Question Are Connecting Sockets Easy?

[Oasis Curator]

I plan to run a network cable from downstairs inside, to outside, up the side of the house and into the loft. I already have a route plan for it. The run will be around 25m (worst case).

Not really a feasible route inside the house. I did have a potential to run it inside the house but the logistics of doing so is just too great.

However, I'll have to cut one plug off the end of the cable to fit through the hole in the side of the house.

Are wiring up sockets easy? I guess on the wall, I'll have to put one and connect the wires to it, then have another wire go from the socket to a switch for net access.
Either that or drill a much larger hole to push the RJ45 connector through - not ideal.

Do I need any special tools?

 

[evermorex76]

What you want is a tool-less keystone jack for the wall, which snaps into a faceplate. The tool-less jack will press the wires into the copper taps for you, otherwise you'd have to use a punchdown tool or very thin screwdriver which is harder. Make sure the jack is the same category as the cable you'll be using, Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6A because the thickness of the individual wires matters. Cat6 is kind of a pain but may as well future-proof. You can find videos and articles easily to show how to put the wires in.

https://www.amazon.com/AMPCOM-Keystone-Tool-Less-Punch-Down-Required/dp/B0CY881VR1

https://www.amazon.com/trueCABLE-Ethernet-Faceplate-Compatible-Keystone/dp/B092DSKLM9

You could also buy a regular keystone jack and a punchdown tool if you wanted to learn how it's usually done. Tool-less jacks cost more than regular ones so in volume you wouldn't want to use them.

The plate of course is designed to be screwed into a receptacle box, but you can screw it directly into drywall and just don't beat on it too much and rip out the screws. Leave yourself plenty of extra cable that you can coil up inside the wall in case you ever need to snip some off to rewire it (like a few feet, or even several if you might want to move it to another area of the wall).

If the downstairs end is in a living room or something, I would put wall jacks at both ends for convenience, so you can just unplug the cables if you ever need to for any reason, instead of permanently having a bunch of cable hanging out of the wall. If it's in a basement or utility room with a bunch of other wires then that may not matter.

 

[evermorex76]

Oh, also, a cheap test tool would be a good idea so you can verify that your wiring is at least correctly done in the pinout sense and that you've got continuity, although it doesn't guarantee it's perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/HABOTEST-HT812A-Ethernet-Telephone-Continuity/dp/B0CXDJBNKR

 

[stonecarver]

Are wiring up sockets easy? I guess on the wall, I'll have to put one and connect the wires to it, then have another wire go from the socket to a switch for net access.
Either that or drill a much larger hole to push the RJ45 connector through - not ideal.

Do I need any special tools?

As long as you know the wiring code not a big deal but although I have did many I also will admit I have had a lot of do overs.

My eyes just can't see them small wires to the channels in the end piece for crimping unless I'm in the shop with a desk mounted boom magnifier lamp. The crimping tool are $25 on up for better crimpers.

I have also drilled the hole larger and so easy to fluff patch back up after wire is where you need to run it. On the inside drywall a little drywall mud on your finger will patch that and on the outside wall silicone to seal the hole.

I have had to do it this way on rentals in the past to when you leave remove the wire, a quick patch on both sides of the wall and it was never there. A cable installer I watched did that as well drill, fish the wire than patch the same as I did..

You can also keep the end piece on the wire and not cut it off. I have a file that when fishing the wire thru the hole I adjust the hole just big enough so I can pull the wire taped to a long 3 foot screwdriver and guild it on in.

 

[punkncat]

Something to keep in mind here. Unless you are routing this behind your siding you will need to get outdoor/sunlight rated wire. The sun will mess up a regular cable in quick order.

edit- I would put it in pipe, personally

 

[Ralston18]

Just ensure that the pipe can drain.

No low points to hold water.

 

[USAFRet]

Practice
Practice
Practice

Buy a bunch of extra RJ-45 ends.

Cut several 1 foot long pieces.

Practice.
Test with an inexpensive tester.


You do NOT want your first attempts to be after snaking it through the wall, and then seeing that you failed.

Or as above, tool less keystones.
Still, practice!