How to Install an Ethernet + Coax Wall Plate in a Finished Room

An Ethernet + coax wall plate gives a room a clean, serviceable endpoint for a cable modem, router, TV, streaming setup, home office, or network drop. Instead of leaving an Ethernet cable and coax cable hanging from a hole in the drywall, the wall plate provides a finished outlet that is easier to label, test, and maintain.

This guide covers the physical installation process for a finished wall. R.J. Enterprises sells parts and components; if your project requires new in-wall cable runs, electrical work, or work inside an unfamiliar wall cavity, use a qualified low-voltage installer or electrician.

What you will need

• An Ethernet + coax wall plate bundle or a compatible keystone face plate, RJ45 keystone jack, and F-type coax insert.
• Low-voltage mounting bracket or old-work bracket sized for the wall plate. 
• Ethernet cable rated for the intended in-wall use and a coax cable run, if they are not already in place.
• Punch-down tool, cable stripper, screwdriver, drywall saw, and Ethernet cable tester.
• Label maker or cable labels for identifying the outlet and the corresponding network-room connection. 

For the component side of the project, compare Ethernet + coax wall plate bundles and RJ45 keystone jacks before starting.

1. Choose the outlet location

Pick a location that serves the equipment in the room without forcing long visible patch cords. Common locations include behind a desk, near a TV or media cabinet, beside a cable-modem location, or near a wall-mounted network device.

Before cutting drywall, check both sides of the wall and use a stud finder. Avoid electrical boxes, plumbing, ducts, and structural framing. A low-voltage bracket is normally used for communication cable; it is not a substitute for an electrical box and should not hold line-voltage wiring.

2. Mark and cut the opening

Use the old-work bracket as the template. Confirm that the wall plate will sit level and that there is enough open wall cavity behind it for the cable bend radius. Cut slowly and test-fit the bracket before pulling the cables through.

Leave enough cable at the opening to terminate and service later. A short cable tail can make a simple replacement unnecessarily difficult, while excessive cable should be managed without sharp bends or crushing it behind the plate.

3. Install the low-voltage bracket

Place the bracket into the opening, tighten its mounting tabs according to the manufacturer instructions, and make sure it is firm and level. Pull the Ethernet and coax cables through the bracket before attaching the wall plate.

Keep the low-voltage cables separated from power wiring as required by local code and the installation design. If an existing cable path is crowded or unknown, stop and inspect before forcing cable through the wall.

4. Terminate the RJ45 keystone jack

Match the keystone jack category to the cable and project requirements. Cat6 is common for everyday home and office runs; Cat6A may be appropriate when the cable, equipment, and installation are designed for higher-performance networking. See our Cat5e vs. Cat6 vs. Cat6A guide before choosing. Use shielded parts only when the whole cable path and grounding plan call for them; our shielded vs. unshielded Ethernet cable guide explains the tradeoff.

Strip only enough jacket to access the pairs. Choose one wiring standard—T568A or T568B—and use the same standard at both ends of the permanent cable run. Fluke Networks’ T568A vs. T568B reference is a useful color-code cross-check. Keep each twisted pair as close as possible to the termination point, follow the color guide printed on the jack, and use a punch-down tool to seat and trim the conductors.

Snap the finished keystone jack into the Ethernet opening of the wall plate. The jack should click in securely without stressing the cable.

5. Connect the coax side

Attach the coax cable to the rear F-type connection on the wall plate or insert. Hand-tighten the connector first, then use only the amount of tool tightening recommended for the component. Over-tightening can damage threads or the connector body.

Use the coax side for the service your cable path supports, such as cable internet, antenna, satellite equipment, or TV distribution. The wall plate creates a clean endpoint; it does not replace a modem, splitter, amplifier, or provider-specific equipment.

6. Mount the wall plate 

Fold the cables gently into the wall cavity, avoiding kinks and sharp bends. Align the plate with the bracket, secure it with the supplied screws, and check that the plate sits flush against the wall. Do not pinch Ethernet pairs or coax cable behind the plate.

For a room with several device connections, label the plate and the far end of the cable run with the same location name. Clear labeling makes later troubleshooting much faster.

7. Test before moving equipment back

Use an Ethernet cable tester to confirm continuity and correct pair order from the wall jack to the other end of the run. A basic wire-map test can help identify opens, shorts, reversed pairs, crossed pairs, and split pairs. Then connect a known-good patch cord and check for a link light at the router, switch, computer, or access point. If the connection is slow or intermittent, recheck the termination, cable category, and pair order before replacing other equipment.

For coax, reconnect the intended device and verify service according to the equipment or provider requirements. If service is missing, inspect the connector and the rest of the coax path before assuming the wall plate is the problem.

Common installation mistakes to avoid

• Mixing T568A and T568B on the two ends of the same permanent cable run.
• Untwisting Ethernet pairs too far back from the keystone termination.
• Using a shielded keystone jack in an otherwise unshielded or ungrounded installation.
• Cutting drywall without checking for studs, electrical wiring, plumbing, or existing cable.
• Leaving too little cable at the outlet for future service.
• Skipping labels and cable testing before closing up the work area.

Finish the room-facing connection cleanly

A properly installed wall plate makes the network easier to use now and easier to expand later. For a broader project checklist, read our structured cabling installation checklist. Start with the connection type your room needs, match the keystone jack to the cable, keep terminations neat, and test the run before relying on it for a work-from-home setup, media room, or cable modem location.

Browse Ethernet + coax wall plate bundles for finished outlet options, or explore RJ45 keystone jacks for compatible Ethernet terminations.