Telecom connection - Where does the router go? In the utility room?

Hello everyone,

I’m just not getting my Telekom connection right. I’m a bit confused at the moment, but it might not be that difficult.

Situation:
The Telekom socket is in the utility room. I believe they’re called TAE sockets. I also have one of those in the living room.
LAN cable connection sockets are in several rooms.

Where does the router go now? In the utility room? Then my phone must also move to the utility room?
Or can I simply use the TAE socket in the living room?
Or is it enough to just plug in a LAN cable and surf (just referring to the internet for now)?

I know it’s probably not that complicated, but I’m currently stuck.
I still need to get a router for WLAN. Can I use just any random one? Of course, Telekom wanted to sell me the current one for about 120 EUR...

Oh ... so many questions ...

That depends on your specific wiring. If the TAE in the living room is looped through, then the router can be connected directly there. If that doesn't work, alternatively, the TAE from the HAR can also be routed to another room via the LAN cable. Simply plug in the adapter cable and connect the router in the other room to the LAN socket. However, if you only have one LAN port in this room, further distribution in the house is no longer possible, since this cable is already in use.

Regarding the router: It just has to support the standard you want to use. I am now assuming (V)DSL; up to 16MBit any DSL router is sufficient, up to 50MBit almost every current model works, and from 100MBit you should choose the model carefully. But this is stated in the respective specifications. Whatever additional functions you need must be provided by the router (GBit LAN, telephone functions, ...).

Let's get started. Basically, I assume a standard Telekom VDSL connection.

The router can be placed in the utility room or in the living room. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Router in the utility room:
- Direct connection to TAE 1
- Direct connection to network switch (If only a few network sockets are rented, connection directly to the router is possible)
- Disadvantage: WLAN often poor because the utility room is remote (access point needed)
- Living room TAE can be rented to the router (special cable or plug required)
- DECT function could be, like WLAN, possibly poor at covering all rooms.

Router in the living room:
- Living room TAE must be directly connected to TAE 1
- One network connection in the living room must be routed to the switch in the utility room
- WLAN distribution in the house usually good because the living room is central (access point might still be necessary)
- Telephone can be connected directly to the router and DECT is usually better distributed from the living room.

I have meanwhile become a fan of putting the router in the utility room where the switch is and distributing everything in the house from there. It also depends on the cabling. I once saw a new construction wiring there where you just shake your head in disbelief.

With a FritzBox you won't go wrong. Personally, I currently wouldn't go for the top model but for the 7490. There is also a model below that (I don't have the number in mind right now) but I can't say whether the features are sufficient.

In our basement is the 1st TAE of Telekom. From there, we have laid/patched the line via network cable into the living room, where there is a Fritzbox 7560. From this, a LAN cable goes back to the basement to the switch. From there, it continues to the NAS, printer, TV, etc. The phone is also connected to the Fritzbox in the living room.

If you are not a nerd, the Telekomrouter smart comfort, or something like that, is completely sufficient. It is simple, without any frills, provides strong Wi-Fi, and it also looks nice. And it's cheap via Amazon. Cabling, router in the middle of the house. Nothing is more convenient than a good Wehlahn. You can walk around everywhere with your tablet, always have a connection, even in the garden. Our cabling, our electrician, and I were too stupid and forgot the network, it goes from the utility room from the Telekom box into some Devolo device, and then there's one in the office too, with the router inside, centrally in the house. And the phone. The other phone we registered with a second number directly at the router and it is located in the living room. I have DSL 50,000, of which 44,000 arrive. It's okay. Karsten

The pros keep a 10% reserve. 50 minus 5 makes 45, that is completely fine.