Installing a network cable

dark_hag666

dark_hag666

dark_hag666

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As per title I'm putting a new network cable which will terminate in a box. Could you guys answer me a couple of quick questions, please.

I read Cat6 is harder to get right; should I bother with it or just go for Cat5e
What cable type FTP or UTP? (Is this a fancy way of saying patch or crossover?)
Could I just get a long patch cable and lop the ends off an wire into a box?

Cheers.
 
The choice of Cat5e vs Cat6 all comes down to what you want in the future. Cat6a is harder to work with but allows 10Gb/s over the full 100m, where as Cat5e can do 1Gb/s over the full 100m and can pull off 10Gb/s but only over short lengths.

As for FTP and UTP that is the type of shielding the cable has. UTP is unshielded twisted pair and the other options you have is FTP (also known as S/UTP) is the same as UTP but with foil around the whole set of wires, STP which has foil around each individual pair, and S/STP which has foil around each pair and foil around the whole set of wires.

Basically the shielding is only needed if you plan to run the cable right next to sources of interference for long lengths, such as running it along side a mains power cable through the entire building.

If this is just something quick then getting a long cable thats already been terminated and cutting the ends off should be fine, but if you are doing an install behind the walls and under the floorboards then I would suggest buying propper reels of cable designed for the job.
 
Dist said:
If this is just something quick then getting a long cable thats already been terminated and cutting the ends off should be fine, but if you are doing an install behind the walls and under the floorboards then I would suggest buying propper reels of cable designed for the job.
Click to expand...

Also bear in mind that a lot of pre-made cables are also done using stranded cable as apposed to solid core stuff, this can be more tricky to punch down into a wall socket.
 
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