Wiring my house for gigabit ethernet

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mgbridges

118 posts

Master Geek

#30081 28-Jan-2009 12:52

Hi folks,

Although wireless works fairly well in my house I'm thinking of wiring it up and putting sockets in each bedroom, the study, the lounge etc. Probably about 8 sockets in all. I've got a couple of quick and (hopefully) easy questions:

- can anyone recommend a good gigabit switch? A quick search around suggests that DLink, Netgear etc. do them for about 150 bucks but is there a recommended option?
- where's a good store for buying cable, sockets etc.?

If there are any gotchas that I'm unlikely to have thought of, please let me know.

Cheers,

Martin

chriswiggins

413 posts

Ultimate Geek

#192626 28-Jan-2009 23:10

I have found Ideal Electrical to be REALLY good for ethernet supplies etc. Not really for cable (although I think they do sell it) but they have everything you need for keystone jacks etc

Regs

4066 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Snowflake

#192636 29-Jan-2009 00:57

figure out how big a space you have to fit a switch into and then go find a product that fits :-) The 'cheap' gigabit switches are pretty much all the same- but they come in diff shapes and sizes.

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mgbridges

118 posts

Master Geek

#192656 29-Jan-2009 08:04

Regs: figure out how big a space you have to fit a switch into and then go find a product that fits :-) The 'cheap' gigabit switches are pretty much all the same- but they come in diff shapes and sizes.

Thanks - I've got lots of space under my house so I think I'll probably locate it down there. Saves having to bring all the cabling up through the floor anywhere other than where I need the sockets.

Cheers,

Martin

Psilan

856 posts

Ultimate Geek

#192802 29-Jan-2009 21:49

I am in the same position as you. I will be wiring it up this or next weekend. I am doing it all cat6 as I work for a data cabling company with Large contracts in NZ. So free cable (we seem to recycle sub 2-30m lengths), cheap parts, and free used parts.

I thought I might go with the Dlink Green products since they are very low power. http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=495

I got this cool mini patch panel also;
http://www.dynamix.co.nz/index.html?do=viewproduct&code=PP-MINI12-C6&ID=910501

It's only a 2 bedroom house, so I will only do 8 data.

Voyager referral - https://refer.voyager.nz/68QKJ8XKK

mgbridges

118 posts

Master Geek

#192805 29-Jan-2009 21:55

Psilan:
I got this cool mini patch panel also;
http://www.dynamix.co.nz/index.html?do=viewproduct&code=PP-MINI12-C6&ID=910501

If you don't mind me asking, what are you using the patch panel for? I was thinking I'd just use an 8-way switch with the router plugged into one port which would give me 7 other ports to connect to sockets around the house.

Cheers,

Martin

Psilan

856 posts

Ultimate Geek

#192810 29-Jan-2009 22:13

Makes things very tidy.
You can label all the rooms on the panel so you always know what goes where. You can easily unplug areas and not have a cable just sitting there in the air poking out of a hole in your roof/floor.
You also don't want these cables to get damaged. They should really be left as an untouched 'backbone' so to speak. You shouldn't be moving them around since they are solid.

It is probably overkill for a 2b house, but I want to learn a bit while I do it. Also, it will look a hell of a lot nicer when I sell the house too. Cables hanging out of holes doesn't look very professional.

Voyager referral - https://refer.voyager.nz/68QKJ8XKK

chriswiggins

413 posts

Ultimate Geek

#192811 29-Jan-2009 22:16

mgbridges:
If you don't mind me asking, what are you using the patch panel for? I was thinking I'd just use an 8-way switch with the router plugged into one port which would give me 7 other ports to connect to sockets around the house.

I may be out of context but if you use a patch panel then it becomes much easier in the future to add additional services etc. I know relatives of mine wired their house up with cat6 and now they run Sky over it. The patch panel just makes it easier as it tidys up loose cables (in the case of you installing more than you need for 'future proofing') and makes it easier to add/remove anything. If you want a phone in one room temporarily just unplug from one port and plug into another and viola you have a phone in another room (supposing it is wired up at the other end!

)

Hope i've been helpful

EDIT: Damn, I was beaten to it!

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rossmnz

507 posts

Ultimate Geek

#192816 29-Jan-2009 22:26

if you can get under the floor and use decent looking plugs it makes things look pro and a hell of a lot better than cables hanging everywhere.
Personally the guy who owned the house before me already drilled holes in it so i just used those.

Either way, get a semi decent switch and you are away with a minimum of fuss and clutter around the place.

Wifi is cool, but a good ethernet setup is always > imo

The force is strong with this one!