WiFi or CAT6 Cabling?

pete3226

that's useful to know. thanks. I was thinking I HAD to go for CAT6 because it is the latest and greatest!

asbokid

i would use cat6. no point being behind the times before you've even started.

if you are going to be re-plastering the place any way, then seize the chance to tuck all of the network cabling behind steel conduit.

make sure you run some cabling for phones/modems as well. you can use the cat6 for that if you don't mind non-standard colours.

there are some tidy modular faceplates that you can use.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Menu_Index/Computer_RJ45_Mod_1/index.html

onlineo

Cables are more reliable and faster, but unless you need them for something specific, I think I would just save the money and time and use wi-fi.

KillerWatt

pete3226 wrote: »

that's useful to know. thanks. I was thinking I HAD to go for CAT6 because it is the latest and greatest!

Cat5e does Gigabit speeds without a problem.

xycom1

I'd definitely go for cabling - will be a massive advantage for data backup over the network to network drives and streaming video to your TV/consoles, etc.

baby_frogmella

KillerWatt wrote: »

None of the cabling to our TV or sound system is chased in yet nobody notices it until we point it out to them, so hiding cabling is quite easy if you do it right.

I'm with Hammyman, wired is always preferable over wireless, especially for tasks such as HD streaming.

Actually wireless N can almost be as good as wired as long as long as you don't have too much channel interference. My Billion 7800N router sits in my bedroom upstairs and wirelessly streams HD movies (netflix) to my TV downstairs connected to a Boxee Box. The video has never stuttered:p

LUSK

Definately wired for me. I have wireless here and although it appears to work OK, I would far sooner have wired any day of the week.

As cat 5 and 6 have been mentioned, whats the difference? We have cat 5 at work which, if the new MS server would allow, would let us run at Gigabit speed.

KillerWatt

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Actually wireless N can almost be as good as wired as long as long as you don't have too much channel interference. My Billion 7800N router sits in my bedroom upstairs and wirelessly streams HD movies (netflix) to my TV downstairs connected to a Boxee Box. The video has never stuttered:p

All that proves is that you have managed to achieve data transfer rates of a few MB/sec, that is way short of wired speeds.

LUSK wrote: »

We have cat 5 at work which, if the new MS server would allow, would let us run at Gigabit speed.

It's the hardware that dictates the speeds, and all machines on your network would have to have gigabit ethernet fitted if you want to see gigabit speeds between them.

baby_frogmella

KillerWatt wrote: »

All that proves is that you have managed to achieve data transfer rates of a few MB/sec, that is way short of wired speeds.

Do you call data transfer rates of 80mbps "a few MB/sec"?:rotfl: That is what i get when transfering files between 2 pc's in my home (different floors) through wifi N on my Billion 7800N router (up to 300mbps). I'd say these rates are comparable to 100mbps ethernet don't you? Don't believe me?
http://www.cnet.com.au/billion-bipac-7800n-339300492.htm

KillerWatt

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Do you call data transfer rates of 80mbps "a few MB/sec"?:rotfl:

Yes I do, because that equates to around 9MB/sec which is almost asthmatic when compared to transfer speeds of 60MB/sec (that's around 480mbps) that are achievable on wired networking.

baby_frogmella wrote: »

I'd say these rates are comparable to 100mbps ethernet don't you? Don't believe me?
http://www.cnet.com.au/billion-bipac-7800n-339300492.htm

I know full well what the figures equate to, although I am impressed that you managed to get significantly better transfer speeds than what they did under controlled test conditions.