Home Network Cable Advice

[Syd]

As Above, just starting to take up floorboards tomorrow and looking to put the right cable in - seems to vary in price quite a bit - but this seems to be pretty reasonable :

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/100m-...-solid-tc1500e

Will it do the job for now and the next 5 - 10 years ?

Also - if I wanted two outputs in a room, one at one side and one at another, would it be prudent to run two legnths of cable (1 to each point back to wherever I decide to put the switch)
I have seen some network plates that have 2 ouputs - are they also driven by 2 feeds?

Sorry for what seem like silly questions but I have no idea about networking, I bought a 8 port switch last week and this is my next toe dip in!!

Thanks again guys

[MaddAussie]

That cable should be fine,you will need a run for each socket as Ethernet is star wired and each point needs a connection back to the switch

[Tattysnuc]

As Above, just starting to take up floorboards tomorrow and looking to put the right cable in - seems to vary in price quite a bit - but this seems to be pretty reasonable :

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/100m-...-solid-tc1500e

Will it do the job for now and the next 5 - 10 years ?

Also - if I wanted two outputs in a room, one at one side and one at another, would it be prudent to run two legnths of cable (1 to each point back to wherever I decide to put the switch)
I have seen some network plates that have 2 ouputs - are they also driven by 2 feeds?

Sorry for what seem like silly questions but I have no idea about networking, I bought a 8 port switch last week and this is my next toe dip in!!

Thanks again guys

Ahem....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAT-5E-CABLE-3...item19c29ca021

Might save you a few pennies. Make sure that if you also get the ports that include the facepates and sockets. If you run short, maplin do them quite reasonably.

Also, make sure that you wire the same way on the network. There are 2 standards:

568A
568B

So long as you stick to the same standard for your entire network all will be well.

This guy inspired me to do it:

http://www.ukrocketman.com/homeauto/networking.shtml

Have done most of the house, the cable is down everywhere, but just need to buy some more ports as a couple got bash when we were having new floors fitted (parquet).

finally, I'd recommend that you get a port tester and small tool for poking the wires into the sockets.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

[killie99]

port tester http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ETHERNET-NETWO...item3363f0cea9
Krone tool http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Network-BT-Pun...item3f02e9ea01
faceplates and sockets http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-port-RJ45-Wa...item5186ad88df

All you ever wanted to know about wiring up your house http://www.swhowto.com/

[Syd]

Thanks guys that's everything I need to get me going
Now all I need to decide is where to run all the cables to - can network cable be coupled with no loss if necessary ? (ie: if I decided to move the switch location!)

[MaddAussie]

Thanks guys that's everything I need to get me going
Now all I need to decide is where to run all the cables to - can network cable be coupled with no loss if necessary ? (ie: if I decided to move the switch location!)

Yep

Use something like this
http://www.maplin.co.uk/inline-coupl...c=so&u=strat15

Just dont exceed 100m in total cable length (switch to PC overall length not just to the socket)

ooh B&Q do a starter home networking kit
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.js...condid=9686681

[killie99]

Thanks guys that's everything I need to get me going
Now all I need to decide is where to run all the cables to - can network cable be coupled with no loss if necessary ? (ie: if I decided to move the switch location!)

No problem extnding the cable so long as you do it correctly, can't imagine the distances you're running the cable will cause a problem. The key to minimising loses in the cable is to ensure you keep the twists in the pairs of wires - wire like this:



not like this: