Network Cabling

I'm looking to install some network cabling around the house - I have quite a lot of network equipment dotted around and my wireless isn't particularly great and I've had some issues with Powerline adaptors as well. I installed network points all around my last house but I haven't had the time to do it since I moved last year.

My main requirement is a bunch of network feeds to my TV for various equipment, a couple to my home office, and a couple into the loft where the NVR for my CCTV lives. I also intend to install an access point, probably a Ubiquiti on the upstairs landing to provide improved wireless to the bedrooms where I doubt I'll install any network points.

My questions:

1) Is there any need to consider CAT6 over CAT5E? My thoughts for home use are CAT5E should be more than sufficient?

2) Is there much different between brands of cable? I'll buy solid copper rather than CCA or CCS but beyond that is there much difference?

3) Is there any difference with external grade cable other than additional UV protection? Is it any different or harder to work with? In essence, if I end up having to run any of the cables externally, is there any harm in just buying external grade and using it for everything?

4) At my main TV, as an example, I need a minimum of 4 network connections. Would I be better installing 4 cables (or probably 6 to provide some scope for future growth) or just install a single cable and add a cheap switch under the TV? I can see pro's and con's of each approach.

5) I'm undecided whether I'm going to run all the cabling back to where my router is currently, or into one of the loft spaces, with a single cable running back from there to the router. Is there any downside to the latter approach? If I ran it all back to the router I'm going to need to add an additional 8 or 16 port switch anyway so keeping it all in the loft for neatness seems the most logical idea to me?

6) I know to keep network and coax cables away from mains cables where I can. Is there any harm running CAT5E and coax (for TV and/or satellite) together?

Anything else I need to consider?

CAT6 just gives more distance doesn't it? External the outer sheath is slightly tough so it makes making off a little more fiddly but once you've done a couple you get the knack of it. Only you can decide how to run your Network as no one on here can see the easiest way without plans. I can't imagine you'd get much induction from coax/Cat5E next to each other but an inch away would make it easier to run down walls

Why do you need 4 Network connections at your main TV. I just have one Cable at every one of ours from a Broadband source are you sharing something? Just curious.

I am not a networking expert but I'll try to answer some of your queries based on the research I did before networking my own house, which I did in a good quality Cat5e cable and I am using a couple of switches in places where more than a single cable run would have been difficult.

imroberts said:

1) Is there any need to consider CAT6 over CAT5E? My thoughts for home use are CAT5E should be more than sufficient?

Click to expand...

Cat5e will do gigabit ethernet over a 100m run

imroberts said:

2) Is there much different between brands of cable? I'll buy solid copper rather than CCA or CCS but beyond that is there much difference?

Click to expand...

Yes as you've said get solid copper, never ever buy anything but. I would buy branded cable for the peace of mind, cheaper cable may have looser twists or other factors that could make it non compliant with the 5e standard

imroberts said:

3) Is there any difference with external grade cable other than additional UV protection? Is it any different or harder to work with? In essence, if I end up having to run any of the cables externally, is there any harm in just buying external grade and using it for everything?

Click to expand...

External grade stuff is usually thicker and stiffer thus yes it's harder to work with. Any short runs you may need outside, you could use normal cat5e in trunking or some other containment?

imroberts said:

4) At my main TV, as an example, I need a minimum of 4 network connections. Would I be better installing 4 cables (or probably 6 to provide some scope for future growth) or just install a single cable and add a cheap switch under the TV? I can see pro's and con's of each approach.

Click to expand...

All them four cables will be going back to the switch within your router anyway so I don't see why you can't run a single cable and use a switch local to your TV for ease of installation, as long as you don't mind having another box to plug in etc.

imroberts said:

5) I'm undecided whether I'm going to run all the cabling back to where my router is currently, or into one of the loft spaces, with a single cable running back from there to the router. Is there any downside to the latter approach? If I ran it all back to the router I'm going to need to add an additional 8 or 16 port switch anyway so keeping it all in the loft for neatness seems the most logical idea to me?

Click to expand...

See answer above. Just make sure you use a good quality switch. You may want a managed switch so you can set priorities over certain ports etc.

imroberts said:

6) I know to keep network and coax cables away from mains cables where I can. Is there any harm running CAT5E and coax (for TV and/or satellite) together?

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Coax for satellite TV has voltage on it usually for the LNB. I'd say that coax and cat5e souldn't be run side by side over long distances the same as with mains wiring.

chivers67 said:

Why do you need 4 Network connections at your main TV. I just have one Cable at every one of ours from a Broadband source are you sharing something? Just curious.

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TV, HTPC, Games console, NAS box, smart TV box, another games console, smart speaker (pick any of above) etc...

I buy most of my network gear from Comms Express, their own brand cable has always been ok, I like the Excel modules, easy to connect and make out the colours

+1 for Excel modules. they also do a slimline module which means 3 sockets in a single plate or six in a double. i have used them and it is handy being able to have three or six instead of two or four

https://www.network-cabling.co.uk/s...5e-utp-white-rj45-slimline-module-only-p-1389


https://www.network-cabling.co.uk/s...-triple-rj45-wall-plate-inc-utp-modules-p-590

imroberts said:

I'm looking to install some network cabling around the house - I have quite a lot of network equipment dotted around and my wireless isn't particularly great and I've had some issues with Powerline adaptors as well. I installed network points all around my last house but I haven't had the time to do it since I moved last year.

