Ethernet Across Ceiling

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Earbanean

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#324270 21-Mar-2026 11:46

Due to changes in where devices are used in and outside our house, I'd like to add another AP. Ideally it would be located on the ceiling of a study at one end of the house. We have a number of ethernet sockets around the lower walls of the study, but no cabling in the ceiling of that part of the house. There is no way to get at the space in the ceiling or walls short of cutting holes in the Gib.

I'm pondering a cable up the wall and across the ceiling. It could come through the back of a desk, hug a window frame up the wall, but would be in the open for about 40 cm at top of the wall and maybe 50 - 60 cm out across the ceiling. It's a study, so aesthetics isn't quite as high a priority as in the lounge, dining, etc areas - but we don't want a great big ugly cable.

Has anyone used any type of ethernet cable that is quasi "invisible"? i.e. some sort of flat white cable, or maybe a very thin one.

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#3472145 21-Mar-2026 11:59

Any downlights? Sometimes these can be pulled down for cable access, else conduit.

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RunningMan

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#3472146 21-Mar-2026 11:59

You can get flat cables but they have a couple of things to be aware of:

1) Lack of twisted pairs means they pick up more interference so you want them as short as possible
2) Thinner conductors so I'd be wary using them for PoE if you need that for the AP.

Goosey

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#3472149 21-Mar-2026 12:10

Is the closest room(s), next to the study have any ceiling access?

you can make a run there, go down the walls in that room to the outlet nearest to the study (wall), then pop thru?

whats the carpet edging like in the rooms, could you pull off the skirting boards to then help the cause of running a cable from the next room?

Edit, do you have any soffits outside the study?

i.e. run cabling thru ceiling, out the soffit, down the outside and back into the wall ?

Earbanean

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#3472150 21-Mar-2026 12:12

coffeebaron:

Any downlights? Sometimes these can be pulled down for cable access, else conduit.

There are a couple of downlights, but a long way from any existing ethernet.

Earbanean

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#3472151 21-Mar-2026 12:14

Maybe I'm thinking about this the wrong way. What about a wall mount AP? This would be way easy to cable without ugly cabling. How do they compare with ceiling mount APs w.r.t coverage, etc?

Earbanean

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#3472152 21-Mar-2026 12:17

Goosey:

Is the closest room(s), next to the study have any ceiling access?

you can make a run there, go down the walls in that room to the outlet nearest to the study (wall), then pop thru?

whats the carpet edging like in the rooms, could you pull off the skirting boards to then help the cause of running a cable from the next room?

Edit, do you have any soffits outside the study?

i.e. run cabling thru ceiling, out the soffit, down the outside and back into the wall ?

I think pretty much no to all those questions. This is a ground floor room with another floor (bedroom) directly above. The gap between is inaccessible, other than by removing some Gib on the ceiling, or I guess flooring in the room above.

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coffeebaron

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#3472164 21-Mar-2026 13:49

Depends on coverage needed, but wall mounting is also common and may be sufficient. You may be able to temp hang it on the wall, see if that will work, then make it permanent.

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k1w1k1d

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#3472166 21-Mar-2026 14:06

Do you have a wooden floor with access under it?

Earbanean

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#3472234 21-Mar-2026 15:19

k1w1k1d:

Do you have a wooden floor with access under it?

We have a wooden floor with partial access, but I don't think the helps me get up the wall and across the ceiling. I'm thinking a wall mount AP is going to be the way to go.

ANglEAUT

altered-ego
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#3472240 21-Mar-2026 16:04

If only the AP ran on light alone

https://www.telcomates.com.au/products/invisible-transparent-ultra-thin-nbn-fibre-optic-patch-cables-various-lenghts

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Handle9

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#3472258 21-Mar-2026 17:13

The other thing you could do is instead of permanently mounting the access point on the wall or ceiling is sit it on top of a bookcase or cabinet. I do this with my unifi APs as where I live has structured cabling throughout the house but solid concrete walls.

You could give it a go and see if it works ok

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cddt

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#3472277 21-Mar-2026 19:43

I have an AP sitting on the back corner of a desk... works fine :)

wellygary

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#3472278 21-Mar-2026 20:01

Earbanean:

I think pretty much no to all those questions. This is a ground floor room with another floor (bedroom) directly above. The gap between is inaccessible, other than by removing some Gib on the ceiling, or I guess flooring in the room above.

Find out which way the beams are going in the space between the floors, ( removing a roof light fitting usually a good way to have a ferret into the "Roof" space to check this.)

Usually you'll have a pretty unimpeded run if you go parallel to the beams and use a fixed wire ( a couple of unbend coat hangers are helpful) to push a drawstring from the edge of the room to whereever you want to mount your AP in the ceiling...

nztim

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#3472279 21-Mar-2026 20:22

Cut the Gib and then patch, you will thank yourself later

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Earbanean

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#3472312 22-Mar-2026 09:37

Handle9:

The other thing you could do is instead of permanently mounting the access point on the wall or ceiling is sit it on top of a bookcase or cabinet. I do this with my unifi APs as where I live has structured cabling throughout the house but solid concrete walls.

You could give it a go and see if it works ok

How do you orientate the AP in this case? Is it a ceiling AP sitting on the top of a shelf pointing upwards, rather than pointing downwards as it would be if ceiling mounted? Does this after the rediation pattern?

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