Rewiring + phone/computer cabling

penguine

This isn't exactly a DIY question -- we're looking to get our flat rewired and I was wondering if it's a good idea to have phone/internet cabling put in at the same time. I'd like to have a phone/internet connection in our lounge and each of the bedrooms. The rewire is going to be on the surface as we're not planning to replaster/redecorate in the near future. Can phone and internet cabling go into the trunking along with the electrical wiring? Would it be worth getting Wifi installed or would this cost a lot more than just having internet points put in?

wallbash

Few years ago saw new houses being advertised with Cat5 'ready'
But with the fast falling prices of wireless routers ( my last cost less than £30 ) maybe less in demand?

Same argument with the phones

Steve_xx

Be careful when running phone cable close to mains cable. You may get inductance from the mains cable, especially if it's drawing high power. This can manifest itself in the form of "white noise", ie a hissing sound on your phone line and it may well degrade your internet connection. If you plan to run ducting it would be better if you tried to keep the phone wire away from the mains wire.

You could go for a wirelss system, both for your internet connection and your phones. You can buy packs of phones that require only one phone socket connection. The other phones in the pack connect wirelessly to the main phone connected to the main socket. This method would save you running phone cables around the house.

Bigcammy

Never mind inductance, you're entering health and safety areas with running Cat 5 / telephone wiring in the same trunking or conduit as mains wiring. Cat 5 and telephone cable is not insulated to the same standard and must not be run in the same enclosure. They need a separate conduit or trunking compartment.

SplanK

AS above...

CAT5/telephone cable needs to be run away from electrical cables otherwise it can cause interferance issues - which will manifest itself as noise on the phone or disconnections/slow transfer speeds over a computer network!

madjay

Cat5 and telephone cable can be run with main voltage as long as they the cables are rated the same. as for Wirless Internet or phone it is all ways better to have extra hard wired points just in case.

SplanK

madjay wrote: »

Cat5 and telephone cable can be run with main voltage as long as they the cables are rated the same. as for Wirless Internet or phone it is all ways better to have extra hard wired points just in case.

no.... lol

this is why there are so many broadband problems in the UK - its because people have installed telephone cable next to mains cable or motors such as the CH pump!! this is also another reason why BT havbe just bought out a device that fits into a BT master socket which disconnects the bell wire

if your installing new - do not run CAT5/Telephone cable allong with mains.... CAT5 and telephone cable CAN be run together (although - you can use CA as telephone cable - you just dont use all the appairsris!

Steve_xx

SplanK wrote: »

no.... lol

this is thwhy there are so many broadband problems in the UK - uits because people have installed telephone cable next to mains cable or motors such as the CH pump!! this is also another reason why BT havbe just bought out a device that fits into a BT master socket which disconnects the beire

if your installing new - do not run CAT5/Telephone cable allong with mains.... CAT5 and telephone cable CAN be run together (although - you can use CA as telephone cable - you just dont use all the appairsris!

What does "beire" mean?

madjay

SplanK wrote: »

no.... lol

this is thwhy there are so many broadband problems in the UK - uits because people have installed telephone cable next to mains cable or motors such as the CH pump!! this is also another reason why BT havbe just bought out a device that fits into a BT master socket which disconnects the beire

if your installing new - do not run CAT5/Telephone cable allong with mains.... CAT5 and telephone cable CAN be run together (although - you can use CA as telephone cable - you just dont use all the appairsris!

Yes you can ....but the Data or Phone cable has to rated, screened and insulated to that of mains cables - It is done often in the electrical/data industry.... I didnot say normal Internal Data and phone cables you but in B&Q etc

brownbake

Just get a decent wireless router and cordless phones!!

There is only a real need for CAT 5 cables everywhere if you have a home cinema or office. I doubt you have that in a flat.

I would say a phone point in every room is completely redundant. Just get a decent cordless phone - panasonic make very good ones.

If you are getting things rewired I would suggest getting TV aerials put in every room. Get a TV amplifier / distributor and use decent fully shielded cable.

As the digital switchover is rapidly approaching I would say this would be of more use than Cat 5 / telephone cables.