have you run cat5 in your house?

[grillmasterP]

2 years ago I ran cat5 in my parents 2 story house - Wireless was not a comparable option at the time nor did I want to have wires running along the floor.
Its worth it though, even though I have added a WAP to their home network for laptop use.

Basically its something you will want to do once- especially in a two story house, and ESPECIALLY if you lived in TX and are installing in the summertime (Summer=Hot Attic). So yo really need to plan out your networking- Its the basically same amount of work to do 2-3 drops at a time as it is to do a single drop-outlet. So my suggestion is you install atleast 2 outlets per room instead of just one outlet.
Even if you only want one outlet at the wall plate - you could leave the extra cat5 line behind the wall for future use or if your primary line is damaged. - Just be sure to label everything at both ends. Also pic locations which are convenient and unobstructed.
What I did-
I bought a crimper and 1000ft roll of Cat5e (Buy from home depot or buy the kit from computergeeks.com). Also an electrical wiring "Fish Tape" or "snake" will really help you . This is simlilar to a plumbers snake line - basically allows you to guide the wire through the walls or between floors then pull your cable through - I chose one room as the central hub where all of the lines will meet.
Then I doubled up the cat5 and ran 2 cables to each room to be networked. I bought wall plates with the keystone? punchouts and ran 2 network outlets in each room.

Be sure to practice stripping & crimping as well as buy extra jack/plugs - Its pretty easy
Oh yeah- leave yourself extra cable- longer is better than too short

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: bentwookie
I am getting the SBC dsl kit(only choice) next week and debating how to route it to 4 computers. I have the free after rebate Linksys 4 port router from a OD deal last year but would have to run cat5 through walls and the attic. Seems like there are a lot of wireless router deals now...does it degrade the speed at all?or get interference from wireless telephones or other wireless peripherals?..

How easy is it to rj45cap the cat5, are there any tricks with the crimper?
One final question, is there a max distance a router can be from the dsl modem?
as I do not have the dsl kit I don't know any of this info..so your input is greatly appreciated.

um..dont you have to drill holes in the floor/ceiling?

and wireless is NOT secure. you only need 3 packets to crack WEP encryption. dont do any sensitive/financial transactions over wireless unless use IPSec or VPN?

 

[CraigRT]

I sure do have CAT5 in my house... cables for life..
(as opposed ot wireless)

 

[Zebo]

Yes two in every room.

If anyone needs some I have 2 extra 1000ft boxes of cat5e from Lucent I did'nt use for $30 each!!

 

[FuzzyBee]

I've run it in a friend's house. I don't think the apt. complex would like it if I ran it in my walls.

 

[bentwookie]

Originally posted by: XFILE

Originally posted by: bentwookie
I am getting the SBC dsl kit(only choice) next week and debating how to route it to 4 computers. I have the free after rebate Linksys 4 port router from a OD deal last year but would have to run cat5 through walls and the attic. Seems like there are a lot of wireless router deals now...does it degrade the speed at all?or get interference from wireless telephones or other wireless peripherals?..

How easy is it to rj45cap the cat5, are there any tricks with the crimper?
One final question, is there a max distance a router can be from the dsl modem?
as I do not have the dsl kit I don't know any of this info..so your input is greatly appreciated.

um..dont you have to drill holes in the floor/ceiling?

drilling holes is not a problem for me..I've done it for adding cabletv lines to the bedrooms..


And Thanks to everyones responses, it all helps to a novice..>me

 

[FuzzyBee]

If you run it through the walls, there won't be any crimping necessary. The plates and jacks we used came with disposable punch-down tools - just remove the casing, match up the colors, and punch.

 

[Anubis]

my cat 5 as mentioned above runs up 3 floors. eaisily 2oo feet as it snames through out house. i get 11MB/s on it between teh computers. and actually today it said i was getting 25MB/s. dont know about that tho

 

[Soybomb]

and wireless is NOT secure. you only need 3 packets to crack WEP encryption. dont do any sensitive/financial transactions over wireless unless use IPSec or VPN?

It takes way more than 3 packets to crack wep. Often days of capture to get enough packets to crack 128 bit. Its irrelevant because its weak anyway, but 3 packets would be done in a second. Besides if you're not using https for financial/sensitive transactions you need a slap

 

[snooker]

I have 4 systems hooked to an 8 port router atm and ran all the cat5 wire myself. I ran in up the wall on the outside, then cut holes above each workstation and installed a electrical boxs for light switches, and ran it that way. It looks nice with the faceplate on the openings now..

 

[bentwookie]

I justed looked at my junction box for the incoming phone lines in my garage...the main line i want the dsl on is just an old round cable and my second line is only cat3..do I need to pay the bucks for them to upgrade..what am I missing if I only use cat3? My router says I can use cat3 but recommends cat5..will I lose alot of speed?

 

[Soybomb]

The phone service will come in just fine on cat3, use cat 5 or higher for your data carrying network though since you're pulling wires.

 

[bentwookie]

Originally posted by: Soybomb
The phone service will come in just fine on cat3, use cat 5 or higher for your data carrying network though since you're pulling wires.

thanks!

 

[tcsenter]

My parents will be having a new home built in about six months, they just put a security deposit on a 2400sq. ft. house at a new community being built by KB Homes. The homes offer lots of options and they will run CAT5 to as many rooms as we want for $70 per room; includes labor, wall jacks, CAT5 cabling. Construction won't begin for another 60 days.

I've never done any networking other than direct cable connection between two computers. Does anyone have any example schematics or illustrations of home networking setups I can look at and perhaps use as a model to adapt to this home? Its a single story home.

Also, why do people have two connectors per room; one each for internet sharing and another for LAN?

I don't know a whole lot about routers, hubs, and stuff. Router = internet connection sharing and hub = LAN? Is that right? Do you need two seperate units or are there integrated router/hub which allow internet connection sharing and LAN?

Any tips or guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
My parents will be having a new home built in about six months, they just put a security deposit on a 2400sq. ft. house at a new community being built by KB Homes. The homes offer lots of options and they will run CAT5 to as many rooms as we want for $70 per room; includes labor, wall jacks, CAT5 cabling. Construction won't begin for another 60 days.

I've never done any networking other than direct cable connection between two computers. Does anyone have any example schematics or illustrations of home networking setups I can look at and perhaps use as a model to adapt to this home? Its a single story home.

Also, why do people have two connectors per room; one each for internet sharing and another for LAN?

I don't know a whole lot about routers, hubs, and stuff. Router = internet connection sharing and hub = LAN? Is that right? Do you need two seperate units or are there integrated router/hub which allow internet connection sharing and LAN?

Any tips or guidance would be appreciated.

I can email you everything I used tomorrow when i get to work. Wanna buy some wire? See above.


Uhhh I just realised tomorrow is today I need sleep but my back is killing me.

 

[kami333]

My parent's house is running both wired and wireless, gives the most flexibility. Wired to server, a few of the desktops, and router, while the other desktops and laptops run wireless.

 

[T2T III]

I have Cat-5 in my house. But, I like the 802.11b wireless much better.