Future Proof Network Installation for Home

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Future Proof Network Installation for Home - Cat 5e or Cat 6

Dazza69

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Topic # 65110 29-Jul-2010 18:55

Hi all,

I am doing renovations of my house at present and along with that I am going to future proof the house with structured cabling through out.

I have experience with networks a while ago, but trying to decide if to go with Cat 5e or Cat 6?

I intend in having a home theatre, with connection via network to network share for HD movies / DVD ISO.

Jacks in each bedroom for laptops/pcs/

Phones are currently VOIP wireless (very cool!)

A CCTV camera system that will be installed and hopefully put over the network also.

Xbox attached to network for gaming

Thats pretty much what will be used.

Yes this is our family home and we have no intention of moving or selling.

Would like to hear your thoughts, advice etc. If you have any good reading/ resources that would be appreciated so I can make an informed decision.

I have done a fair bit of reading but still undecided.

Thanks in advance.

richms

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Reply # 358716 29-Jul-2010 19:35

If you can repull later, may as well do cat-5e, if not then cat-6. cat-5e does gigabit which is all you need now. cat6 doenst really offer anything at the moment, but who knows with when the hd-baseT stuff becomes available what you will be able to do additionally on it.

Richard rich.ms

cyril7

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Reply # 358832 29-Jul-2010 20:58

I agree, unless you know of something the rest of us dont, cat5e does all (except 10GigE) and from what I understand HDBaseT works just fine on cat5e.

If it were my house I would not bother with cat6, yet I install cat6 commercially for a living. While Cat6 is a better built cable I have yet to see any tangible benefits for home use.

Cyril

coffeebaron

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Reply # 358837 29-Jul-2010 21:02

The price difference between CAT5e and CAT6 is closing, so I generally go CAT6. Won't give you any advantage right now, but within a few years there may be a trend towards 10gig, and things like power over ethernet may come out with higher specs too.

Chorus has spent $1.4 billion on making their xDSL broadband network faster. If your still stuck on ADSL or VDSL, why not spend from $150 on a master filter install to make sure you are getting the most out of your connection?
I install - Naked DSL, DSL Master Splitters, VoIP, data cabling and general computer support for home and small business.
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richms

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Reply # 358918 29-Jul-2010 21:46

cat6 is a PITA to terminate with the divider, and I thought that it had to be the flash cat6a to do 10 gig on?

Richard rich.ms

webwat

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Reply # 359139 30-Jul-2010 02:47

richms: cat6 is a PITA to terminate with the divider, and I thought that it had to be the flash cat6a to do 10 gig on?

yup, Cat6a for 10Gig and thats faster than most computers can support anyway. However the future will probably see it performing fairly well over Cat6 with less alien crosstalk, so maybe worth installing a couple of Cat6 along with the Cat5e. Remember you will probably want to have an option for distributing both VoIP and POTS so you might need a few spare outlets.

Nothing will futureproof you totally unless you have duct with pulling wires to places you think might need an upgrade, or at least pre-drill 20mm holes in the noggins at locations where you can get access into the wall from the ceiling (and tie in a cord to pull any future cable through).

Do you need someone to help install cable Cyril?

Qualified in business, certified in fibre, stuck in copper, have to keep going ^_^

cyril7

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Reply # 359352 30-Jul-2010 08:30

Hi, Webwat, I have help with cables thanks, most of my work is as sub contracts to sparkies (that get the commerical wiring jobs and sub the data to me), they normally loan me apprentices to abuse.

As for 10GigE on cat6, all evidence I have seen indicates it works fine out to around 35m with 50m possible if cables are on their own etc.

Cyril

webwat

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Reply # 360208 30-Jul-2010 18:36

That makes sense on Cat6.

Well PM me anyway if you have a job around Auckland that needs an extra data guy. Would be a privilege to work with you.

Qualified in business, certified in fibre, stuck in copper, have to keep going ^_^