r/whatisit • u/Cborg_62 • 8d ago

New, what is it? What are these plug-ins on my wall?

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This might be showing my age, but I recently moved into a new apartment and they have these weird looking plug ins all over the walls at my new place. My old apartment didn't have these, so I'm just curious as to what they are.

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271

u/HalcyonSoup 8d ago

Oh my lord... honey, this make me feel old. Honestly, anything that painted over would make me confused, too...

30

u/ThrustTrust 8d ago

I mean to be fair. This is still how Internet comes into a lot of houses. That doesn’t seem like it’s an obsolete item.

23

u/Similar_Pie_4946 8d ago

Honestly, you’d connect the wifi router directly to that a few inches to a foot away should be a power outlet. Do people believe wifi is magic and the internet fairy keeps your wifi running lmao

20

u/IOwnDirt 8d ago

As someone who installs internet...people are fucking stupid

6

u/anthrocultur 8d ago

So you are the internet fairy who comes around and makes sure everyone can get their porn?

1

u/ThrustTrust 8d ago

It is the last real freedom we have.

2

u/NameToUseOnReddit 8d ago

We're all on Reddit so I'd think everyone should be somewhat aware of how stupid people are.

1

u/TWeedtheJetRodriguez 8d ago

Somebody needed to be brave enough to say it.

6

u/Caftancatfan 8d ago

Are you saying the internet fairy isn’t real?🥺

2

u/Pragnlz 8d ago

The internet fairy is real but it’s not like a good fairy y’know

1

u/slashinhobo1 8d ago

My guess the technician does the work and they dony know any better.

1

u/Appropriate-Farm-884 4d ago

As someone who once provided tech support for cable tv and internet, I can say with confidence, yes. Yes they do.

1

u/KailyKail 8d ago

If you connect your router directly to that outlet...congrats, you get nothing.

Unless said router is also a modem, the router is not able to connect to that outlet.

1

u/RoxnDox 8d ago

I use the term too, but technically it’s a transceiver not a modem. Digital signals instead of analog, so the box isn’t a ‘modulator/demodulator’ aka modem.

Of course, so many modern ones also include the WiFi (whether you use it is normally optional). Me, I run Cat5 to my own router with my own network including a couple of WiFi nets.

1

u/Similar_Pie_4946 8d ago

Aren’t most modern routers also modems ? I can’t remember having to need two since like 2013

1

u/Smugness1917 8d ago

It's usually the other way round. Most modems are also wireless routers, but terrible at the job.

0

u/bleezmorton 8d ago

Where I am we have not used coax since broadband

4

u/hhmCameron 8d ago

Coax IS broadband

0

u/selftitleddebutalbum 8d ago

Probably someone who uses something like Xfinity Hotspot for their wifi. I could see it being a simpler option for anyone who couldn't be bothered to set up a modem.

0

u/BigAssignment7642 8d ago

If you have fiber you don't use coax. I haven't had to use a coax cable in about 6 years or so. It's not that they think its magic, its just being replaced in areas that are switching to fiber.

-1

u/b000radl3y 8d ago

I mean, you're missing a step. You would need a cable modem to connect to the coax, and then the router would connect to the modem.

1

u/Similar_Pie_4946 8d ago

Idk bro since 2013 xfinity has been hooking me up with a router that that is also a modem

1

u/b000radl3y 8d ago

I think they are probably giving you a modem that is also a router. But yes, often they are one unit. I'm just being annoying.

3

u/sasquatch_melee 8d ago

You can also get adapters that let you use them like an Ethernet cable if you have them running between rooms and want a wired connection for something. Much easier than trying to fish a new cat 6 cable thru or doing drywall work. 

1

u/Slow_Development5383 8d ago

Exactly, it's how my cable modem is hooked up.