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Thread: Networking my House

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    Networking my House

    I get the keys to my house in the next few weeks and to say 'it needs work' is an under statement! All the flooring and carpets are coming out and I figured I might as well lay a load of network cabling before I replace the carpets or tile over it etc.

    I want to run the cables back to the understairs cupboard into a switch and into my O2 router, with cabling finished at LAN ports in most rooms.

    - Can someone give me a run down of all the tools, cables and boxes I need to do all this?
    - Whats the best cable to go under flooring? Standard CAT5e or something else?

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    Re: Networking my House

    Cat5e is easier to manage and is slightly thinner so it will go under/through things easier and does well enough on a home network. A spool of that, a bunch of RJ-45's, an RJ-45 crimping tool, and ideally a cable stapler to tack the cables in place when you're going around skirting or whatever. You can get all those tools in maplin or other places. Surface wall boxes and RJ-45 sockets are also a nice touch to keep the installation tidy.

    Oh, and I nearly forgot, a cable stripper or if you're handy with a utility knife, you can use that to strip the outer-sheathing
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    Re: Networking my House

    The general consensus is that Cat5e is good enough. Cat6 has a lot of really tough requirements for a proper installation, so isn't worth it unless you definitely need it or are getting a pro install done.

    Tools you will need:
    IDC punch down tool. Don't bother with a 50p plastic one, get a proper one that snips the excess wire off.
    Ethernet continuity tester. You don't need the expensive ones that test the speed rating, just one that makes sure all the wires are in the right order and properly punched down.

    Run twice as much cable as you think you will need, better doing it all now instead of having to rip things up again in a couple of years. Also leave a lot of slack in the cables, you never know when you might need that few extra feet.

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    Re: Networking my House

    A year ago I would have definitely said Cat5e, but the choice is less clear cut between cat5e and cat6. Cat 6 has a tighter specification than cat5e, and can be good up to 10Gb - but you do need the equipment to support it. Cat6 is also slightly harder to work with, and is more expensive than cat5e, so on balance, in a domestic situation, cat5e will be fine (I use a cat5e network at home - and that runs at 1GB without problems)

    Start off by deciding where the main hub(s) and patch panel(s) are going to be, and where you want sockets. Whereever you want to put oine socket, put 2, and where 2, probably 4. Even if you don't install the sockets at this stage, at least run the cables in.

    Ideally you should use conduit or trunking, it will protect the cable in hard to reach places, and if you ever want to upgrade the cable to fibre, it will be much easier to do. It isn't essential, although under floors it might be worth while.

    Don't scrimp on the tools. Get a proper punch down tool for the sockets cost about £15 or so, and if you are ging to make your own drop/patch cables, get a decent ratchet crimp tool. Not cheap, but worth it in ease of use and reliable connections.

    Decide on your wireing standard, T568B is the commonest, and stick to it. Don't forget all 8 cores are needed for gigabit speeds.

    You can have a central termination point for the patch panel, but that starts to get a bit unweildy, and you may end up running lots of wires between floors. The alterntive is a patch panel on each floor and a couple of cables between floors, linking them.

    The aim is maximum flexibility, and time spent planning the layout is not wasted! Consider wiring any outbuildings and garages too. The cable can always be used for intercoms and you may want to stream music to your workshop/shed/garage at some time while you are working there!
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    Re: Networking my House

    Meant to say, if you are terminating everything in a cupboard, get a patch panel and terminate them in that instead of just loose leads, much tidier job.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Newli...9-Rackmount-2U

    Not a lot of money for what it is. You wouldn't need a rack, that'll attach to a couple of wood brackets really easily.

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    Re: Networking my House

    A patch panel is pretty redundant when you don't have a cabinate to pull out. Terminating it with an RJ-45 and plugging it into the switch is enough.
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    Re: Networking my House

    Quote Originally Posted by peterb View Post
    The aim is maximum flexibility, and time spent planning the layout is not wasted! Consider wiring any outbuildings and garages too. The cable can always be used for intercoms and you may want to stream music to your workshop/shed/garage at some time while you are working there!
    That's a good point. Cat5e is good for other services too, not just Ethernet data. There are HDMI, Audio and video adapters that will use Cat5e cables as their transmission medium. You can also use the cable with a couple of cheap adapters for phone sockets.

