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mingle88

mingle88

mingle88

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25 Mar 2016
Posts
15
Hi All,

i know this is asked a 1000 times but reading previous threads, just got a few queries



We just bought a new house and complete on it soon and luckily have a few weeks left in our rented house whilst we get the keys so before we move in + decorate want to take advantage and get network cabled in properly (before wife changes her mind! lol!) and agreed as long as it's as discrete as possible so in walls, under floorboards and all "noisy/messy/sightly" kit to be put into garage "out the way". see floorplan

Red Square = Network Cabinet/Switch/Patch Panel/Servers
Green Circles = POE IP 4K Cameras
Blue Square = Network Points (Bedroom 2 points, living room 4, office/4th bedroom 4)

For living Room +4 Network +1 USB +1 HDMI (USB + HDMI routing to Cabinet in Garage as plan to have Gaming PC in Garage Also)

Does anyone see any major issues with my plan? Would you go with Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6a? i've never done anything like this before and would ideally not want to replace it once it's in for sometime lol so don't mind spending the extra if it's worth it... i want to be able to stream 4K from media server to several devices simultaneously and capture 4K Recording from cameras (motion detection) and Gigs backups from 4th bedroom/office to server in garage

going from sizes and what i want to do, how much cable do you think i will need? 100 or 305? and will i have issues running hdmi + usb from livingroom to garage, as in will it exceed hdmi/usb length restrictions?

also plan to put home automation in using RF 433mhz and 848mhz and want to use these:


will i need shielded cabling? also with the cables being in the walls + under floorboards will i need LSZH cable? and i know to use solid core for the bulk but planned to plug it directly into ip cameras but believe you can't just put Rj45 on the end of solid core can you?

sorry for a barrage of questions, any help or advise will be much appreciated!!
 
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the cabinet will be locked but i also have it setup so it instantly syncs with my onedrive, i have roughly 3 months worth of recordings on server and 2days worth on onedrive... by the time they got into cabinet, i should be notified/aware of what's going on... unless you have any recommendations?

what cabling do you think i should go with? Cat5e/cat6 or cat6a? also shielding or UTP?
 
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You really want CCTV in most of the bedrooms?

You don't appear to have enough network points. Some rooms don't have any.

That socket will only look okay if you can get pretty modules.

Cat6 should be good enough.

You don't need shielded cable.

You don't need LZSH.

You can put plugs on solid core, you just need to check that you have the correct type of plug.

To calculate the amount of cable required buy a tape measure, but you'll probably need a full box.
 
glorified webcam for the lil'un in bedrooms 18months old and thanks for didn't know that about plugs on solid core, thanks.

could measure but not in there yet, just wondered if there was a way to calculate it from dimensions, just being over-zelus i guess! :-)
 
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Personally I would go with cat6, non shielded.

The price difference over cat5e is small and it's almost as easy to work with.

cat6 shielded or cat6a is REALLY thick stuff.


I've recently done my own place, but used cat5e as I had a lot of spare kit to use up, I've done mine in a way that is easy to replace them if required. If I was doing a one-time install, I would have used cat6 for sure.
 
the only reason i was questioning the shielded and it's probably a novice question but interference wasn't sure if rf devices cause interference or whether it was just electric cabling as all the light switches will be zwave modules (848mhz) or lightwaverf (433mhz) just wanted to make sure they wouldn't give me network issues/headaches..
 
one last question, any recommendations on feeding cable inside the walls? i've seen the Magnepull XP1000 Cable Puller Insulated Wall Drop, but seems like its only available in the us and expensive for a one off job or Super-Rod Cable Routing which is available in uk but don't know if it's any good.
 
I've done a lot of cable pulling using a good quality extending tape measure and a roll of electrical tape. Push it through, tape the cable to the end, and pull it back.

I wouldn't buy any expensive specialist tools until you find a routing problem you can't overcome in other ways.

Do you know how the walls in question are constructed? Most of your proposed network points are on external walls so there might not be a void available.
 
bremen1874 said:
I've done a lot of cable pulling using a good quality extending tape measure and a roll of electrical tape. Push it through, tape the cable to the end, and pull it back.

I wouldn't buy any expensive specialist tools until you find a routing problem you can't overcome in other ways.

Do you know how the walls in question are constructed? Most of your proposed network points are on external walls so there might not be a void available.
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I'm not sure, it was built in the early 90's - i didn't think about external walls being an issue, i know all the walls are plastered, but whether there's enough of a void behind it... i guess i'm not going to know until i get in there, just wanted to do as much prep work/planning as i could while i waited :-) you've helped a lot, settled on cat6 utp now!
 
If it's fully plastered there won't be a void.

It's more likely to be dry lined. That will leave a void, but it'll be a bit variable and the adhesive holding to the wall always seems to be in the most inconvenient places.
 
the only thing i use wirelessly is 2 phones and a tablet (will plug laptop into point most the time) which all these devices are mainly used in the living room, was going to have router/WAP either in living room or in the garage or potentially in the "pantry/cupboard" directly next to the garage as it'll be the most central point in the house? - will see how well signal performs
 
bremen1874 said:
If it's fully plastered there won't be a void.

It's more likely to be dry lined. That will leave a void, but it'll be a bit variable and the adhesive holding to the wall always seems to be in the most inconvenient places.
Click to expand...

i knew i should have gone around knocking the walls as i was viewing! :( lol! i'm assuming i'll be tackling "fire studs" in the walls too maybe?
 
bledd. said:
I would ask an electrician to give you a hand
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this. Find a decent housebasher, they will find a way to run what you need and dont discount the years of experience.


Also please dont spend money on expensive cable pulling tools. Just go buy a few lengths of MT2 (mini trunking) and use the lid. There really isnt much better for getting behind things.
 
bledd. said:
a 10m rod set can be an invaluable tool
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Aye and I think you linked me to a set for about £6 a while back which is insane :) (I paid about £30 or £40 for a set about 10 years ago).

One thing I would add to any tools used for pulling cables are some neodymium ring magnets.
You can tie a bit of string round one, drop it in a void or between the floors and guide it with the other, which may let you get round obstacles that a normal rod set or whatever wouldn't.

It let me run a cable between two floors where there was zero way to get rods or anything into place.
 
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