Cat5e Sufficient for a home?

[abillybob]

Hi All

 

So in my new home I'm looking to wire Ethernet throughout my house. I have 3 Unifi AP's to wire in which includes an outside AP and 2 ports that I want to wire in our study.

 

I'm just looking at what grade of cable to get. I know Cat7a is the new standard although I don't think it's nice to work with, bends and twists it doesn't seem to like too much and I'll be fishing it through plaster not to mention the fact putting ends on the thing looks like a PITA.

 

Cat5e is what I was thinking of using due to it being 1000BaseT, it's easy to work with and is much cheaper (I can get the stuff free). I know that Cat6 is better as it will enable me to use 10000BaseT if I wanted to in the future but I really can't see my broadband ever exceeding 1Gbit and I think 1Gbit is enough speed when transferring things on the internal network so I don't see what Cat6 will gain me?

 

Am I being stupid here should I go the best I can or should I just get what my minimum requirements are?

 

Thanks All

[caffrey]

I use 5e at home, 5e can do 10GbaseT over 45m I believe.

 

I'd stick with 5e if it's free else go with cat 6

[mavhc]

Things will always get faster, question is when. Once everyone's on fiber it'll be much easier to turn up the speed.

 

What's the cost of Cat 6 vs Cat 5?

[FishCustard]

The cost of a reel or two of Cat6a can't be that much (haven't bought cable myself in ages), and it's generally better to future-proof things. If you're going to the trouble of running cable, run something that'll be usable for a long time.

[abillybob]

My home already has FTTP but currently the best speeds you can get over it are 330mbps download. I think it'll be a while before they even get a decent priced 1000mbps download.

 

I didn't think that Cat5e was capable of 10GBaseT at all! All my runs will be under 45m...

[bald_pig]

https://www.universalnetworks.co.uk/blog/10gbaset-can-this-be-run-over-cat5e/

[caffrey]

Ahh upto, I stuck with cat5e as I wired it years ago

[MatthewL]

I used CAT5e at my brothers this weekend for a few points, it will do exactly what he needs it for and I have the same at my house.

[XiJ]

I did mine approx 3-4 years ago. Went cat6a. For minimal cost I wanted to add in some degree of future proof however small. I expect we’ll all be content with fast wireless eventually.

 

The rigidity if cat6+ can actually help a little when fishing through. A good set of rods and a long drill bit always helps. A couple of places I could go externally as it was hidden from view. Much easier!

[Lonix]

Doing CAT5e at home. As for the 'speed/capacity' loss for not doing CAT6..

 

I'd be highly surprised if I needed it in 10-15 years time when I move house.

[Davit2005]

I bought a 305m box of CAT6 LS0H costing about £70 plus about £40 for a good connectix CAT6 24 patch panel for home 2 months ago.

 

If you are doing a build or refurb and want to put the cables in the wall I'd suggest a minimum of CAT6 cable. 2 outlets per wall box, at least 4 where you are planning to have AV equipment.

Edited July 23, 2019 by Davit2005

[featured_spectre]

I am in the process of buying a flat. The end result when done, is that I will have a network port in all rooms of the flat, and have them labelled so when I sell, they're clearly determined. at the minute, I have estimated a need for 2 ports in each room, each childs room will have a PC (for homework), and a singular game console (xbox/PS/switch or whatever), and the childrens room will have a limited freeview box, my room will have more - PC, sky+HD, games console and the main room will have up 10 points - which I will likely install a patch panel IN the wall. The patch panel will feed into a wall mounted managed switch, which will feed into our external internet connection also.

 

For the whole build, I have decided CAT6 is the way forward, it will be thicker cabling so less likely to kink on the joists etc, and future proofing. I've already figured out how to run the installations between the walls so the cables will be hidden, so I am quite happy with how it will go (in theory).

[mavhc]

I just put an 8 port switch under each AV centre, once you have tv, amp, pc, streaming box, other streaming box, bluray player there's only 1 port free anyway.

 

Next question, solid or stranded core?

[caffrey]

Always solid, stranded for patch cables