What Ethernet cable to use?

Colbaker · 5 Aug 2019 at 15:45

Hi all,

So long story short, I Want to run Ethernet cable externally in order to allow hard wired Ethernet ports in a few rooms in my 3 story house, currently running VM 300mb, there will be a lot of devices wired in, probably using a few unmanaged gigabit switches, my question is, should I run just some normal Cat5e cables externally or is it worth going for Cat6 or even 7?, do I need a special weatherproof shielding or will a normal cables be ok?

What are you thoughts?

Ps load will have some 4K content and possible gaming through the same cables but not much more, also the longest single cable won’t exceed 30 metres.

Caged · 5 Aug 2019 at 15:48

Cat5e is fine, but you need external grade or the UV light will break it down in a few years. Either that or run indoor cable in conduit.

bledd · 5 Aug 2019 at 16:46

001-003-004-30

Quartz · 5 Aug 2019 at 16:57

Go for Cat 6 - do it right first time - and use outdoor grade as @Caged suggests.

bremen1874 · 5 Aug 2019 at 18:11

Cat5e will be easier (but not massively easier) to install because of the thinner cable and tighter bend radius.

If 10GBe is ever required, and the Cat5e doesn't handle it (which it quite possibly will as those distances), replacing an external cable isn't going to be too difficult.

Either option will work just fine so go with whatever you're most comfortable with.

K.C. Leblanc · 7 Aug 2019 at 20:43

Make sure you use pure copper and not copper clad aluminium (CCA) which can cause issues. As other have said Cat5e is fine for the moment, but given that you probably don't want to be replacing it all in 5 years time cat6 might be an idea, but remember that you need to make surre you use Cat6 faceplates, plugs or patch panels as well.

It's also well worth doubling up some of you're sockets up so you've got spare. You could even just run in the cables and leave them unterminated.