1GB Networking cable?

xrapidx

xrapidx

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
42,188
Reaction score
4,038
Location
Cape Town
Anyone know what I need, and where to get, networking cable for running a 1GB network?

I need to wire up my house ASAP - and will be transmitting HD video over the cabling - so I'm assuming I need 100m CAT6, crimping tool, couplers, glue gun.

Any idea where CAT6/couplers can be had in Cape Town?

Going to put a switch in the lounge, which will connect the PS3/Media Center/AV Receiver - and then run that switch to my office, which will connect to my ADSL router - and then from the office to the bedroom, kitchen, dining room and second lounge which all only need one point.
 
Normal CAT5 (or is that CAT5e) supports Gigabit AFAIK. So it's not too pricey at all if you buy the cable in bulk and make it yourself.
 
Yip. ±R300 per 100m.

Not so clued about about streaming HD video over network cable, or whether it's even possible.
 
CAT5e is fine. CAT 6 is shielded... and then you need special connectors....

as long as you don’t go over 100 m, and stay away from power lines. Get a proper gigabit switch.

The slowest device on a Gigabit network is you HDD…
 
Do you even get Gigabit ADSL routers?

Looks like the HD might have to go over a separate network.
 
Yeh - the HD TV stream will go on a HDMI > CAT6 >HDMI stream.

But - If I'm doing the whole house - I might as well stick to one cable type, instead of buying two :)

@The_Other - I know the connector is slightly different, but it still connects the same - right?
 
Seems I can only get the CAT6 as a 305m Roll :eek:

It looks like it still uses the RJ45 connector, just that the connector meets certain requirements.
 
Remember that if you go CAT6 or CAT6a you must keep all pieces in the link to CAT6 spec, patch panels, outlet boxes, connectors etc.

I just think it's easier to work with CAT5e if you ask me but go CAT6(a) by all means.
 
But how sure are you cat5e will handle the bandwidth required? I'll be streaming live/recorded tv/music - which could potentially go to four rooms at once?
 
You don't need CAT6 for this. Normal CAT5 will do, as long as you have a gigabit switch / NIC.
Unless you ABSOLUTELY need shielding, don't get it, cause you're going to have a tough time crimping a shielded CAT6 cable.

P.S. CAT6 isn't shielded. Both CAT5 & CAT6 can be shielded, that's something totally different. CAT5 & CAT6 uses the same RJ45 jacks, but CAT6 is thicker and deals with cross-talk & attenuation so it's normally used in high-end installation where as little interference as possible is necessary.
 
xrapidx said:
But how sure are you cat5e will handle the bandwidth required? I'll be streaming live/recorded tv/music - which could potentially go to four rooms at once?
Click to expand...

Just fine, 1Gb/s on CAT5e and 1Gb/s on CAT6a is still 1Gb/s.

I suggest you also read up on how multicast works.
 
I have a diploma in network engineering - amazing how you forget this stuff.
 
xrapidx said:
But how sure are you cat5e will handle the bandwidth required? I'll be streaming live/recorded tv/music - which could potentially go to four rooms at once?
Click to expand...

If this is the case,then CAT6 may very well be more suited. I've seen many instances, especially on HDMI where CAT5 is "noisy" and using CAT6 made a big difference. But, try and get the unshielded one if you can, it's just much easier to work with. And, you'll need to strip some of the plastic shielding off the end of the wires otherwise it doesn't fit into an RJ45 jack.
 
The HDMI to Cat cable to HDMI will be its own setup - separate to the rest.

The TV streaming will be done using media center.
 
Right - I'm set.

Got a crimping tool, tester, two 1GB switches, 100m cat5e, connectors, ducting, couple of fly leads.... guess what I'm doing this weekend :)

Thanks for the advice ...

Hopefully by the end of the weekend, my media center will be able to stream properly - over wireless all I can do is music and pictures.
 
Man this is frustrating - our roof has about 60cm of clearance - so I had to move around it with two planks on my back dragging cable with me - there's also three sections to the house, all separated by walls - so that meant going through two walls.

The one hole in the roof was so small - I had to get someone else to climb in and pull the cable through - not even my girlfriend could get through.

I finally got all the cables in, and the one stretch keeps giving errors on the line, I've re-terminated it about 4 times- each time something wrong - first it was 5 & 8 then 1 & 5 then 5 then only 1 - and then I ran out of connectors - I'll have to buy some more today and try again.

Also discovered a swimming pool building up on top of the one bathroom :(
 
Here are some pics of the final stretch - where I couldn't get into the roof - was going to upload and ask for advice on how to get it done - but fortunately a really skinny dude pitched up for a visit and could get into the roof.

Where the cable needed to go:
DSCN6165s.jpg


Mini-hole into the roof:
DSCN6166s.JPG


From hole to where the cable had to go - Roof space at the hole is about 60cm - it was the highest point in the house - the part where I went through was between 40-60cm depending on where I was - I literally lay on two planks which I dragged across the support beams.... Not fun in yesterdays cooking heat.
DSCN6167s.jpg
 
welcome to the world of networking :) If you think you'll do network installations in future then go and get yourself a "fish tape", but get the metal one, it works better than the plastic (if it's actuall plastic) one and a 1m, 2m & 3m PVC pipe - which would have helped you push the cable through those narrow spaces much easier :) You basically attach the cable to the end of the fish tape (use masking / insulation tape for this), the push it through the pipe from one end, and push the pipe in the small hole. Now push the cable out on the other side and pull it through :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X