Thin Cat5e cable?

[adz08]

Hi

Just wondering if Scan stock any sort of thin Cat5e cable? I've seen the flat ones but just wondering if there was anything smaller?

I've got to try and run about 20m's worth over door frames etc!

Thanks!

[Lee H]

Sorry we don't.

We have the normal "cable" style and then the "flat" type cables and these are the 2 types we currently have available to purchase.

Best Regards,

[Zak33]

Cat 5 by it's very nature needs to be quite thick to prevent interference. It's wound like that.

Maybe either use trunking that's pure white to keep it clean and hard to spot.. or plain white cable might do it.

[mycarsavw]

If you can, go under floorboards - then you only need to hide two drops.

[adz08]

Thanks Lee + Everyone

I read somewhere that some Japanese company was making really thin (2mm x 1.4mm) cat5 cable, but couldn't see anywhere selling it still (the article was a few years back).

Its a bit unfortuneate where the router and pc's are, theres not way to get to them via under the floor boards.

Does anyone have any ideas on what else I could try. Basically I have a NAS box connected to my router downstairs. The 2 PC's and PS3's connected to 85mbps home plugs. I currently don't get enough speed from the home plugs to play video on the playstations or copy large files back to the server for backup.

I've tried a belkin N+ router, which gets me a better speed than the homeplugs but makes no difference with the ps3s!

[Zak33]

cable is still the way to go.. you just gotta be cunning

White cable is HARD to see if it's tacked properly tightly to gloss white door frames and skirting board.

[Lee H]

Indeed it is Zak33, I have to agree with that one.

I'm currently planning my own assault on cabling the whole house once we move soon so that there are 2 RJ-45 ports in each room all connected to a centralised section. This is so I can implement my synology NAS system and setup individual quotas on it for everyone to have their own storage section for music and things like this.

I've tried using wireless for streaming and I've resigned to the fact that cable is much better

[oolon]

If you have money to burn, you CAN get very thin fibre, but your need two switches that can take an SFPs and the SFPs, however the price isn't so bad on ebay so long as you don't want Cisco. For people like me who like new, I would also point out that Scan has a good range of networking switches with SFPs.

[pauleden]

I've tried using wireless for streaming and I've resigned to the fact that cable is much better

*nods

[peterb]

Indeed it is Zak33, I have to agree with that one.

I'm currently planning my own assault on cabling the whole house once we move soon so that there are 2 RJ-45 ports in each room all connected to a centralised section. This is so I can implement my synology NAS system and setup individual quotas on it for everyone to have their own storage section for music and things like this.

I've tried using wireless for streaming and I've resigned to the fact that cable is much better

I'd suggest you put 2 RJ45 outlets at each end of main living rooms, and if you can get to hide the cable, consider running in two cables where you would otherwise run one - even if you don't terminate them at this stage. Much easier to install more cable than you initially need than to try to retrofit later, and by installing sockets at each end of major rooms gives you more flexibility with room layout as your needs change. (Don't forget bedrooms either - you may want to stream music/video there at some point - and again a minimum of two sockets - you may want to do VoIP at a later date.

[adz08]

Ok, another update.

We've decided to get all our electrics sorted out, we're going through a bit of a refurb over the next month or two. So while the electricians are sorting out the cables I'll lay a cat5 cable in with the electric cables at the same time.

There shouldn't be any problems with this should there? Is it worth getting better quality cables now or doesn't it matter? (I've got one of the 20m cables scan sell for about £5). Also should I install boxes each end or just put a plug on the end of the cable???

Thanks!

[Funkstar]

There are several good threads on this whole subject.

http://forums.hexus.net/networking-b...-my-house.html

http://forums.hexus.net/networking-b...telephone.html

http://forums.hexus.net/networking-b...rk-advice.html

Something to make sure when you get cable installed, don't run the network cable in parallel to power cable, you will get interference. It should only cross at right angles really.

I would run cable and terminate it in wall boxes instead of RJ-45 plugs.

[Zak33]

excellent thread nice links Funk

[adz08]

Thanks for the threads Funkstar! Some interesting reading.

I think I will def run two cables to my room where my PC is, I am now trying to decide whether I should just do the whole house, living room, other bedrooms etc. Even if they won't be used very much.

I didn't realise I could run HDMI over Ethernet either, that could be an a reason for cabling other rooms on its own, would save buying Blu-Ray players if I can just use the PS3 in my room to watch a film on the tv in our living room!

The only issue I may have is where to run the cable, as I think it will have to follow the electric cables. To what extent would the cat5 get affected? The runs will probably be no more than 10m.

Would this cable suffice? http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/305m-...Gx4-Solid-Pair

I am planning on using a gigabit switch then linking everything to it?

[oolon]

Gigabit Cat5e cable is not badly affected by main electricity, it is affected worse by other Cat5e cables, One thing that does effect it badly is being tacks down to hard and the cable being crushed. This normally happens when people use cable ties. As your guys will probably use cable clips to nail it down, I doubt this will be a problem. I would say if your having electrically work done now, installing as much cat cable as reasonably possible. If you think you MIGHT use it install the cable. You can put ends on it later. When installing cables its easier to have multiple reels of cable so you can pull more than one random lengths cable at the same time.

[adz08]

Thanks

I was asking on another forum and they said it could cause packet loss. I guess I'll just have to do it and see how it performs! I'm just trying to get an idea of how bad it could be affected, if at all??

I've had a quick total up and it looks like it would only cost around £100. This is what I've seen so far:

7 x http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Scan-...-Plates-UT-722
7 x http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Singl...mounting-NOT-I
1 x http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Scan-...-Plates-UT-732
1 x http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/QUAD-...unting-NOT-INC)
1 x http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Newli...9-Rackmount-1U
1 x http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/305m-...Gx4-Solid-Pair

I dont need any tools as I've got some friends that already have them and I'll sort the sqitch out seperately! Do I need anything else or is any of that incompatible? Also does anyone know if scan do the faceplates with two modules in them?

Thanks!