Which Category ethernet / RJ45 cable for internal house network?

Joined
17 Jan 2015
Messages
655
Reaction score
6
Location
Hertfordshire
Country
United Kingdom
If cost of cable was not an issue, which type of cabling would your tech minded guys recommend for installing into every room of a house as part of a total house gutting out / rewiring project, and why?

And also what is the best way to centralise the return of all the cables back to a point in the house i.e. 1) is it best to go to the centre of the house in a cupboard, 2) is there a special rack of some sort which I should keep the distribution router thing in?, 3) does it require cooling, 4) should the Virgin Media router be placed there as well or can it be anywhere?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Sponsored Links
Cat 6 2 points or more to each room/ smart TV point if wall mounted, back to central point where other services can be placed , eg telephone master socket / virgin router , depending on room available small patch cabinet for ternination of cat 5/6
 
Even if money were no issue I think I would still go with cat5e, rather than cat6. Unless you need multi-gigabit speeds, are paranoid about crosstalk, or want to future proof your house to the n'th degree I simply don't see the point. I would stick at least two sockets in each room though, four or more behind the telly. By time I've plugged in the freesat box, DVD player and video streaming box that's three used already.

I've run all of the cat5 in my house to the loft, though if you have a spare cupboard - or an empty airing cupboard then that would also work.

In an office environment you'd generally install a wall box like this: http://www.netshop.co.uk/product/17...et-vented-glass-door-with-locking-side-panels though that is somewhat overkill in a domestic setting. Provided that you don't go mad and keep it to a router and maybe a network switch/hub you won't need any form of cooling.
 
Hey

Thanks for the quick replies.

1. Do the cupboards or patch cabinets (do you have example links of some good ones on amazon?) need to be vented or kept cool? I'm thinking of possibly placing a it in the cloaks cupboard of the ground floor near the front door, which might also contain alarm system controls, consumer fuse board for electrics etc. Is this a good place?

2. I was thinking two points in each room, but I guess yes, I could consider 3 or 4 points where the main TV rooms are. Would you however, consider putting the points spread out in the room or close together (for non TV ethernet points), and would you consider having a point for the telephone network or for wall panels etc?


Ground floor


First floor


2nd floor
 
Sponsored Links
If you need vents or air conditioning then no. Just don't put any form of heating in the cupboard. It sounds like a cupboard with the consumer unit in is ideal. Also, this might be more suited than a full rack. http://www.ebuyer.com/451026-starte...nt-bracket-for-patch-panels-black-wallmounth2 On the subject of TVs, I've got a couple of HDMI over cat5 extenders to share the sky box to upstairs. That's another socket to account for.

I ended up putting 2 cat5 sockets on opposite sides of most of the bedrooms in case we rearrange them at any point. The most sensible layout would depend on what you intended to have in each room, now and in the future.
 
I've got:

3 x quad network sockets in the lounge (plus two phone points, one of which is spare)
2 x quad network sockets in bedroom 1 (plus one phone point)
undecided network sockets plus 2 phone points in bedroom 2 (haven't wired that room yet)
undecided network sockets plus 3 phone points in bedroom 3 (two of the phone points are paralleled with the hall)
2 x double network sockets plus 1 phone point in kitchen/diner
2 x double network sockets in hall near front door for CCTV/alarms

the phone points are dedicated to keyphones on the house phone system. Other phones can be patched over the network sockets.

I have a 4 U high hinged rack for the patch panels, which I made out of wood and stained to match other woodwork, and mounted it over a door in a corner of the hall.

Also 2 x coax from each bedroom back to a patch panel behind the lounge telly for satellite distribution.
 
I've got:

3 x quad network sockets in the lounge (plus two phone points, one of which is spare)
undecided network sockets plus 2 phone points in bedroom 2 (haven't wired that room yet)
undecided network sockets plus 3 phone points in bedroom 3 (two of the phone points are paralleled with the hall)
2 x double network sockets plus 1 phone point in kitchen/diner
2 x double network sockets in hall near front door for CCTV/alarms

the phone points are dedicated to keyphones on the house phone system. Other phones can be patched over the network sockets.


Also 2 x coax from each bedroom back to a patch panel behind the lounge telly for satellite distribution.


Do you mind posting a photo of your 3x quad network sockets?
Why have you put 2 or 3 phone sockets in one room? I didn't understand your point about keyphones on the house phone system, please explain.

Thanks.
 
I have CAT 5 & 6, anything new is Cat6, all goes up to my loft conversion where all my points terminate into a patch panel then into a Netgear Gigabit switch. Servers etc all located in Loft Straight into Switch.
 
Do you mind posting a photo of your 3x quad network sockets?
Why have you put 2 or 3 phone sockets in one room? I didn't understand your point about keyphones on the house phone system, please explain.

UT-8704.JPG


I have a panasonic phone system with 6 external lines and 24 internal extensions, 5 of which are used for keyphones:

kx-t7735.gif


this provides intercom, paging, alarm calls, call barring and least cost routing.
 
Owain,
What are those pin things on the quad socket? I guess there are four cables going into that socket and not one Ethernet cable which is then being switched?

I like the type of phone you shown, that's something similar I would like to go for. Is that on a PBX system?

cpjvej2014,
Who is your phone service going through if it's an IP phone? How do the whole process work as I am aware of only Vonage and the likes having to have a router box which then connects to my Virgin Media. What are your call costs etc to within UK and US etc?

Thanks.
 
Owain,
What are those pin things on the quad socket? I guess there are four cables going into that socket and not one Ethernet cable which is then being switched?

I like the type of phone you shown, that's something similar I would like to go for. Is that on a PBX system?

cpjvej2014,
Who is your phone service going through if it's an IP phone? How do the whole process work as I am aware of only Vonage and the likes having to have a router box which then connects to my Virgin Media. What are your call costs etc to within UK and US etc?

Thanks.

My phone service provider is KC, I live in Hull so only have one choice of internet and phone provider unlike the rest of the UK. My calls are all included with my Internet Bundle. So standard rate for everything. I have a standard PSTN phone line which my phone system connects to via an FXO converter or bridge, then its just plugged straight into my gig switch with a 3CX system installed and running on a virtual server.

I am using a Linksys FXO bridge to connect to my phone line.
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top