Installing wired network cable with walls being replastered?

JustAnotherSaver

I've a feeling i'll have left this too late since the work begins on Monday so will probably end up going wireless.

I generally haven't bought my items off eBay for networking in the past. I've used ebuyer, Scan or Maplin.

Also, is there a bad thing with the stranded cabling? It's what i've always used & has always worked well enough. Or shouldn't i have been using it? Even if not, it's never let me down i must say.

ChuckMountain

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

I've a feeling i'll have left this too late since the work begins on Monday so will probably end up going wireless.

I generally haven't bought my items off eBay for networking in the past. I've used ebuyer, Scan or Maplin.

Also, is there a bad thing with the stranded cabling? It's what i've always used & has always worked well enough. Or shouldn't i have been using it? Even if not, it's never let me down i must say.

No stranded and solid cables generally serve two different purposes both are equally capable of carrying the relevant network signals.

The difference is in how they are terminated. Usually stranded, make up patch cables with RJ45 connectors directly attached. Solid usually make up installation wiring going from a socket to a patch panel(or other socket) and have a punch down connector.

You can still have a 100m patch cable if you so desired assumed its made correctly it will work fine.

The idea is that stranded are more durable and easier to bend so can be unplugged more etc. You then plug into the socket which in turn will be solid core.

I say usually because you can get sockets and RJ45 that are designed to work with the other or even both cable types though they are rarer. Also you need to make sure you get the right CAT version as CAT6 core is slightly thicker.

bluesnake

Better to put the cable in conduit and plaster it in, than plaster in cable.

Dont put the network cable next to power cables. Use separate paths, but you can often get parallel channels if the two channels are enclosed and separated by metal.

Avoid the cable coming too close to transformers, dimmers and fluorescent tubes.

Many installations will lay two cables and put on a dual network sockets, as the price is not that much greater.

Dont cut the cables tails in the box short, as if the socket breaks you may need the extra inches.

JustAnotherSaver

I'm not quite sure if i'd be able to avoid electrical cabling. I think I read you need to keep 12inch away? Which will be fine for the most part (I think) but it's a sea of wires under the floor & i'd think sooner or later one set of wiring will cross another.

Also for solid & stranded, bendy & not ... With the path it would surely have to take I would expect bendy/stranded to be better as it'll be zig zagging all over under the floor.

ChuckMountain

In the house you will come across a lot of electrical cables and chances are that the path you need to take will take will come very close to electric cables. As bluesnake stated you should avoid running them together but if you have to for a short duration then it won't necessarily stop it working. Also if you are crossing make sure they are at right angles.

Solid core does bend and will quite happily run round corners etc, just be careful of minimum bend radius and kinking the cable.

The issue with stranded and I have just looked again to see if there are any ready available is terminating into sockets which is not reliable. If you are leaving or re-terminating with RJ45 plugs it will be fine.

JustAnotherSaver

I thought the solid cable was supposed to be quite rigid. That's good to know. I ran cat5e stranded to a faceplate years ago & that was fine but I don't know if cat6 would be any different.

Does anyone here know where I can buy cat6 cable without connectors?
I'll really need it before Monday if that's possible. I've had a look online but can only find 100metre reels or other high figures.
I think I'll need around 25-30 metres which would allow for play. Maybe i'd need less but that should cover it.

Would be greatly appreciated if someone could throw me a link. Even better if the site takes PayPal as I'm currently at work without my bank card but I know my PayPal details.

bsod

cut the connectors off, ebuyer, farnell

Fightsback

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

I thought the solid cable was supposed to be quite rigid. That's good to know. I ran cat5e stranded to a faceplate years ago & that was fine but I don't know if cat6 would be any different.

Does anyone here know where I can buy cat6 cable without connectors?
I'll really need it before Monday if that's possible. I've had a look online but can only find 100metre reels or other high figures.
I think I'll need around 25-30 metres which would allow for play. Maybe i'd need less but that should cover it.

Would be greatly appreciated if someone could throw me a link. Even better if the site takes PayPal as I'm currently at work without my bank card but I know my PayPal details.

Ebay, here for £19.99 for 30m:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Datazone-Direct/Networking-Cable-/_i.html?_fsub=10752402017&_sid=1088312557&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Actual website:

http://www.datazonedirect.com/

JustAnotherSaver

Bsod: that was my initial thought but then it was mentioned here I should go for the solid cable. I already have enough cabling at home ... But 1) it has connectors & 2) it's stranded, not solid. Bought it in from scan if I remember right.

Fightsback - thanks. Just had a look & the estimated delivery is Monday-Tuesday so I've left it a little late. I'll try some of the terminology from it to see if I can find someone who offers 1st class delivery instead.

bsod

just use what you've got, it's a home installation for a bit of telly, not a corporate skyscraper. Go into any big office, and you'll see network cables crammed into desks, and crisscrossing all sorts of transformers and wiring.