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CAT5 Wiring Question

J

Jeff H

Golden Member
Guys,

I just got cable installed Thursday, and currently have a Linksys 4 port router connected to a desktop and a laptop. I'd like to connect a machine downstairs (directly below cable modem/router location upstairs) in order to share printer, files and connection.

Having never done the physical routing of the cable, what's the best way to do this w/ minimal intrusion/damage to the rooms? Is there a website that discusses technique for drilling and snaking the cable between floors? Can any of you relate your successes?

TIA,

Jeff
 
Don't do it unless you've done it before or you have your house plans.

It will be cheaper, cleaner, and work if you hire someone.

It probably would be even cheaper to buy a wireless access point and card, and then you wouldn't have to worry about wires.

 
Well, alot of it depends on the construction of the walls & floor. For common joist & plank/floor decking, Home Depot has these really long drill bits (~36&quot😉 that are somewhat flexable.

The quick & easy method:

You start the bit at about a 25-45 degree angle to the wall, parallel to the two intersecting walls (on either side). The tip is positioned an inch or two above floor level, roughly in the middle or top of the base moulding. Start the hole at this angle; when you've penetrated into the wall, angle the bit to as vertical as you can...the object is to penetrate the floor nearly vertical WITHIN the wall-space below.

If you drop a weighted string through the hole, or push a "fish tape" into the hole, use the noise to locate the exact position on the lower wall, and cut a hole suitable for a box and wall-plate. Grab the string or fish tape, affix the end of your cable, and pull it up. Terminate the cable, and you're set to go.

The variant is to cut a box-and-plate hole in the originating wall, then feed the drill bit through the hole to drill through the floor. Then you have a nice, dressed wall plate on both sides. It helps with the resident female's approval of the activity.

The flexability of the drill bit lets you bend it a little as you drill. Once the hole is started, and while the bit is spinning, you can apply some pressure to the drill and put a bend (an arc) in the shaft of the drill bit (making the hole more vertical).

WARNING: Make sure you're gonna miss things in the wall like plumbing and electrical....it's an ugly thing to fail at this objective. UTP/Cat5 has a MAXIMUM PULLING FORCE parameter, if the wire gets "stuck" and you pull too hard, at the least you blow the spec on the cable and you won't get optimum throughput.......worse case, you break the wires inside and it won't work.

Good Luck, be careful.

Scott
 
One Addition, Outside and bearing walls become messy to run cable throu.

Outside has Insulation, and Bearing walls May have double-wide baseplates in older homes, Or Have Full joists underneith in the basement.

The Easiest way Honestly is to buy plenum cable (IT MUST BE PLENUM) and use the Heating RETURN ducts. Do not use the Forced Air Ducts, Only the Returns.

Either way, buy paint and patching materials for the walls before you start so you can fix the problems right away, If you hit pipes, plumbing, or electrical (youll know 🙂 ) Stop right away and call a professional. Also, DONT FORCE A DRILL. You may be unknowingly trying to drill throu a nail, or a gas or water pipe, or a waste pipe, or a protective piece of metal for electrical work.

 
Guys, thanks for the replies. This should be fairly simple, as I only need to go straight down through the floor, so I'll pick up one of the long bits and proceed slowly. I have an advantage as I had all the walls off the room downstairs during a remodel, so I know where all the electricals are. There are no plumbing or gas lines I need to worry about.

Another thought I had was to run it through the wall to the outside, down the wall and into the room. Is there a special kind of CAT5 I would need to go exterior? And, if I chose to have a professional snake the wire, what would I look under in the Yellow Pages?
 
Any licensed electrician will be able to pull the wires for you.
If it's just a single cable, i say try to do it yourself. Electrician's charge up the ass and really don't like doing little things like this. (my dad's one 🙂 )

here's a nice article on Ars about home networking

-patchy
 
That is a nice link. I wired my house when I built it but of course I forgot some obvious locations that I would like to add... this article will help.
 
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