Could you someone tell what this thing does. It is there in all the rooms of my new apartment.

7 comments

1. [removed]

2. This is a TAE Phone socket to attach phones, DSL Modems/Routers and/or Fax devices/Answering machines to the public phone network.

3. That is a wall socket, combining DSL internet and old-tech landline phone, also called “TAE-Steckdose”. Only useful when you do not have cable internet/TV at the apartment.

4. It’s a [DSL socket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subscriber_line). Basically internet via telephone line.

5. It’s a socket for landline telephony. Nowadays it’s where you would plug in your DSL modem/router for internet connection.

   If you have multiple in your apartment, they are all likely connected in parallel. This is a relic from the old analogue telephony so that multiple phones could be used at the same time. It’s less likely that the sockets are connected in serial, which would be the more appropriate method.

   Usually your router will work if connected to either socket. However, if the sockets are connected in parallel, you could have a reduction in bandwidth or stability with your DSL connection. This should be corrected by a technician.

   Ideally your router should be plugged into the TAE socket marked with a “1.” – that’s the first socket in your apartment and has the shortest cable length to the provider. And no other sockets in parallel.

6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAE_connector

7. TLDR: That’s where the internet comes from