Basic lesson in cat5 cables please?

aliasojo

1) Are ethernet cables the same thing as cat5 cables?

2) What is a 'patch cable'?

3) Is a cable a cable...or are there quality issues to consider?

4) Sky cabling is better run in single lengths from dish to box (no wall plate connections etc)...is cat5 the same or does it make no difference if there are wall sockets at the ends of cable runs?

5) How to know whether to use shielded or unshielded?

6) Solid or not?

I'm seriously thinking of wiring up my house to handle the ever increasing amount of 'stuff' my OH and sons seems to have. Wireless is fine to a point but we regularly have speed issues and the like...especially when several gaming machines all need fast connections at once for example. They are all gadget and tech types so I think a wired situation would be beneficial and more future proof.

I'm only just learning about this and I'd appreciate any advice, pointers or suggestions.

Or are there any idiot's guides on the net I could be pointed to? As I said, just started thinking about this so I'm not up on all the correct terms used yet & I'd need pretty basic info to start with.

Joe_Bloggs

Wikipedia is a useful resource of information. Try typing 'wiki patch cable' into your search engine. Don't use the ' or the ' but the text wiki patch cable.
J_B.

Lakeuk

Cat5 your house is a great idea, following links are a good source to ask, and get ideas:-

http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-cinema-diy/

http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-cinema-diy/845560-my-home-cinema-home-network-complete-home-refurb.html

Toxteth_OGrady

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=90379&postcount=10

:cool:

TOG

vyseyboy

1) Strictly no, but the terms are used interchangably. Category 5 is a subset of ethernet, specified to handle 100 Mbps full duplex communication up to 100 metres in length, I think. There are higher specifications too, like Cat 5e and Cat6, which deal with possibilies like gigabit LAN, but Cat5 or better is all most people will need for networking.

2) Patch cable is a term used to describe a short length of cable, a few metres, between components, as opposed to a lengthy run.

3) It's digital communication, so it either works or it doesn't, but by buying shielded cables you can ensure that you'll be able to have long runs (50-100m) without loss in communication speed. Also, look for toughish plastic coating, to ensure durability, and avoid cables that appear like a plastic tube where you can feel the other individual wires loose inside... these tend to wear / break easy. Also look for snag-resistant terminals, because I've lost count of how many ethernet cables I've had where the plastic latch that holds it in place is broken off.

4) Shouldn't make a difference, so long as everything is high quality (gold plated connectors?)

5) Depends how long a run you are doing and if you need the full 100 Mbps bandwidth, but I'd always be inclined to say go shielded.

6) I don't know what you mean!

aliasojo

Thanks all.

Point 6) Was supposed to say 'solid'....(as opposed to stranded).

Oh has just been persuaded that this is a good idea and that he wouldn't actually be under the floor for too long......:rolleyes: (I'd do everything else but I can't bring myself to go under the floor.)

JOel_2

The general rule of thumb is:

If the cable will need to be moved regularly (I.E patch cables) use stranded, for other uses, like running through walls, solid is ok. I tend to just use stranded for everything, it's a little better to work with, and less likely to break in the middle when doing long runs, and can handle being trodden on / run over etc a little better.

CAT5 is rated for 100m @ 100MB

CAT5e is rated for 100m @100MB, and 10M @ 1000MB.

CAT6 is rated for 100m @ 1000MB.

CAT6 is more expensive, and CAT5e will generally do 1000MB upto 100M, its just not defined in the spec. I would say CAT5e unshielded would suffice, provided you are not running it next to power cables.

CAT5e is the stuff that is on sale 99% of the time.

If you can afford it, I would use proper faceplates and sockets, and terminate them all in a decent patch panel, you may as well do a good job, as it can add value to your house, not a huge amount, but it is an advantage.

Joel

Conor_3

aliasojo wrote: »

1) Are ethernet cables the same thing as cat5 cables?

Yes. Although there's co-axial but that's pretty much obsolete now.

