Ethernet between floors

MyRealNameToo

We have a purpose build duplex type setup but it's a symmetrical, the lower floor is just a bedroom and ensuite with the upstairs being the main bedroom, lounge, kitchen etc. It's a modern build with concrete floors, blockwork walls (dot and dab plasterboard). There are a couple of RSJs across the flat too.

Water I know comes in on the upper floor from the unoccupied void below and waste goes out the same way. 

Electricity I've no idea, the meter is way away from us, the consumer unit is on the upper floor in the cupboard on the landing which again is above the void. Never seen any evidence of cabling in the void so it's not running externaly. 

Anyway, would like to get an ethernet cable to downstairs, ideally invisibly and without surface mounted trunking. There must be some form of duct or something bringing power down that maybe could fit an ethernet cable but where would it be? 

Already have a mesh system but downstairs is poor reception/slow, it's on a different ring so power line adapters won't improve it enough. 

Keep_pedalling

Could you route it externally?

Albermarle

Have you actually tried the powerline adaptors? They can operate over different rings, but how well will vary from property to property.

MyRealNameToo

Keep_pedalling said:

Could you route it externally?

I dont think so.

Fairly sure would need freeholder permissions to drill holes in the external walls - the front is the front of the building and is clad in zinc so a cabling hanging down is going to be obvious. The back is over a void (combination of rough ground and carpark) so would have circa 18m of cable to attach to a concrete ceiling. Based on the number of emails received about unauthorised stuff in the carpark they inspect regularly and imagine a new long cable wouldnt go unnoticed. 

When one of the flats got raided by the fuzz it took them about 9 months to get the freeholder to agree to a door that looked close enough to the rest to get their approval! The tenant ultimately opened the door so it still worked even if very dented and a few holes drilled. They arent the freeholder type to just waive stuff through nor miss an opportunity for fees. They seemingly care about the look of the building (the new doors an identical design to our current ones but a very different shade)

Emmia

MyRealNameToo said:

We have a purpose build duplex type setup but it's a symmetrical, the lower floor is just a bedroom and ensuite with the upstairs being the main bedroom, lounge, kitchen etc. It's a modern build with concrete floors, blockwork walls (dot and dab plasterboard). There are a couple of RSJs across the flat too.

Water I know comes in on the upper floor from the unoccupied void below and waste goes out the same way. 

Electricity I've no idea, the meter is way away from us, the consumer unit is on the upper floor in the cupboard on the landing which again is above the void. Never seen any evidence of cabling in the void so it's not running externaly. 

Anyway, would like to get an ethernet cable to downstairs, ideally invisibly and without surface mounted trunking. There must be some form of duct or something bringing power down that maybe could fit an ethernet cable but where would it be? 

Already have a mesh system but downstairs is poor reception/slow, it's on a different ring so power line adapters won't improve it enough. 

If there is a suitable void / duct you'll need the construction plans to identify it if you want to avoid a surface mounted option, or you could try installing skirting board which includes a suitable duct to hold the cable - but how practical that is will depend on the route you want the cable to go, doorways etc.

WIAWSNB

For the low cost, it's worth trying Albe's suggestion of power adaptors. The power cables all meet up at the CU, and my personal experience is that different rings doesn't matter much.

Section62

MyRealNameToo said:

...
Anyway, would like to get an ethernet cable to downstairs, ideally invisibly and without surface mounted trunking. There must be some form of duct or something bringing power down that maybe could fit an ethernet cable but where would it be? 
...

Tracing the cables from the consumer unit would be the way to go.  The service void would be a likely candidate.  There may be fire-stopping where the cables pass through the floor - if there is then make sure it isn't removed when you take your ethernet cable through.

MyRealNameToo

Section62 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

...
Anyway, would like to get an ethernet cable to downstairs, ideally invisibly and without surface mounted trunking. There must be some form of duct or something bringing power down that maybe could fit an ethernet cable but where would it be? 
...

Tracing the cables from the consumer unit would be the way to go.  The service void would be a likely candidate.  There may be fire-stopping where the cables pass through the floor - if there is then make sure it isn't removed when you take your ethernet cable through.

How do you do that practically? I know on the upper floor all the cables and pipes are in the ceiling (which is suspended on an aluminium system from the structural floor above. There are three RSJs that span the flat, the ceilings are relatively low as a consequence, I know where the holes in two of them where the services pass through them, never investigated the third.