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    Re: Networking my House

    May as well go for CAT6 the cost wont be substantially more. An RJ45 crimper + plugs
    http://cpc.farnell.com/_/tc2-2rj45/m...ule/dp/AV18994
    http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ht-l2172r/8...ool/dp/TL07303
    I'll let you know if I think of anything else

    CAt 6 is dear at CPC
    http://www.lambda-tek.com/components...&prodID=917490
    Last edited by RADCOM; 03-08-2009 at 12:20 PM. Reason: additional info
    Respec'

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    Re: Networking my House

    Whereever you want to put oine socket, put 2, and where 2, probably 4. Even if you don't install the sockets at this stage, at least run the cables in.
    Amen to that i ran 4 ports and now require 6 in one place.

    Lee

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    Re: Networking my House

    I also agree always install multiple cables just don't connect them if you don't need. As to terminating them in an RJ45, it makes for a really ugly installation, the cables where they go into the wall can be warn over time, and if you change your switch you may have cut everything too short, do a job properly once. Also a linen cupboard is not a good place, its very hot in there, gigabit switches run hot to start with, under the stairs (as you indicated), or broom cupboard is perfect.

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    Re: Networking my House

    Thanks to everyone!

    So, I'll need:

    Standard CAT5e cable
    RJ-45 Crimper
    RJ-45 plugs
    Wall sockets

    Does this have everything I need? except for a crimping tool and cable clips..
    http://www.screwfix.com/prods/10346/...rk-Cabling-Kit

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    Re: Networking my House

    RJ-45 Crimper and plugs are for making your own patch cables. Personally I would just buy them, they are a pain in the back teath to make yourself.

    You want a proper punch down tool for the wall sockets and a patch panel if you go that route


    http://www.screwfix.com/prods/17402/...Insertion-Tool

    It's a bit pricey, but this toolkit does look good, and has everything you need in it:
    http://www.screwfix.com/prods/66910/...tion-Tool-Kit#

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    Re: Networking my House

    Quote Originally Posted by s_kinton View Post
    Thanks to everyone!

    So, I'll need:

    Standard CAT5e cable
    RJ-45 Crimper
    RJ-45 plugs
    Wall sockets

    Does this have everything I need? except for a crimping tool and cable clips..
    http://www.screwfix.com/prods/10346/...rk-Cabling-Kit
    It depends, do you want to wire in the routing equipment and broadband now, or do you plan to do that at a later date? If you do want to put in in your will need something like a 24 port QoS enabled switch, a router/firewall combination, and a modem (which will depend completely on your intended broadband provider). For the modem you can go consumer grade, but for the router and switch(es) you will NEED to get something a bit more substaintail.
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    Re: Networking my House

    Quote Originally Posted by nightkhaos View Post
    It depends, do you want to wire in the routing equipment and broadband now, or do you plan to do that at a later date? If you do want to put in in your will need something like a 24 port QoS enabled switch, a router/firewall combination, and a modem (which will depend completely on your intended broadband provider). For the modem you can go consumer grade, but for the router and switch(es) you will NEED to get something a bit more substaintail.
    This is his house, not a commercial office! He doesn't need managed switches, QoS switches or the like! A good router is worth having anyway, but something like the Netgear GS1xx series of switches will be fine. The switches don't have to have as many ports as he has outlets, the aim is to retain flexibility so that he doesn't have to re-wire as his requirements change.
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    Re: Networking my House

    Quote Originally Posted by peterb View Post
    This is his house, not a commercial office! He doesn't need managed switches, QoS switches or the like! A good router is worth having anyway, but something like the Netgear GS1xx series of switches will be fine. The switches don't have to have as many ports as he has outlets, the aim is to retain flexibility so that he doesn't have to re-wire as his requirements change.
    I'm sorry, I just value quality and performance.

    *hemhem*/me points his "My System" drop down.

    I would, if I were him, get good quality switchs, and damn the price. Unfortunately my network at home is Wireless, but that is because we rent and the landlord wouldn't want us to tear up carpet and walls so I can lay a few hundred meters of Cat6.
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    Re: Networking my House

    Quote Originally Posted by nightkhaos View Post
    I'm sorry, I just value quality and performance.

    *hemhem*/me points his "My System" drop down.

    I would, if I were him, get good quality switchs, and damn the price. Unfortunately my network at home is Wireless, but that is because we rent and the landlord wouldn't want us to tear up carpet and walls so I can lay a few hundred meters of Cat6.
    Don't disagree, but it is a question of horses for courses!

    Of course if he has the cash to spare, but I'd recommend he gets the cabling right first, then gets something basic siorted while he does the rest of the refurb, and once he has decided how he wants to use the set up, thern get the equipment appropriate to the task.

    (My home network started as 10base2 with coax, running 4 computers through an ISDN connection, and is now gigabit running 12 computers or so including a mix of mail, web, print and music servers and clients. Basic unmanaged network stuff - does the job!)
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