Installing a basic CAT5E home network - advice please!

mothermachine

mothermachine

mothermachine

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Hi folks,

As part of some major building work, I've asked my builder to install a very basic single-cable CAT5E run from my hallway (where my BT Hub 5 sits) under the floorboards and into my living room behind my TV, where all my media boxes sit.

My aim is to have 2 outlets - one next to the router and one behind the TV, so I can simply connect the router to the 1st outlet then a simple 8-port network switch to the other outlet in the living room, then connect all my various devices to the switch, which will all then grab internet via the router.

What's my shopping list for this? I imagine all we need is:

1 x short 10m run of CAT5E cable (can't find less than 50m reels)
2 x CAT5E single-port outlets
2 x CAT5E RJ45 network cables (already got these)

Do we need jacks/terminals or anything else? Is the cable simply stripped at either end and installed into the outlet box or do they need to be fed into proper RJ45 plugs/jacks?

Any advice would be very welcome! I want to make sure the electrician who will be doing this is fully clued up on the process. (And myself of course!).

Cheers,
 
You seem to have the right idea.

You punch the cable down into idc terminals. Make sure it's solid core rather than stranded.

If you have the cable spare consider installing two lengths and using dual faceplates.

You might want to use Cat6 cable, but Cat5e will be good enough.
 
Thanks mate!

Sounds straightforward enough to me. Will make sure they use solid core and not stranded.

I was wondering about using dual faceplates but really no need for it. This is only being done to pull ethernet into the living room - once there it will be split out using the switch, so all sorted for flexibility.

I was considering going with cat6 but i don't think I'll need it for many years and when the time comes fibre will probably be the best option anyway.

cheers and thanks again!
 
If you're going to have spare cable anyway you may as well install two cables. You can just leave the ends loose under the floor rather than terminating it.
 
bremen1874 said:
If you're going to have spare cable anyway you may as well install two cables. You can just leave the ends loose under the floor rather than terminating it.
Click to expand...

Yeh that is true I guess. I might some day use the rest of it to do a couple of runs upstairs into the spare room and bedrooms though. It's not exactly expensive though.
 
Run 2x cables, or even 4x (might as well for the price)

Stripper http://www.netstoredirect.com/installation-tools/238098-ccs-cable-stripper.html
Cat6 Cable http://www.netstoredirect.com/cat6-cable/66-excel-cat6-utp-cable.html
Cat6 modules & faceplate http://www.netstoredirect.com/cat6-modules-outlets/286861-cat6-utp-rj45-loaded-faceplates.html


--

Surface mount http://www.netstoredirect.com/faceplates-backboxes/85-surface-mount-back-boxes.html

OR

Dryline mount http://www.netstoredirect.com/faceplates-backboxes/291657-dryline-flush-mount-back-boxes.html

.


Punchdown tool http://www.netstoredirect.com/installation-tools/191036-krone-style-idc-punchdown-tool.html

Or this awesome tool if you're doing loads of them

http://www.netstoredirect.com/trend...l-with-110-and-krone-blade-0710931401103.html


-

Buy CSS cable/modules, it's pennies more than cheaper stuff and it's well worth the extra cost. I've seen dozens of different makes now, none compare to CSS
 
Agreed, I've just cabled up the house with CAT6 and the minimum runs to a room I did was 2.

5 to office (3 machines, 1 spare + 1 AP), 3 to master bedroom (HDMI+IR+data), 2 to the other bedroom, 4 to the kitchen, 2 to the garage.

Makes sense to put in more than you need whilst the boards are up, also if you're doing anything else like plug sockets then get those in too. :)
 
Ok lads! Will-do... still think CAT5E is fine. My main worry is that the guys doing this are extremely experienced with CAT5E and not with CAT6, so I'm nervous they'll get something wrong if I go with CAT6. I also won't have any devices in the house that will pull anywhere near 10GB. 1GB is absolutely more than enough. But I will ensure they do 2 runs per box.

Cheers :)
 
There isnt a lot that can go wrong, if you can punch down CAT5e, you can punch down CAT6, only difference is cable density and thickness. Only Terminate CAT6 in patch panels or RJ45 wall socket terminals (for Solid core)
 
If they can work with cat5 then they can work with cat6.

Have a look at the price difference between 5 and 6 and if it's not a lot then go for 6. It's not a "big" upgrade that will make them wince.

Out of wonderment, if they are alreayd whizzes with this stuff, can't they provide the kit to do it?
 
Steveocee said:
If they can work with cat5 then they can work with cat6.

Have a look at the price difference between 5 and 6 and if it's not a lot then go for 6. It's not a "big" upgrade that will make them wince.

Out of wonderment, if they are alreayd whizzes with this stuff, can't they provide the kit to do it?
Click to expand...

Yeh probably. I'm going to get them to sort it out with CAT6, why not. Price is almost the same. It's a big house renovation job anyway so this is small fry compared to what we're doing otherwise.

Cheers.
 
Yup always run 2 cables for every one you need

Cables cheap, faulty cable down the line and no spare sitting tucked behind the faceplate will have you in tears
 
When working with it, the only difference between Cat5e and Cat6 is Cat6 has a plastic core inside it, which you need to snip off after removing the sheath of the cable.

So a 2 second job with a small set of snips :)
 
bledd. said:
When working with it, the only difference between Cat5e and Cat6 is Cat6 has a plastic core inside it, which you need to snip off after removing the sheath of the cable.

So a 2 second job with a small set of snips :)
Click to expand...

Cheers! Will be watching the electrician closely when they do their work. I have nothing that will operate at 10GB/s to test it with unfortunately, but I do have a gigabit ethernet on my laptop so I can test that, at least.
 
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