. I want hardwire EN into my office. I am assuming that those cables are somewhere behind walls. Any thoughts on how to find them? Toning it didn't work but then again I purchased a Klein tool (sub$100) to try it. Or do I take a guess on where the TV may have been terminated and start punching holes? I am not sure I want to pay over $200 to find a cable behind a wall. Open to thoughts. Thanks

[jrref]

I am late to the game so sorry. Also brand new to this site so hopefully I am following protocol! I love the cleanliness of that setup! Here is my question - I had the TV/Cat6 wired in living room and to Lanai. (Down in Eastport area) When I moved in nothing was terminated in garage so I did that and put in a switch. Here is my question for any experts out there - I have four other unterminated (actually I terminated all of them in garage) Cat6 cables that all go into attic and run to center before spreading out. I just can't get into middle of attic to visually see what walls they spider into. I want hardwire EN into my office. I am assuming that those cables are somewhere behind walls. Any thoughts on how to find them? Toning it didn't work but then again I purchased a Klein tool (sub$100) to try it. Or do I take a guess on where the TV may have been terminated and start punching holes? I am not sure I want to pay over $200 to find a cable behind a wall. Open to thoughts. Thanks

For each blue wire in the white data cabinet in the garage there is a Rj45 (ethernet) jack on the other side in another room. Generally you will see a jack or two in the living room and on the Lanai. The rest should be in the bedrooms. If you don't see a jack, then there is no wire hidden in the wall. All of the blue wires should be terminated to Rj45 jacks in your home.

[ResQme]

I am late to the game so sorry. Also brand new to this site so hopefully I am following protocol! I love the cleanliness of that setup! Here is my question - I had the TV/Cat6 wired in living room and to Lanai. (Down in Eastport area) When I moved in nothing was terminated in garage so I did that and put in a switch. Here is my question for any experts out there - I have four other unterminated (actually I terminated all of them in garage) Cat6 cables that all go into attic and run to center before spreading out. I just can't get into middle of attic to visually see what walls they spider into. I want hardwire EN into my office. I am assuming that those cables are somewhere behind walls. Any thoughts on how to find them? Toning it didn't work but then again I purchased a Klein tool (sub$100) to try it. Or do I take a guess on where the TV may have been terminated and start punching holes? I am not sure I want to pay over $200 to find a cable behind a wall. Open to thoughts. Thanks

If I understand you correctly:
1. During Design Review, you only requested two runs: one to Living Room TV, second to Lanai. (Hindsight is 20/20, but why didn't you add a run to your "office"?)
2. You don't see any RJ45 data jack in your office. (are you sure about this?)
3. You then discovered there are 6 Cat-6 wires in your LVP (and you terminated all of them)
4. You went up to the attic to try and see where the six cables lead to, but you can only get so far, and can't determine exactly where the other four go to.

I believe your options are:
1. Hire a handyman or electrician to trace the wires. If you get the right guy, you'd be amazed at where they can get to up in the attic.
2. Hire a handyman or electrician to run a new cable to exactly where you want to put your office jack.
3. Use wireless/wireless mesh instead.

Sorry, this is a tough one, and I think you'll end up shelling out money if you really want hardwire. I know someone who may be able to help you with either option 1 or 2, and I don't think it'll cost you $200 or more, but I can't speak for him. Let me know if you want his name and number.

[jrref]

If I understand you correctly:
1. During Design Review, you only requested two runs: one to Living Room TV, second to Lanai. (Hindsight is 20/20, but why didn't you add a run to your "office"?)
2. You don't see any RJ45 data jack in your office. (are you sure about this?)
3. You then discovered there are 6 Cat-6 wires in your LVP (and you terminated all of them)
4. You went up to the attic to try and see where the six cables lead to, but you can only get so far, and can't determine exactly where the other four go to.

I believe your options are:
1. Hire a handyman or electrician to trace the wires. If you get the right guy, you'd be amazed at where they can get to up in the attic.
2. Hire a handyman or electrician to run a new cable to exactly where you want to put your office jack.
3. Use wireless/wireless mesh instead.

Sorry, this is a tough one, and I think you'll end up shelling out money if you really want hardwire. I know someone who may be able to help you with either option 1 or 2, and I don't think it'll cost you $200 or more, but I can't speak for him. Let me know if you want his name and number.

All good information.
Again, I don't believe it's legal or to code to leave wires unterminated in the wall so if you don't see any jacks, there are no wires hidden in the walls. The Villages used to put jacks in all the rooms but they don't do that now unless you specify it with the build or get the Smart Home package.

All that said, if I were you, if there is no ethernet jack in the rooms you want one, just get your own Mesh WiFi system. Amazon Eero, Netgear Orbi, and TP-Link Deco are recommended because they all have a ethernet switch on all the nodes that you can plug into and from past experience they all work well. If you have the money, get a WiFi-7 system so you future proof your home. If not, the Wifi 6E systems work well and will be cheaper.

Whatever system you purchase, you will need to plug it into the Centric Fiber router if you got that service and it should all work. But if you do that, call Centric and ask them to turn Off the Wifi on their device so you don't get WiFi interference from it with your new system. If you are DIYer, Google how to log into the Centric router yourself and you can do all that as well including putting the device in transparent bypass mode so you are not double routing.

In reality, with today's WiFi Mesh systems in homes here in the Villages, you don't need to spend money running ethernet cables to rooms to hardwire devices. If you happen to already have the ethernet runs and jacks, then use them. As far as hiring an electrician to run a wire, they generally get $175 for the first hour plus supplies and I don't think the charge will be only one hour. AND you really don't want someone running around your attic messing up all the blown-in insulation so just easier to get a Mesh system and call it a day.

Hope this helps.

[Killarneytime]

To close my inquiry out. First thank you to all who responded. It's a puzzle but perhaps one day I will get bold and get up in the attic to middle of house. I have 6 runs of cat5/6 (not sure what was used) from panel in garage up into attic along with 6 coax, all going into one dark spot in the middle of attic that I can't get to. I only requested two RJ45s really for two smart TV's. However I didn't anticipate the poor performance with WiFi. I have gone down Orbi trail before and it has it's own issues, so I wanted to hardwire. Since I saw unterminated Cat cables in garage going into attic, my feeling was they were going somewhere, but then again the point was made that they can't be unterminated behind a wall, but they can be in a box, and there are no extra boxes in rooms so where they go who knows. I am not going to go nuts over it and I wills save it for another day at this time.

[jrref]

To close my inquiry out. First thank you to all who responded. It's a puzzle but perhaps one day I will get bold and get up in the attic to middle of house. I have 6 runs of cat5/6 (not sure what was used) from panel in garage up into attic along with 6 coax, all going into one dark spot in the middle of attic that I can't get to. I only requested two RJ45s really for two smart TV's. However I didn't anticipate the poor performance with WiFi. I have gone down Orbi trail before and it has it's own issues, so I wanted to hardwire. Since I saw unterminated Cat cables in garage going into attic, my feeling was they were going somewhere, but then again the point was made that they can't be unterminated behind a wall, but they can be in a box, and there are no extra boxes in rooms so where they go who knows. I am not going to go nuts over it and I wills save it for another day at this time.

OK so you say you have 6 runs of Cat 6 cables. It's hard to tell from your picture. I count 5 runs. The black cables should be coax cables. Anyway, looking at the data cabinet in the garage, a picture of that would be nice, you should have one Blue Cat 6 cable going to the top of your kitchen cabinet where the Centric router/wifi device is. If you get a ladder you should see the other end coming out of the wall on top of the kitchen cabinets. Two other Blue Cat 6 cables will go to the two RJ45 jacks that you ordered. There has to be one Cat 6 cable goint to the RJ45 jack in the Lanai. It might not be blue. Some are yellow and some may be black. Thats a total of four Cat 6 cables. That leaves one or two more. I'll bet if you look in all your bedrooms and maybe on the kitchen backsplash you will find the other two. Trust me all the Cat cables have to be terminated and I promise you they are not unterminated in some wall box. In some homes there is a desk by the laundry room. Look under the desk and you should see an RJ45 jack there as well. That might be one of the missing jacks.

I know you said you have some issues with the Orbi but the Centric router and WiFi device should work fine unless your house is very large. Remember, your new home is all on one floor which makes these mesh systems work very well. Can you tell us the size in sqft? From reports from some Villagers who had problems with the Centric device, their extenders don't work very well so after all is done if it works for you great, if not, order an Eero system from Amazon. It should work fine and if it doesn't, it's easily returned. The trick is if you install your own mesh system you have to turn Off the Wifi on the Centric device or you will get interference from it and your Wifi may not work optimally. Hope this all helps.

[Killarneytime]

Thanks good info. I will try Orbi however. 3000SqFt but you make a good point I used Orbi on a multi level, and I still have the router and 2 extenders. But to clarify. I am wondering if they didn't finish something during my build. In my cabinet I had fiber coming in, then going up to the router on the top of the cabinet. At the router was an RJ45 end not plugged in, and in the panel in garage were 6 cut ends. Nothing terminated. I knew I had two more that were supposed to go to Lanai and one going to LR. So you are right that makes 3 left. (and why you only saw 5 in attic) The thing is - I had to test out and terminate the cable to the router to get that connected, I then added a switch in the panel and toned out lanai and LR TV and they are now hardwired fine. So it's strange that they left it all cut unless that is standard at the panel box. And, no rooms have boxes with covers or RJ45 ports anywhere. In any case I think I am just going to use Orbi. I will send a picture once I clean up my panel. It's not as awesome as the one someone posted here - must have been an data center or cable guy! Thank You

[jrref]

Thanks good info. I will try Orbi however. 3000SqFt but you make a good point I used Orbi on a multi level, and I still have the router and 2 extenders. But to clarify. I am wondering if they didn't finish something during my build. In my cabinet I had fiber coming in, then going up to the router on the top of the cabinet. At the router was an RJ45 end not plugged in, and in the panel in garage were 6 cut ends. Nothing terminated. I knew I had two more that were supposed to go to Lanai and one going to LR. So you are right that makes 3 left. (and why you only saw 5 in attic) The thing is - I had to test out and terminate the cable to the router to get that connected, I then added a switch in the panel and toned out lanai and LR TV and they are now hardwired fine. So it's strange that they left it all cut unless that is standard at the panel box. And, no rooms have boxes with covers or RJ45 ports anywhere. In any case I think I am just going to use Orbi. I will send a picture once I clean up my panel. It's not as awesome as the one someone posted here - must have been an data center or cable guy! Thank You

It's standard to leave the Cat 6 cabling unterminated in the low voltage cabinet in the garage unless you get the "smart home" package when the house is built.
As far as leaving unterminated cabling in the wall, Licensed electricians install all the wiring including the low voltage wiring and I've never seen that done, mistake or not. That nice data cabinet you saw is mine. LOL

Since the home is new you can call the Villages and ask them where all the cables are terminated. In my home, I downloaded the plans from the Villages web site and found them that way. I also had a Cat cable I couldn't find and sure enough on the drawings it was under the desk in the laundry room.

Anyway, let us know how you make out.

[jrref]

Another Villager posted the following in the Quantum Fiber thread. I'm posting the link here because it will be helpful for the Centric Fiber customers.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/2421722-post50.html

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/2421766-post51.html