Home Ethernet Wiring – A Complete Guide to Know

It’s good to know that wireless networks and similar networks are getting improved day by day. Some people do still depend on wired internet connections. Mostly the reasons are:-

• Fastest throughput.
• Minimal dormancy.
• Supports a static network connection at home.

Wired Ethernet connection is a little bit annoying for one reason, that is cable or wire. Users have to set the wire through his house. Ideally, it is through the walls. If the users don’t get reconstructed, this will be quite troublesome. I did this total of 2 times in my own home. The first time was when I was repairing my house, and the 2nd time in my present home. Our house was fully built-in before we were buying this.

Here I am going to give you directions on choosing the perfect materials for this article. In addition, I will also share some procedures of setting network cables, some tips to get a superb network connection, rid of unwanted problems, etc.

First, the primary things you should know before starting any wiring network project. Always begin your project with creative ideas. Primarily we should need to know for a solid plan:-

Area to Set Ethernet Connecting Wire Perfectly

Where do wires come to connect each other? How to get over that area? I have divided the planning into small steps for convenience:

1. Keep your house floorplan straight and sound

That is very helpful to discern points of every single wired network connection.

2. Point out the positions of the ethernet connection. 

Remember that children’s’ grow up. They may have their devices, like gaming devices and PCs in the room. To determine an area for the network printer, besides you should remember the access area for setting up the router and switch. You can choose each floor as a place for switching, or set every cable to one fixed location, depending on your convenience.

3. Where to place the router and switch?

I would like to set every network connection in one area because this way is better to use large switches or utilize the switches.

4. What are the ways to run every cable?

You can look for an attic and crawl space. These two are very convenient ways to run cables through your home.

5. What are the numbers of ethernet ports per location?

I suggest you set two ethernet sockets for each location. The UTP cables are inexpensive. An extra ethernet port costs minimal in addition, although the addition of a port may cause you more work and some money. However, one ethernet socket is sufficient for the access points. You can direct the cables through:-

• HVAC ducts
• Any suitable air circulation duct

Just remember that you’re required to apply some plenum cat6 cables for ducts.

Tool for Home Network Design

You can get assistance from the Unifi Design Center. This tool approves the network appliances to set.

• Utilize all the cables.
• It is extra operation, still gives convenience to plan your home network wiring.
• To utilize your network installation at the house, Unifi Centre is a good option.

You can choose a floor plan for the underlayment to utilize the house walls. Set home network appliances along with ethernet cable in it afterward. The ethernet cables won’t be set up neatly according to your choice, however, this is just an idea about probability. Another advantage of the Unifi Design Centre is anyone can check the wireless network coverage in it.

So, you can choose the suitable area for the access points, the extra one as well if needed. Here I’ve explained additionally about suitable locations for access points.

Top-rated Ethernet Cable to Look for the Home Wiring

Now we’re going to inspect what we require, as our plan has concluded. And that necessary equipment is the ethernet cable. Ethernet cables are categorized according to the rating (Cat). These categories define the network speed, how fast the cable transmits the data. Two things are really important to know while choosing an Ethernet cable.

One is the speed, two is the quality of the cable. Never spend your money to buy CCA (Copper Clad Aluminium-based cable). To acquire the premier execution and speed from a UTP cable, it should have minimal resistance. Full bare copper cables can achieve this type of execution. You don’t operate PoE (Power over Ethernet) along with CCA cable. This combination will build up an excess resistance.

Excess resistance causes the cable to warm up and increase the length. The longer the cable length, the lesser power will transmit to the device. Besides, CCA cables are not malleable enough, which is a little bit breakable. Therefore If you try to twist the cable, thin wires may break inside.

No Ethernet Port in House? 9 Best Alternative Fixes

Which is Better Between Cat 6 and Cat 6a?

Nowadays, Cat 6 UTP is not that supportive in quality for the installations. The neoteric one is two times more lavish. Is there a real necessity for it?

 Cat 6

• Speed : 10 Gbps up to 55 Mtrs/ 1 Gbps> 55 Mtrs.
• Bandwidth: 250 MHz
• Price(500fit / 150 meters): CA.$55/-

 Cat 6a

• Speed: 10 Gbps.
• Bandwidth: 500 MHz
• Price (500fit / 150 meters): CA.$99/-

Look at the speed coverage of the Cat 6 cable. It operates 10 Gbps only over a limited distance, from 37 meters to 55 meters. The speed will soon drop down to 1 Gbps over a longer length afterward. Besides, Cat 6 has the least bandwidth (250 MHz), compared to Cat 6a( 500 MHz). So what’s the importance of this?

