Help with routing wiring to loft

Twirlywoos

Twirlywoos

Twirlywoos

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Joined
8 Jan 2010
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UK
Hi

I currently have :

- hp procurve 1810g-24 j9450a (24 port switch)
- 24 Port Gigaband Cat 6 High Density Patch Panel
- Asus RT AC66U router, Huwaei modem for Plusnet internet

I want to feed 5 cat6a wires to the loft (I wanted to future proof so I am aware that I won't get 10Gigabit speeds yet and am limited to gigabit).

Should I feed 5 wires from the patch panel to the loft?

Or can I add another 6 port switch in the loft and have 1 wire feeding to the patch panel (would I still get gigabit speeds to all devices connected in the loft if I do it this way)? If I can do this which switch would you recommend? The HP switch I have even though old has served me well for donkey's years, although I can't remember if it is managed or unmanaged, so what type of switch would I need for the loft (if indeed this routing method can be done)?

Thank you
 
Individual cables would be preferable.

A single cable and switch would work but you'd be limited to 1Gb/s shared between all of the upstream devices. Depending on the connected devices and how they're used this could be okay.
 
Personally I would run 1 single cable and use a gigabit switch up in the loft. Whilst it's a single link, I doubt you'll have any devices and saturate the entire bandwidth of that single 1 gig link.
 
Have just one switch, unless you're adding something like a 5 port PoE switch for cameras etc..
 
If you cba with all the individual cable runs then put 2 in the loft,fix one up now and you'll have a spare for load balancing if or when you get around to it
 
Thanks, the devices probably won't use the full bandwdith but I thought if I could get away with using one wire on a switch without the link being shared. As Breman said individual cables are preferable and whilst it's not too much hassle bringing them all under the floorboards I will go down this route.
 
Christ cat6a is massive, It's like double the thickness and that includes the individual wires. Punching down on the patch panel was a doddle but on the keystone jacks it was a bit fiddly. I wonder if they make a special slimmer punch down tool for cat6/a. The ebay outer sheath stripper was useless, it kept cutting into the individual wires, I just used the cutter on the ethernet crimp tool in the end which was a breeze compared to that rubbish.
 
Can't say I have used any cat6a but after an emotional hour yesterday running cables into a loft. A set of cable threaders (fibreglass poles that screw together) and a lot of patience is helpful.
 
Caged said:
Belden Cat6a isn't any thicker than normal Cat6, if the diameter was an issue.
Click to expand...

Not standard cat6.

p5qi0Al.jpg


Cat5e, cat6, cat6a.

Cat6 shielded is a similar size to cat6a, but not normal cat6.
 
I know, I was saying that Belden make Cat6a cable that is the same diameter (within about half a mm) as Cat6. In case anyone needed smaller cable.
 
Yeh I have cat6 shielded and cat6a from netstoredirect who use Connectix branded cables, they are the same thickness. I should have done more research and precise measurements as I only needed 15m lengths and cat6 unshielded would have probably done the job. Also it seems Amazon are cheaper now (100m drum ) of Wentronic branded cat6 solid core pure copper for 35 quid delivered
 
I got my 6a from netstoredirect as well. I ran 1 cable to each room, with some rooms getting two. I terminated all of them in our utility cupboard on the ground floor.

AC87U is our main wireless router, which has remarkable range on all floors and a N66u at the bottom of our garden extending the range to there.
 
that trendnet punch down arrived today and it's pretty **** tbh, it doesn't cut the excess wires of at all. I'd understand if it was stranded core but my cable is solid core cat6a. It does cut it a little and I have to twist to remove the rest.
 
Twirlywoos said:
that trendnet punch down arrived today and it's pretty **** tbh, it doesn't cut the excess wires of at all. I'd understand if it was stranded core but my cable is solid core cat6a. It does cut it a little and I have to twist to remove the rest.
Click to expand...

Used mine for hundreds of modules, there is a knack to it. What kind of modules do you have? Make sure it's the correct head. The 110 is the one that fits CCS modules.
 
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