Question Local network cable recommendation ?

[kisserik93]

Hi everyone!

Our house is currently under construction, and we've reached the stage where we need to set up the cabling for the local network.
I’d like to ask for your advice on what type of cable to use. I’m primarily thinking about CAT6A, but I’m also open to cables capable of higher speeds (CAT7, CAT8).

So basically, I have two questions:

1. What category of cable should I buy: CAT6A, CAT7, or CAT8?
2. Which brand or even specific cable type would you recommend?

I’m aiming to build a fast and future-proof network.

Thank you very much!

 

[kanewolf]

Hi everyone!

Our house is currently under construction, and we've reached the stage where we need to set up the cabling for the local network.
I’d like to ask for your advice on what type of cable to use. I’m primarily thinking about CAT6A, but I’m also open to cables capable of higher speeds (CAT7, CAT8).

So basically, I have two questions:

1. What category of cable should I buy: CAT6A, CAT7, or CAT8?
2. Which brand or even specific cable type would you recommend?

I’m aiming to build a fast and future-proof network.

Thank you very much!

There is no reason to use anything beyond 6A. It just costs more and is more difficult to terminate. Unless you have $10,000+ equipment to verify compliance with standards, you won't really know your "cat8" cable is capable of 40GE speeds. And bad terminations will negate any possible benefit in expensive cable.
Get 24GA, 100% copper, round cable. Put smurf tube in for your main feed from the outside world, so that you can upgrade your WAN cabling if needed.

 

[evermorex76]

And, assuming it's not ridiculously expensive, have them use conduit for all the cabling, so you CAN easily change it out if you want later, and it's protected.

If you want futureproof, run fiber instead, and then you can use fiber to copper converters at the ends for devices that need it while having the option of direct fiber links.

 

[kanewolf]

And, assuming it's not ridiculously expensive, have them use conduit for all the cabling, so you CAN easily change it out if you want later, and it's protected.

If you want futureproof, run fiber instead, and then you can use fiber to copper converters at the ends for devices that need it while having the option of direct fiber links.

You could put in fiber, but it is expensive and would generally not benefit you. Bandwidth beyond 10GE might be used between servers if you have them, but they would generally be colocated. Distributed bandwidth greater than 10GE? Not useful, IMO.
Don't design for "futureproof". Design for reasonable, and useful. 10GE bandwidth to PCs will generally only be used for backups. 10GE to a TV will be a complete waste because 4K TVs have 100Mbit wired connections. Cat6A will support 10GE to every port if properly terminated.

 

[LinuxDevice]

Cat 6a will even work up to 10 Gbit/s if the run is short (by short I mean around a small house, but not a mansion). With gigabit 6a will work even over longer distances.

The "riser" spec cable (CMR abbreviation) means it is rated to be ok in fires if inside the walls. The plenum spec (CMP abbreviation) means it is safe even in an air vent when on fire due to low toxicity when being burned. You can often ignore this if you are entirely in a shielded conduit, but CMR is still a good idea. CMP is more expensive but if you want to be able to go through air ducts, or if you just like the idea of low toxicity in a fire, then you might want CMP.

 

[kanewolf]

Cat 6a will even work up to 10 Gbit/s if the run is short (by short I mean around a small house, but not a mansion). With gigabit 6a will work even over longer distances.

The "riser" spec cable (CMR abbreviation) means it is rated to be ok in fires if inside the walls. The plenum spec (CMP abbreviation) means it is safe even in an air vent when on fire due to low toxicity when being burned. You can often ignore this if you are entirely in a shielded conduit, but CMR is still a good idea. CMP is more expensive but if you want to be able to go through air ducts, or if you just like the idea of low toxicity in a fire, then you might want CMP.

6A is good to 100meters for 10GE. That covers most mansions ....
Check your local fire regulations for the type of cable required. If you are unsure, ask your city code office.

 

[bill001g]

When the walls are open I would always opt to run flexible conduit. It will add costs, 200ft of 1/2 inch cost about $100, but it pretty much makes the wire safe from any physical damage. You can easily pull the wire out and run a better one if needed. Most times the conduit is large enough to run more than one cable so you could easily add a second connection in the future if you wanted to.

 

[evermorex76]

You could put in fiber, but it is expensive and would generally not benefit you.

That was intended more in the "if you've got money to blow" realm. Futureproofing when the cost is marginal in your budget is fine. Of course if it's put into conduit, it can all be easily upgraded to fiber later.

6A is good to 100meters for 10GE. That covers most mansions ....

Depends on the arrangement and where the "network closet" will be, and your definition of mansion. If it's in a corner and it's a weird setup where the cabling will need to go around a lot of corners, and up multiple floors, it could be bad. If you have to refer to anything as a "wing" of the house, distance might be a concern.

 

[USAFRet]

Depends on the arrangement and where the "network closet" will be

New build, you put the 'network closet' where it will be most beneficial.
Center of the 3D space would be best.

 

[evermorex76]

New build, you put the 'network closet' where it will be most beneficial.

Sure, if you have any idea what you're doing. Not every building is designed by someone who has the knowledge to make them capable of selecting optimal placement for every feature.

 

[Ralston18]

@kisserik93

And use house floor plans, measurements, photographs, etc. to document everything.

Before the drywall/sheetrock goes up.

Make note of electrical wiring, communication wires, audio/video cables, security wiring, water lines, sewer lines, ductwork, fireblocks, etc. along the cable runs.

Ensure that all ports, cables, wall jacks, etc. are clearly labeled on both ends. Plus leave some extra cable coiled and free inside the wall (service loop) in case any given connection needs to be re-terminated.

