Rewire -including networking

dodgy_damo

Hi all I'm just getting quotes for a rewire at the moment. All the sockets (16 doubles around home), 2 outside lights, halogen spotlights and other bits to my specs are coming out to just under 2grand for a 2 bed maisonette.
My mate and indeed some of the sparkies have planted a seed in my mind about networking for internet access, Sky (HD) and so on. Is there things I should be looking at to add onto my rewire project?
For instance a want a flat screen TV on my chimney breast, I've been advised to have the plug put directly behind the TV, to save trailing leads, another idea included channelling down the breast to bring wires out behind where the fire would be, to accomodate DVD,Games console, SKY box,etc.
Any one got any ideas what I will need to include while I am at the early stages of this rewire and prices I should expect?

rygon

I was thinking of that as well but got put off the idea as cables will be replaced by newer versions etc. The only way i thought of doing it was by having a couple of large conduits with no tight corners put into the plaster work. These conduits should be filled with a fair few pieces of string/ plastic wire so when a new cable does need to be put in then all you do is attach it to the string and pull the other end.
Another option is just to drill a big whole in the chimney breast at one end...another hole at the other and manually thread the wires through...if a cable needs changing then the electric fire will need to be removed to gain access (it has to be electric fire there...gas or coal etc would just melt the wires

tododo

Ive just had a rewire done on my FTB.

While in the process of doing it as the walls were channelled out I decided to put networking cable to wall plates in every room......at the same time we put Coax TV connections in also

I used CAT6 cable instead of CAT5e as this should future proof it to some extent for years to come.......all these terminate to a switch in the loft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6_cable

The cable is a bit more expensive that cat5e but as these are all channelled in and cemented over theres no way they are comming out now

Im pretty chuffed with it.......just need everything else to catch up now as hard drives at the mo cant deliver anywhere near the speed the cable is capable of

Wireless is fine but if you want to stream HDTV from the PC, NAS etc then cable is the way to go (for the time being at least) with absolutely no connection drops or stuttering

Hopes this helps a bit

RubyBish

I have been contemplating this for a long time.
However as I dont need the electrics doing I havent been able to justify it so have used homeplugs instead.

Did you guys use an electricitan or a specialist structured cabling company?
Is the cost comparable to an electric rewire?

ormus

i think the conduit and cat5 cable in every room is the way to go.
cat5 is inexpensive in bulk. it shouldnt add too much too your total cost whilst rewiring.
i wouldnt bother too much about the cat6 idea/expense as domestic users are unlikely to use the extra performance.

dodgy_damo

Thanks all.
Tododo...Out of interest. How much was your rewire? What size property, and roughly what else did you have done?
I think I will enquire about this cat 5 cable.
Rygon...I think the chimney breast is gonna see some serious channeling in, I've no plan for a fire, was actually thinking of putting all my boxes in that space(dvd,console,sky,etc). Actually I never even thought of an electric fire damn, more inspiration :.-(

irnbru_2

dodgy_damo wrote: »

I think I will enquire about this cat [strike]5[/strike] cable.

Cat 6 : £50 + p&p from eBay.

For a single room, I would add conduit for the placement of 5.1 or 7.1 audio system.

Have a read of the DIY forum at avforums.

rygon

dodgy_damo wrote: »

Thanks all.
Tododo...Out of interest. How much was your rewire? What size property, and roughly what else did you have done?
I think I will enquire about this cat 5 cable.
Rygon...I think the chimney breast is gonna see some serious channeling in, I've no plan for a fire, was actually thinking of putting all my boxes in that space(dvd,console,sky,etc). Actually I never even thought of an electric fire damn, more inspiration :.-(

youve got me going...i have used some semi circle conduit for my cables..but now im think i can do better.....damn being an engineer lol

tododo

dodgy_damo wrote: »

Thanks all.
Tododo...Out of interest. How much was your rewire? What size property, and roughly what else did you have done?
I think I will enquire about this cat 5 cable.
Rygon...I think the chimney breast is gonna see some serious channeling in, I've no plan for a fire, was actually thinking of putting all my boxes in that space(dvd,console,sky,etc). Actually I never even thought of an electric fire damn, more inspiration :.-(

I did the Cat6 myself. Making sure that cable were spaced far enough apart not to have crosstalk, making sure there were no kinks in the wire and any bends were as gradual as possible

As the house was going through a rewire anyway I thought why not

At the time I got the cable from lindy.com, there maybe cheaper out there now....not sure

Just had a look at lindy

http://www.lindy.co.uk/network-cable-cat6-utp-grey-100m/44817.html

I had the electrics done on the cheap by a qualified sparky so I dont even want to say what I paid for that but that it was a good price

EDIT

Found cheaper on ebuyer
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130715