Let’s draw both bandwidths on some highway lanes. Anyone can drive both 70 mph on both sides, where Cat 6 has two lanes, Cat 6a has five lanes. That’s how Cat 6a is capable of transmitting much more data than Cat 6, which will need to use a Surface Mounted Socket with a chosen access point.

Better Between Solid and Stranded

There is one Solid wire in every single conductor. In the Solid UTP cable, there are eight conductors. Therefore, there are eight Solid wires in every Solid UTP cable. Let’s check the Stranded UTP cables. Inside the cable, numerous wires have attached the conductor. That’s why these typed cables are more twistable.

Between them, Solid Cables are more trouble-free to attach to the wall jacks, patch panels, etc. On the other hand, most technicians don’t use Stranded cables that much. Stranded Cables are easy to convert from Patch cables to Short Cables, which cables are settled to the switch and Patch panel. That is the reason why you will choose Solid Cables for the home network wiring. Another benefit of purchasing solid UTP cables is, you can consume them immensely.(250ft-1000ft / 75meters-330meters)

Plenum Cat6 cables

As I wrote here, you can operate the Home Ethernet Wiring with the ducts like HVAC or air circulation ducts. For that, you’ll require a particular type of Ethernet cable. That cable is Plenum Cat6 cables. These cables carry a particular jacket to Intercept the fire extension less than five feet. That is the first specialty of Plenum Cat6 cables. Always never forget to review your local fire code, to ensure whether your purchased cables are usable in the HVAC ducts. Cat6 cable is a little bit cheaper compared to the Plenum cables.

Cat6 Riser Cable

In some countries, technicians suggested setting Cat6 Riser Cable (CMR) in drywall and the middle of the floors. CMR cables don’t have the resistance to intercept fire flames from extending. That’s why it’s highly required to use it between floors. Plenum Cat6 cables are more costly compared to CMR cables. Cat6 Cables have mostly been purchasing for residential use in maximum countries. Still, it’s highly required to review the fire code of your area.

Top-Rated Ethernet Cable Brands

You’ll find many Ethernet cable brands in the market, but which one is appropriate to purchase? Remember that you’ll only require Cat6 Cables, which has copper conductors. The second piece of advice for you is to purchase a 23AWG Cable. These wires are moderately thick, which is why these cables have notably good operations on Ethernet Power.

Wide of the cables:

• 23AWG: 0.57mm
• 42AG: 0.52mm

Now, Here’s the list of top-rated Ethernet cable brands. That will favor you to find out the best UTP Cable:

TrueCable Cat6

• 500ft CMR 

• 23AWG

Monoprice Cat6

• 500ft CMR

•  24AWG

Southwire Cat6

• 500ft CMR

• 23AWG

About Patch Panel

Technicians suggest not to set RJ45 to connect with a Solid UTP Cable, even if you can set it. The reasons are,

• Ethernet cables are plenty baggy, which doesn’t look good.
• Hard to work with it.
• Not that easy to get the perfect cable.
• More importantly, UTP Cables with Solid wire aren’t that flexible enough to twist.

Patch Cables that connect patch panels to the switches have enough flexibility to twist without harming the wires. The stranded wires inside the Patch Cables made it more twistable.

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That’s why using a Patch Panel is a good choice. There are some Patch Panel that come in wall-mounted and minimal-sized, to use in Home Network. Therefore, it’s not necessary to be rack-mounted and large-sized.

You will find a lot of get-at-able options in the market. Still, it’s dependent on the number of connections that you have at home. I suggest you use these wall-mounted Patch Panels if it’s higher than twelve Ethernet connections:

You might be using more than twelve ports. For that reason, you stick with two of these. You can also work with a 24 port Patch Panel or 1U Mounting Hinge.

Ethernet Wall Sockets

We will require Ethernet Wall Sockets for the other hand of the Ethernet Cable. These Sockets are designed differently according to different places. The design of the US doesn’t match with Eu’s. With the US one, you will see an unpluggable keystone jack along with the Wall Socket. These keystones help the installation process to get unadorned.

Surface Mounted Ethernet Sockets

It’s not right to use a single wall socket for the ethernet connection on a regular basis. You might need to use a Surface Mounted Socket with a chosen access point. You can easily set these in a suitable location. Use an ordinary patch cable to connect the Socket and access points afterward.