2) What is a 'patch cable'?

A cable with a plug on either end that is used to link one device to another or to an access point such as a wall socket.

3) Is a cable a cable...or are there quality issues to consider?

There's differing standards, Cat 5, Cat5e and Cat 6 but for the average person, Cat 5 is good enough.

4) Sky cabling is better run in single lengths from dish to box (no wall plate connections etc)...is cat5 the same or does it make no difference if there are wall sockets at the ends of cable runs?

Makes no difference. There is a maximum run length though from transmitter to receiver which AFAIK, is 250ft. Any higher than that and you need to use something as a repeater.

5) How to know whether to use shielded or unshielded?

Length of the cable run.

6) Solid or not?

How long is a piece of string? I'd say solid for the bulk and non solid for patch leads.

I'm seriously thinking of wiring up my house to handle the ever increasing amount of 'stuff' my OH and sons seems to have. .

Basically anything you can buy at Maplin et al will do. Buy CAT5 in 50 metre drums - you'll soon find you use it.

aliasojo

Thanks for taking the time to explain guys, much appreciated.

Few more questions .....

1) Can the cat cable be run near water pipes and central heating pipes?

Main soil pipe is not boxed off again yet because of other work so cable runs could go from attic to under ground floor easily using the same space the soil pipe runs through. However water and central heating pipes also occupy this space. I could easily run a length of 30mm (ish) diameter plastic trunking or plumbing waste pipe in this space and put the cat cables inside that to help shield them?

Or am I better using another route entirely?

2) The main electric cables for the house are all over the place under the floor, none are clipped to joists and they criss cross each other and heating pipes everywhere. I'd be hard pushed to find an area to run cat cable away from electric cable. Again....would running the cat cable inside plastic conduit help here?

3) Not completely understanding the patch panel bit. Is this the cat equivalent of an electrical extension lead? So you would 'plug' all your cables into this, then plug the panel into........the router? I have a Krone tool, is that what is used for the patch panel?

4) The panels I have seen online seem to look like connector strips. What do you do with it? Is there some sort of box or something it goes into?

5) Can I run phone cable alongside cat cable? Would there be any interference?

6) Any other type of cable I should also consider running while I'm at it? (Mainly for future proofing really.)

evilgoose

Shielded cable has a layer of foil to shield the cable from external interference. If buying premade go for the shielded, if you are intending to make them yourself I'd be tempted to go for cat5e. You'd need to get the correct headshells for the shielded cable.
CAT6 is (personally I think it is) harder to use then CAT5e, I hate putting the headshells on the stuff. And in most cases cat5e will do the job.
CAT5e is CAT5 enhanced.

Go for the solid rather than the stranded cable, especially if you are going to terminate the stuff in a patch panel. Gives a cleaner and easier to correct (if you go wrong) connection when you 'punch down', (again its personal preferance.

There was a simular topic to this recently with some info on home networking.

If you are going to go to the trouble of running a cable - always run a pair of them, the extra cost is negligible compared to the effort in running the stuff. and gives you extra flexibility and in a worst case, it gives redundancy incase a cable gets cut.

evilgoose

1. The heat from the hot pipes may effect the insulation round the cable, I'd only really be concerned if the cable is in close contact with the pipes.

2. If you have to cross an electric cable, try and do it at 90 degree's. Power Cables can cause interference, try and leave space between the two. or use that acursed shielded stuff

3. Hmm, how to explain. To compare to something else, it's like the coaxal cable from the wall tv socket to the back of the telly. Except it's from your ethernet wall socket to your computer or a telephone etc

4. All the cable drops through your house from the wall sockets terminate in one location - the patch panel. You can buy 'comms cabinets' or mounting frames for the panels to fit into. You'll then use short (typically 50cm or 1metre patch cables from the patch panel to your hub or switch).

5. Why not use the CAT5 for your phone?

6. Not that I can think of.