Wiring up my house, i need some suggestions

[TheSiege]

so i have an older home and the basement roof is still exposed, and before i drywall it im going to run all the cables i need to all the rooms, so far i decided on cable, telephone and cat5, what else should i run? if anything? any suggestions?

 

[Runes911]

Fiber

 

[j00fek]

speaker wire?

 

[phreaqe]

a second cat5 to use as a phone line, and later on if you want an extra network line in the room then you can convert it back to network.

 

[TheSiege]

Originally posted by: phreaqe
a second cat5 to use as a phone line, and later on if you want an extra network line in the room then you can convert it back to network.

since cat5 only uses like 4 out of the 8 wires couldnt i run 1 line and then split it at both ends?

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: TheSiege

Originally posted by: phreaqe
a second cat5 to use as a phone line, and later on if you want an extra network line in the room then you can convert it back to network.

since cat5 only uses like 4 out of the 8 wires couldnt i run 1 line and then split it at both ends?

um, cat5 is a type of cable. ethernet up to 100Mbps uses 2 pairs, but gigabit uses all 4 pairs.

 

[mugs]

Coax + 3 x Cat5

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Cat5e I hope, and run 3-4 drops per room. The cost is basically the same no matter what.

 

[TheSiege]

so, coax plus 3 cat5 and use one of the cat5s for phone? does this sound like the best option?

 

[Rastus]

Just go wireless on everything. You don't have to wire anything but power in this day.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Rastus
Just go wireless on everything. You don't have to wire anything but power in this day.

What I came here to post. 99% of the time 802.11G will be more than enough speed to cover what you want to do. Unless you're streaming hi-def movies across your LAN, it's a waste of money IMHO to pay to run cat5 through your house. And by the type the "common man" is streaming hi-def movies in his house, there will be wireless technology with the capability to do it.

 

[TheSiege]

Originally posted by: Rastus
Just go wireless on everything. You don't have to wire anything but power in this day.

wired is still more reliable and faster and ups the resale value of the house

 

[Squisher]

If I was going to add anything to what you already have I'd run a couple of 20 ga. wires for an intercom system.

 

[TheSiege]

Originally posted by: Squisher
If I was going to add anything to what you already have I'd run a couple of 20 ga. wires for an intercom system.

do people actually use intercoms? ive seen houses with them, but ive never seen them using it

 

[TheSiege]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Rastus
Just go wireless on everything. You don't have to wire anything but power in this day.

What I came here to post. 99% of the time 802.11G will be more than enough speed to cover what you want to do. Unless you're streaming hi-def movies across your LAN, it's a waste of money IMHO to pay to run cat5 through your house. And by the type the "common man" is streaming hi-def movies in his house, there will be wireless technology with the capability to do it.

it will cost more or less like 60 bucks with a kit, illl be running everthing myself
plus i need cat5 for XBMC there really isnt a cheap wireless solution for it

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Rastus
Just go wireless on everything. You don't have to wire anything but power in this day.

What I came here to post. 99% of the time 802.11G will be more than enough speed to cover what you want to do. Unless you're streaming hi-def movies across your LAN, it's a waste of money IMHO to pay to run cat5 through your house. And by the type the "common man" is streaming hi-def movies in his house, there will be wireless technology with the capability to do it.

When? I just wired my condo during a major renovation. High Def is in the 20-40MB/sec range. The only easy way to prepare for this is to hard wire for gigibit. You'd be a fool to rely on wireless in the short term. Even if it becomes possible in the next couple of years, you will still probably be maxing your connection and that is not ideal. It's certainly a good be to hard wire for now. You can always set up wireless later when the technology matures for high bandwidth usage.

 

[BoomerD]

Ummm, how about 110v?


In my house, (stucco) wireless is terrible. Cell phones barely work as well. Most likely the "chicken wire" under the stucco interfering with the signal. I've had to run Cat5 to network DSL for 2 different rooms.

 

[NuAlphaMan]

Originally posted by: TheSiege
so, coax plus 3 cat5 and use one of the cat5s for phone? does this sound like the best option?

If you are using Directv, make sure you have two Coax ports for the tuner (to watch another show while recording another). I'd put multiple Cat4 outlets anywhere I think I'm going to have multiple PCs (although a switch would suffice)

 

[NoShangriLa]

It is a good idea to look into the future and sees what you may need/want then wire your house accordingly.

IMHO, 2 cat5 lines per outlet, 1 or 2 RG6 coaxial cables as required. Also install one or more 2? PVC/ABS pipe from the electrical panel to the attic for ease of future wiring runs (such as 110v lighting systems, sensitive equipment that require dedicated line, or low voltage thermostat lines).

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Squisher
If I was going to add anything to what you already have I'd run a couple of 20 ga. wires for an intercom system.

I'm in a 2400 sq ft. colonial with five levels, before we got the phone system with an intercom built in screaming your head off was the only option.