Wiring help

[coomarlin]

My wife recently found out she will able to work from home. One of the requirements is that we can not set her up with a wireless connection to my router. The computer must use CAT5 cable and be hardwired. Unfortunately for me the room we want to make the office doesn't have neither a phone line or a network drop. So what I'd like to do is run some cat5 cable from my DSL router to the room in question. But I'd like to make it neat with wall jacks instead of a wire being snaked all over the place.

I've never run any types of network cabling and I've never used anything other than a patch cable to connect computers to my router.

Would it be feasable to put a wall outlet near my router and run the cat5 cable into the basement, across the floor joists and up into the future office using another wall plate. If so, what do I need in terms fo tools, wall plates, connectors, etc? I'm sure the network guy at my work has some tools I could bring home and borrow.

My other option would be to install a phone jack into the basement and move my router down there, then run cabling everywhere I'd want a connection. THis includes my DirecTV HDDVR for use in getting the on damand type service.

Any recommended tutorials and supplies sites?

 

[MustISO]

I had to do something similar in our house. I ran CAT5 which was already terminated and then just used wall plates that had small holes cut into the center. I was able to go from an upstairs office, down to the basement, across the basement and up into another office.

 

[Radical789]

As far as the wall plates go, I use Leviton one gang low voltage mounting brackets. They bend to hold tight to the hole you cut in the wall. Then you purchase a modular face plate with the RJ45 connector. You punch down the cat 5 onto the RJ45 connector and you have a nice professional looking wall socket for your patch cable.
You can also purchase the RJ45 connectors to put on the other end of the cable that will snap into your router/modem. Ot you can purchase a really long patch cable for your full run and cut the tip off the end that will punch down onto the RJ45 face plate. They might have a new version that lets you plug the patch cable into the back side of the wall plate. You will have to look at what they have in the store.
All of these things are availabe at Home Depot or Lowes near the audio/video parts dept.
RJ45 Face Plate:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn...578-PH69608&lpage=none
You must get the cat 5 wires in a specific order in the connector and then crimp it down or it will not work.
Cat 5 wiring diagram: Here is one link but you can google it and find many more:
http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.aspx
This type of wiring is call "structured wiring". You can google that and get tons of information.
Good luck!

 

[bruceb]

What you want to do will work fine. Just be sure the color codes are done the same on both wall jacks.
The jacks have colors on their labels and you will need a telco punch down tool which will work better
than the plastic tool that comes with the jack. Use CAT 5 or CAT 6 solid conductor for the in wall runs.
Do not use staples, use plastic clips instead and use premade patch cables to the router & computer.

Note: Most patch cables are 568B wired and you should wire the jacks the same using 568B colors.

 

[spidey07]

I'd like to provide the obvious answer - make work pay for the installation. Sounds like healthcare, they set the requirements, they pay for qualified installation.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I'd like to provide the obvious answer - make work pay for the installation. Sounds like healthcare, they set the requirements, they pay for qualified installation.

They call the shots they pay the freight.

 

[kevnich2]

Unfortunately I doubt her work will pay for that. I work from home as well and if you want the job, you meet these requirements. I just hired an electrician to come in. $75/hour, took him 2 hours to run about 6 runs. I then punched down all the wiring myself into jacks and a patch panel. Looks great, runs awesome and only cost me $150 plus tip (I usually tip people like this, never know when you might need them again)

 

[coomarlin]

She does work in healthcare but they won't pay for it. They are supplying the PC, File cabinate, and shredder. But they won't wire.

I'm sure I can do it myself but a little help from you all doesn't hurt. I appreciate the comments and suggestions.

I have the cable already but I'm going to borrow the tools from work and buy some switch plates and terminators and do it myself.