And be very sure about the local codes applicable to where you live (not asking). Check the permiting requirements if any... Who can do what and where can be very stringent even for low voltage ( < 50 volts) installations.

Do not leave any of that to chance.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[evermorex76]

Sorry sir, but all of this is going to have to be ripped out. Your 17-year-old cousin Timmy who watched several YouTube tutorials and thinks he might want to be a pro gamer OR a basketball player OR an astronaut can't legally install your TV cabling and network cabling, connect your house to the public AC power system, run the water and sewer pipes, install the solar panels and sign off on the inspection.

 

[LinuxDevice]

Sorry sir, but all of this is going to have to be ripped out. Your 17-year-old cousin Timmy who watched several YouTube tutorials and thinks he might want to be a pro gamer OR a basketball player OR an astronaut can't legally install your TV cabling and network cabling, connect your house to the public AC power system, run the water and sewer pipes, install the solar panels and sign off on the inspection.

The owner of a home can install their own network cables, no license required. A lot of construction for things like renovating and adding a dedicated closet would probably require a permit. Now if you are installing to a home you own and it is being rented out, then everything changes and regulations get a lot worse. Working on a network cable in your own home without changing house structure is perfectly ok though. Still, I would want at least riser (CMR) cable if not going through air ducts; you would definitely want plenum (CMP) if going through air ducts.

Do beware of Timmy! Timmy is cunning, invisible, and evil! Timmy is everywhere! Mwuhahha! Yeah, there are Timmy's everywhere, usually with some other name, e.g., "family dog" (similar to Family Guy). 😱

 

[bill001g]

The owner of a home can install their own network cables, no license required. A lot of construction for things like renovating and adding a dedicated closet would probably require a permit. Now if you are installing to a home you own and it is being rented out, then everything changes and regulations get a lot worse. Working on a network cable in your own home without changing house structure is perfectly ok though. Still, I would want at least riser (CMR) cable if not going through air ducts; you would definitely want plenum (CMP) if going through air ducts.

Do beware of Timmy! Timmy is cunning, invisible, and evil! Timmy is everywhere! Mwuhahha! Yeah, there are Timmy's everywhere, usually with some other name, e.g., "family dog" (similar to Family Guy). 😱

Some cities are very money hungry and want permits for everything. The electrician unions also push city laws to prevent people from doing work themselves. Ethernet is consider low voltage cable and some cities require a electrician to both have a license for that and require that a electrician with that license install it.

Of course the city has no way to know if you do it yourself in your own house.

This stuff gets crazy. Go to some trade show and they will not even let you plug a laptop into a power strip that is installed on a table. The official "laptop plugging guy " must do it. Been a while since I did trade shows I wonder if they let people plug in their cell phone to a charger or if you have to have some guy do that too.

 

[kanewolf]

The owner of a home can install their own network cables, no license required. A lot of construction for things like renovating and adding a dedicated closet would probably require a permit. Now if you are installing to a home you own and it is being rented out, then everything changes and regulations get a lot worse. Working on a network cable in your own home without changing house structure is perfectly ok though. Still, I would want at least riser (CMR) cable if not going through air ducts; you would definitely want plenum (CMP) if going through air ducts.

Do beware of Timmy! Timmy is cunning, invisible, and evil! Timmy is everywhere! Mwuhahha! Yeah, there are Timmy's everywhere, usually with some other name, e.g., "family dog" (similar to Family Guy). 😱

The biggest problem is that the final owner may not be the property owner during construction. So self installed cable would have to be approved by the general contractor, since it is there schedule that is endangered by a red-tag for ANYTHING.

 

[LinuxDevice]

The biggest problem is that the final owner may not be the property owner during construction. So self installed cable would have to be approved by the general contractor, since it is there schedule that is endangered by a red-tag for ANYTHING.

So far as I know this isn't a home under construction. It is a wiring of an existing home occupied by the owner. If that is incorrect, then the original poster can correct me.

 

[LinuxDevice]

Some cities are very money hungry and want permits for everything. The electrician unions also push city laws to prevent people from doing work themselves. Ethernet is consider low voltage cable and some cities require a electrician to both have a license for that and require that a electrician with that license install it.

Of course the city has no way to know if you do it yourself in your own house.

This stuff gets crazy. Go to some trade show and they will not even let you plug a laptop into a power strip that is installed on a table. The official "laptop plugging guy " must do it. Been a while since I did trade shows I wonder if they let people plug in their cell phone to a charger or if you have to have some guy do that too.

You are correct, local laws change, so the person installing would have to check. It is true also though that often one can put their own computer cables in the house with no special permit if nothing structural is changing. It is safer for someone who does this for a living to do so, but it isn't always mandatory. There are often options, and this needs to be checked.

 

[kanewolf]

So far as I know this isn't a home under construction. It is a wiring of an existing home occupied by the owner. If that is incorrect, then the original poster can correct me.

The first line of the original post "Our house is currently under construction"

 

[Nigel Spike]

FWIW, OP is located in Hungary according to an earlier post. Reference to laws, regulations, construction type and materials may not apply when that info is not taken into consideration.

 

[Ralston18]

And the absence of laws, regulations, etc. could make it even riskier for the home owner to do their own work.

No inspections or sign-offs to protect the owner from incompetent or shady builders.

Sub-standard or fake materials, sloppy or improper installation, even bad design to begin with.

Especially if the owner has little knowledge and/or experience. Proper tools, parts, and so forth.

Something already not right could be made worse with bad consequences.....

Owner needs to find a knowledgeable and skilled contractor who can do the work properly and with the right materials.