Home Network Installation

Bickaxe

Bickaxe

Bickaxe

Soldato
Joined
8 Nov 2013
Posts
8,947
Location
In the pub
After a few pointers and some clarification before I begin this next week....

I've never had an interest in networks and how they work so I'm starting from scratch. I understand some of the basics and the crimping & punchdown stuff looks easy enough.

Weighing things up, I'll be going for Cat6 (6a is double the price) with 1 or 2 connection points in each room (3 bed house, solid walls and floorboards). A total of 14 runs. The set up will be in the hall, possibly in a small free standing cupboard.

1. I'll be using a switch/hub and no patch panel as there will eventually be a media server added. Apparently this will work as a switch allows cross communication whereas a patch panel does not (and I'd need a switch anyway). Is this correct?

2. I have a 30m run to the building at the end of the garden. External LDPE is best for this (armoured is too expensive) I presume? I think I can bury it but does it need any extra protection?

3. Can I make ethernet cables using the spare Cat6 cable or are they a separate thing?

4. A 16 port switch is enough, 1 of these ports will connect to the router I take it? This one probably

Any other advice? (am sourcing stuff from Netstore Direct)
 
Have you looked through any similar threads already?


1. No. You would use a switch with a patch panel.

2. I'd use armoured if burying.

3. Yes, but solid core isn't ideal for patch leads.

4. Yes.


Why Category 6? Doesn't give you much over Category 5E? Both will do 10 GbE, even at your 30m run to the shed.

Run at least two to each point, and at least two to the shed.
 
I've read several threads and other articles so a lot of questions have been answered.

1. What purpose does a patch panel serve? Does an RJ45 plug into a switch not serve the same purpose?

2. Will try and work out better prices.

3. Is there a reason? Going with the patch panel, I can make patch leads?

Cat6 as I thought it a better option in regard to speed. If that's not the case then I'll happily use 5e instead.

The cables will be away from most electrical circuits to reduce crosstalk, I take it there is no problem with say 6 cables running along the same route (4 runs to go behind tv)?
 
Last edited:
Patch panels IMO help keep things tidier. All of your cable runs are terminated at the same place. You don't need to add RJ45 jacks to the end of each of your runs, they're just punched into the panel and then you can buy pre-made small patch cables to go to your switch. Also, if there is a problem, it is easier to identify the offending cables. Plus, it seems more professional.
 
Bickaxe said:
After a few pointers and some clarification before I begin this next week....

1. I'll be using a switch/hub and no patch panel as there will eventually be a media server added. Apparently this will work as a switch allows cross communication whereas a patch panel does not (and I'd need a switch anyway). Is this correct?

It's nice to use a patch panel and then use small patch cables into a switch, this can be helpful if you don't want the cables to talk between each other. It is also useful in minimising stress on the ends of the cable. If you use cat6 then you want a patch panel is putting RJ45 ends onto it are a royal pain.

2. I have a 30m run to the building at the end of the garden. External LDPE is best for this (armoured is too expensive) I presume? I think I can bury it but does it need any extra protection?

If you are running a cable, run 2. for this kind of run a spare is always useful and if 1 breaks you don't want to dig the garden up for a single cable run. Screwfix do a nice 20mm flexible conduit you could thread the cable through for extra protection but I've known people use water pipe as well (the blue rigid plastic stuff).

3. Can I make ethernet cables using the spare Cat6 cable or are they a separate thing?

Yes but it'd probably make you cry. Patch cables are so cheap it's not worth attempting.


4. A 16 port switch is enough, 1 of these ports will connect to the router I take it? This one probably

Go for a 24, the price difference will be negligible.

Any other advice? (am sourcing stuff from Netstore Direct)

-Always run a spare cable. If you need 1, run 2. If you need 3 then run 4/5.
-Take your time when crimping/punching down, some panels are printed with both A and B conflguration so ensure you stick to the same.
-It's better to overspec now as the cost is minimal compared to the time and heartache of trouble shooting long term.
-You could compare with CommsExpress and Cablemonkey
Click to expand...
 
Bickaxe said:
Cat6 as I thought it a better option in regard to speed. If that's not the case then I'll happily use 5e instead.
Click to expand...

Both will do gigabit, cat5e will do 10G very short distance and cat6 will do it slightly further but who has 10G in their house?

Cat5e is easier to work with.
 
Thanks guys.
Think I'll go with 5e as it'll be so similar. I've got a few more items to add now and so far the price difference is about £70.
The garden will have 2 runs, was contemplating 4 but would need 140m to be safe.
Does anywhere sell 200m rolls? 305m is too much unless it's okay to use the standard utp 5e stuff and protect it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom