Newb question on what cat to get for security camera

[Doppel]

I have some walls about to get drywalled, ahead of schedule, and thus I'm caught like a total putz buying wiring locally (best buy, lowes, etc. instead of online for like 25% the price). I am installing a wired IP camera at some point, with power over ethernet. I assume Cat 5 would work, but Cat 6 is better in every way and backward compatible, right, so I should do that? Cat 7 is even better, but I imagine vast overkill, plus Lowes doesn't carry that.

 

[Jimmah]

It's a camera, not a high bandwidth device, old used cat5 would work fine.

Heck I wired my house with leftover cables I got from jobsites, I get consistant gig speeds with no errors or problems. Use what's on sale.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Why can't you run the wiring behind the baseboard?

 

[Doppel]

Why can't you run the wiring behind the baseboard?

haha, very good question, and point well taken

It's a camera, not a high bandwidth device, old used cat5 would work fine.

I figured it would, I hate to put something old in place, though.

Thanks!

 

[ultimatebob]

haha, very good question, and point well taken I figured it would, I hate to put something old in place, though.

Thanks!

I'd put in Cat 6 just for future proofing purposes. You know... just in case you want to upgrade those cameras to something better in the future. Who knows how much bandwidth a 3D security camera with 4k resolution (for example) will take 10 years from now?

 

[mammador]

Anything above 5/5e is OK here. Cat 7 is overkill, for just one camera.