Section62

MyRealNameToo said:

Section62 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

...
Anyway, would like to get an ethernet cable to downstairs, ideally invisibly and without surface mounted trunking. There must be some form of duct or something bringing power down that maybe could fit an ethernet cable but where would it be? 
...

Tracing the cables from the consumer unit would be the way to go.  The service void would be a likely candidate.  There may be fire-stopping where the cables pass through the floor - if there is then make sure it isn't removed when you take your ethernet cable through.

How do you do that practically? I know on the upper floor all the cables and pipes are in the ceiling (which is suspended on an aluminium system from the structural floor above. There are three RSJs that span the flat, the ceilings are relatively low as a consequence, I know where the holes in two of them where the services pass through them, never investigated the third.

Start at the consumer unit, if you can see the cables then follow them as far as you can.  If they are hidden then try using a metal/cable detector to work out where they run.

What kind of ceiling have you got on the lower floor?  Are the steel beams between the upper and lower floors - i.e. is the floor between the upper and lower constructed from these beams plus timber, or is it also concrete?

MyRealNameToo

Section62 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

Section62 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

...
Anyway, would like to get an ethernet cable to downstairs, ideally invisibly and without surface mounted trunking. There must be some form of duct or something bringing power down that maybe could fit an ethernet cable but where would it be? 
...

Tracing the cables from the consumer unit would be the way to go.  The service void would be a likely candidate.  There may be fire-stopping where the cables pass through the floor - if there is then make sure it isn't removed when you take your ethernet cable through.

How do you do that practically? I know on the upper floor all the cables and pipes are in the ceiling (which is suspended on an aluminium system from the structural floor above. There are three RSJs that span the flat, the ceilings are relatively low as a consequence, I know where the holes in two of them where the services pass through them, never investigated the third.

Start at the consumer unit, if you can see the cables then follow them as far as you can.  If they are hidden then try using a metal/cable detector to work out where they run.

What kind of ceiling have you got on the lower floor?  Are the steel beams between the upper and lower floors - i.e. is the floor between the upper and lower constructed from these beams plus timber, or is it also concrete?

The lower floor is about 25% the size of the upper floor, its rear wall is in alignment to the first RSJ on the upper floor. 

I've never investigated the construction of the ceiling to be honest down there and just assumed its the same as the higher floor, its certainly got the same fairly low ceilings but not sure why it would need to be unless there is an RSJ just inside the wall. All the floors in the building are concrete with supporting RSJs below the floor. Based on the carpark there are front to back RSJs too but they are aligned to the side walls of each unit. 

It's only a 4-5 story building so not fully like the current model for high rise towers where they build the central lift column and then hang all the steel off that. 

Eldi_Dos

MyRealNameToo said:

Section62 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

...
Anyway, would like to get an ethernet cable to downstairs, ideally invisibly and without surface mounted trunking. There must be some form of duct or something bringing power down that maybe could fit an ethernet cable but where would it be? 
...

Tracing the cables from the consumer unit would be the way to go.  The service void would be a likely candidate.  There may be fire-stopping where the cables pass through the floor - if there is then make sure it isn't removed when you take your ethernet cable through.

How do you do that practically? I know on the upper floor all the cables and pipes are in the ceiling (which is suspended on an aluminium system from the structural floor above. There are three RSJs that span the flat, the ceilings are relatively low as a consequence, I know where the holes in two of them where the services pass through them, never investigated the third.

If you are wanting to run the ethernet cable through the service void and it is firestopped (as it should be)

The way I used to do it was use a thin rod, just slightly larger than the cable to be put through.

At a position furthest from the electric cables poke the rod through the firestopping  then attach cable and pull through.Most firestopping I have came across is like a very dense rockwool insulation and skimmed on both sides with a firestopping compound.

Once you have got cable's through and all in place you then need to reinstate firestop. You get cartridges of Firestopping Compound which you apply with a mastic gun.
It is best to have the compound heated up, placed on a radiator or warm place, before using.
Inject the compound into gap round cable, top and bottom and spread flat. I used several pieces of cardboard for this as it is messy stuff which you do not want to get on tools or your hands.

Do not start the work until you have all the materials to hand and you feel confident you can do the reinstatement.
I had a old broom handle that was just the right size for the cables we installed, but for ethernet something smaller would be best.