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Connecting RJ45 plugs to Solid UTP Cable

It’s a little bit impossible for Solid UTP Cables to break the plug like RJ45. It also does not mean that you can’t do it. You are just simply required to purchase a correct RJ45 Plug for the cable. In the RJ45’s connector, You will notice an otherness in the blades.

Look closely at this picture. Here, The blade in the centre drills the copper wire. It’s only possible if the wire is Stranded, not possible with the Solid one. Solid wires make the blade take off the insulation. As a result, The blade and the copper wire will touch each other.

Required Tools for the Home Ethernet Wiring

Now we have brought and got to know every networking equipment, gradually it’s time to bring a few more special tools to begin The Home Ethernet Wiring.

• Ethernet Crimping Tool: You will need it while connecting RJ45 plugs.

• Punch down Tool: You can work with this to punch the cable use Keystone jacks and patch panel
• Network Cable Tester (Alternative)
• Basic DIY Tools: Like a Driller or drill machine, Screwdriver, Neon tester, etc.

Operating the Cables

Now we can begin our work to operate the cables, with the support of these tools and equipment. The maximum time you have to operate, with more than two Ethernet cables in the chosen area. Besides, it’s a little bit hard to measure the size of the cable-how much you’re going to need.

Your dependable steps are;

• Run one cable
• Cut it to the required sizes
• Pull it out
• Make a 2nd cable 
• Re-operate those together

Ensure to keep the excess length at both last points of the cable. But not more than that you require, otherwise this will become hard to handle.  Now you have to set the cables correctly, set these to your Patch panel. Keep some excess cable on the Wall socket, this is for the surety of the emergency disconnection (accidentally).

Ethernet Cable Color Order

Since you’ve pulled out the cables, you have to input keystone jacks. Also, you have to input RJ45 Plugs if you have brought these. You may get to see two coloring standards. The first one is 568A. The second one is 568. Or you can easily say A and B.

Of them, 568B is the most popular standard. This one is used in both US and EU equally. On the other hand, 568A is likely to be popular in Pacific Countries.

Here are the color orders of 568B typed Ethernet Cables.

White/Orange>Orange>White/Green>Blue>White/Blue>Green>White/Brown>Brown

You may have brought an RJ45 plug. Grab the clip and lower it. Lower the left pin 1 as well. 

How to Connect Keystone Jacks?

Keystone Jacks which can be punched are very easy to connect. You’ll see the color code of wiring indications over these, that’s what makes the wiring process much easier. First, set the cable over the right conductor. Then use the punching tool connect. You can also check this video to understand this more properly:

Ensure to pursue the colour indications step by step of the keystone jack and Patch Panel. Match it with 568B. You can also use 568A as well for your housing network. 

How to Connect RJ45 Plugs?

RJ45 plugging is a little bit tricky, it needs some practice to do perfectly. Regular practicing will develop the plugging skill much better. You’re only required to ensure the cable’s stripping for five centimetres or two inches. It makes the wire set perfectly in the accurate indication. You can watch this video to get more explanations about the RJ45 plugs.

Examine the Home Ethernet Wiring

Since you’re all done with the wiring processing, you also should test them primarily. You’ll find two different techniques to examine this cable effectively. 

1. The 1st option is Cable Tester.
2. The 2nd option is Network Device( notebooks to switches).
3. The best method is with the Cable Tester.

You may find connecting your notebook to one side and switch to another side is an easy and fast way. If you’re able to access the internet connection, your cable is alright. The only bug is sometimes Ethernet cables execute even with four accurately connected wires.

Different colored wires are used for some purposes. For example, blue and brown wires are for one Gigabit internet connectivity. You can see the connectivity of the internet if the orange and green wires are connected accurately. Sadly, the internet speed will be only 100 Megabit.

Cable Tester

You can doubtlessly examine the wires of the Ethernet cable separately with this tool. That is the perfect method to test if the Ethernet cables are input accurately. Besides, there shouldn’t be any fault or damage as well.

You have to test each of the wires by looking at the Tester’s light. The Tester’s light won’t glow if there’s a fault in connectivity. The perfect solution is to take off the Keystone jack connection. You can also take off the RJ45 plugging if you’re using this. Restart those afterward.

Recap

I hope that this article can assist you a little bit to begin the Home Ethernet Wiring project. Try to avoid unworthy qualitative equipment for your projects, like cable or keystone jack. Remember that replacement of the Ethernet cables is not short-timed work.

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