My main requirement is a bunch of network feeds to my TV for various equipment, a couple to my home office, and a couple into the loft where the NVR for my CCTV lives. I also intend to install an access point, probably a Ubiquiti on the upstairs landing to provide improved wireless to the bedrooms where I doubt I'll install any network points.

My questions:

1) Is there any need to consider CAT6 over CAT5E? My thoughts for home use are CAT5E should be more than sufficient?

Click to expand...

I doubt it

2) Is there much different between brands of cable? I'll buy solid copper rather than CCA or CCS but beyond that is there much difference?

Click to expand...

I've installed all types and to be honest unless you're running to the limit on length [unlikely in a house unless it has 25 bedrooms] I doubt you'll notice the difference.
However the difference in price is minimal so I'd go with copper.

3) Is there any difference with external grade cable other than additional UV protection? Is it any different or harder to work with? In essence, if I end up having to run any of the cables externally, is there any harm in just buying external grade and using it for everything?

Click to expand...

The performance of external should be identical to internal however external is horrible to control and I wouldn't recommend it for terminating directly into plugs or any form of flying lead.

4) At my main TV, as an example, I need a minimum of 4 network connections. Would I be better installing 4 cables (or probably 6 to provide some scope for future growth) or just install a single cable and add a cheap switch under the TV? I can see pro's and con's of each approach.

Click to expand...

Weigh up the cost of a few metres of cat5e and an extra switch. I bet its 50:50 and running extra cable is unlikely to be difficult. in most applications only 2 pairs are used so consider that too.

5) I'm undecided whether I'm going to run all the cabling back to where my router is currently, or into one of the loft spaces, with a single cable running back from there to the router. Is there any downside to the latter approach? If I ran it all back to the router I'm going to need to add an additional 8 or 16 port switch anyway so keeping it all in the loft for neatness seems the most logical idea to me?

Click to expand...

If you're adding an additional switch then it makes sense to add it in the most convenient location, I imagine it'll be out of the way in a loft.

6) I know to keep network and coax cables away from mains cables where I can. Is there any harm running CAT5E and coax (for TV and/or satellite) together?

Anything else I need to consider?

Click to expand...

Consider that at an outside broadcast there will be big piles of assorted cables all mixed up and it works. I've regularly seen all sorts of data, audio, video, mains - single and 3 phase, transmitter & receiver aerial cables etc run in the same bundles, cable basket, cable tray, trunking, conduit etc and guess what? It usually doesn't matter. Get good quality cat5 with a spec of 300v.

I have purchased and used multicore cables which contain a selection of uses, Camera cables will typically contain mains, video, data, audio, audio intercom in a sheath of 15mm diameter or less.

For the cost difference of quality Cat5e & Cat6, I'd just get the Cat6.... it's good for 10GB too, which may seem completely unnecessary but things move fast.

Install plenty of point everywhere.... never any point doing just 1 when the plate can take 2. Behind my TV I have 6, because it was minimal extra work at the time. It also means if you decide to distribute TV over HDMI baluns, or HDBaseT at some point, it's no hassle.

Cable comes on a 1000ft roll, so may as well use it all up, even if you only terminate some of it for now.....

phatboy said:

For the cost difference of quality Cat5e & Cat6, you may as well use a whole 1000ft roll, even if you only terminate some of it for now.....

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Very true.It's a lot of effort adding it later when you can easily do it now and I tend to add an extra or two as I go.
The same is true for mains when I'm going a difficult run.

Another vote for at least some CAT6 in the job- its a bit dearer than CAT5 but does let you chuck HDMI around the place. I'd also suggest multiple points rather than single point and local switchlet- multiple points gives you some redundancy in case a squirrel eats one cable and allows you to connect non-Ethernet stuff (HDMI for instance).

FYI if you did decide Cat5e was good enough and you happen to be passing a B&Q, they had 100m reels of Nexans branded cable for £15 each in the clearance bins at my local yesterday

Go with the cat 6. I can easily remember when 10meg networking "was more than enough". It won't get slower.

Only use solid cores, you can't punch it down otherwise.

Don't use internal grade outside without trunking. It goes hard and breaks as the phone extension installed here by the previous owner has demonstrated and can make for hard fault finding. Outdoor grade is fine indoors (glances at own internal wiring)

I personally would put the extra ports in and wire everything back to a single place. Label everything well. It does to some extent depend on how techy you want to get with your network. I work in IT security so I'm very techy and paranoid. 99% of domestic users don't need to be. Also look at Ubiqiti power over ethernet which you could feed out from a central switch more easily for access points etc. The flip side is when the mrs decided the telly is moving to the other end of the room you'll only need to add a single wire if you've got a switch. (glances at redundant socket in lounge). Don't forget to put a socket wherever the router is going too, either a data socket near the phone master or extend the phone to be near the switch. Just remember you'll need to switch it off and on again occasionally so don't hide it too well.

and finally, cat 6 cable is shielded. Run it where you like if you use grounded sockets.

Kistelek said:

and finally, cat 6 cable is shielded. Run it where you like if you use grounded sockets.

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Hi Kistelek
Just want to understand more. What does the above mean. I am getting some cat6 installed in my home. Does it mean I need to get an earth connection

Cheers