How much will it cost to have CAT6 installed in my home for home networking by professional. This also includes installation of network jacks in 4 rooms.

2 options...Could have a patch panel in the basement and have the cables running to various rooms

or

Router or Switch in my living and run cable from router/switch to various rooms.

Is one option more or less expensive?

There are so many variables in your question, only the installer will be able to answer after seeing the jobsite.

Is the house in the process of being built? Than it would be cheaper. Otherwise, all the wire fishing can get really expensive (time needed).

Why not do it yourself?
The data network industry is not regulated, no code has to be followed, just common sense.
Avoid running along the power wires. Don't do very sharp turns. If possible - install conduit (think - central vac pipes).
Find the place in your house from which the total length of Cat6 (better plenum) wire needed to run to each wall jack is minimum.
Open the closest internal wall to such spot and install the router between the studs. Make it on a level so that the opening can be closed with a picture hanging on the wall.

Call a network installation company (or independent installer) and ask them. It going to vary depending on the size and layout of the house, and how easy it is for them to route the wiring. The cost of the actual wire is not going to be the major expense, though they will have a markup on the wire, termination jacks and plates, patch panel, etc.

I use a mix of wired and wireless - wireless for notebook access, and wired for fixed equipment. I did the installation myself - it's not that difficult as wiring can be run under baseboards and other sneaky locations to minimize or eliminate wall penetrations and resulting repairs. The equipment (DSL modem, DSL block for phone lines, wireless router, gigabit switch, patch panel) is located in the basement utility room. That is the demarc point for both my telephone and cable service, easily accessible for upgrades or changes, and out of the way as I don't need regular access to it.

If you find the wiring installation cost prohibitive, you could use wireless if you are willing to accept that level of performance - it all depends what you want to do with your connections. For access to high speed internet you're not going to see much difference, as the limiting factor is the speed of your internet connection, not your local network speed.

Also what is your location?

In a major urban centre you'll find a competitive outfit fairly easily but in a rural location you might be looking at higher fees and less options.

The house I'm moving to be will be located in Mississauga. Its not a new home so it will have to be prewired.

I'll be honest I'm pretty useless when it comes to drilling, running wires, etc. And considering its a rented home I'd rather have the onus on a licensed electrician or pro data wiring installer if anything goes wrong. Plus I've heard CAT6 is a pain to crimp.

For equipment most of the stuff I can get from Monoprice at good discount.

The other options such as Wireless or Powerline Networking come down simply to bandwidth of 50MBps-200Mbps. I require Gigabit speeds for large data and video transfers within the networked computers.

Seeing as the house is already built it could be costly... If it is a bungalow, with an unfinished basement, that will definately make it easier... Site unseen, it will be difficult to give you an accurate quote, and seeing as you are renting, the homeowner may request the lines be fished (no visible wiring) so it will look like the wires were pre wired.

Also check out several of the threads in the Cabling forum for house cabling installation tips and ideas:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=97

You've got 100m of total length to play with (typically 90m for the horizontal cable runs) plus 10m for patch cables. Run all the cable to a common patch panel in your house that meets the length limit - I'd suggest a basement utility room. If you hire someone, make sure they have the equipment to test the cabling properly. Incidentally, Cat. 5E is fine for Gigabit Ethernet and since Cat. 6 isn't rated for 10 GigE, it really is unnecessary. Use the Cat. 6A (Augmented) if YOU REALLY MUST.

Oh, and run as many extra lines as you can afford (within reason). You might want to run some RG6 at the same time.

-Mike

So let's say its a small-mid size house. Can you give my ballpark for installation costs. Is it in the hundreds or thousands?

Very hard to say because professional installers typically charge based on what you can likely afford. In other words, business will get one price, residential another; and if you hire an entrepreneur (a guy and his truck) you'll get another price altogether. It also depends on how many runs, and how difficult it is to run the cable. The only way to find out is to ask for quotes and pick the one you feel most comfortable with.

-Mike

So let's say its a small-mid size house. Can you give my ballpark for installation costs. Is it in the hundreds or thousands?
I could see the bill be over $1000...
It really depends on the house itself. I don't know what cable costs are, but labour wise, if the basement is finished, it makes running wires much more difficult.

if you use plenum rated cable you could use the cold air returns as access to run from basement to attic then drop down from the attic into the walls

And considering its a rented home I'd rather have the onus on a licensed electrician or pro data wiring installer if anything goes wrong.

you're the one liable if something screws up if you are renting.. get your landlords ok to do this before you do or you might find yourself on the end of an expensive bill from the landlord..

if you use plenum rated cable you could use the cold air returns as access to run from basement to attic then drop down from the attic into the walls



you're the one liable if something screws up if you are renting.. get your landlords ok to do this before you do or you might find yourself on the end of an expensive bill from the landlord..
I've gotten clearance from the landlord to run cable and wiring. Though I may be partially liable. The professional installing the wiring is liable also because he/she is the one with a license.

I don't think there is any professional license required (or even available) to install low voltage data cabling. There are a number of certifications for professional installers though. Often Electricians do this stuff as well, but you might pay a lot more.

-Mike

I paid the following for cabling when my house was being constructed:

1 Future Smart can with patch panel, 1 Multimedia bundle (2-coax, 2-rj45)
to Great Room TV Location with 3rd Quad sheild to Great
room, 2 Quad shield coax to MBR Tv Location, 2 Double
Computer in Kitchen, 2nd bedroom & Study, 1 TV in Bedroom
2 , 4 quad sheild coax to High Def'n Satelitte west location of garage
Total $1,400.00 + GST

So I have 3 coax at my great room, 2 for sat feed and 1 to back feed the study and 2nd bedroom. I have 9242 dual tuner-dual TV feed PVR.
Then 2 LAN to each of study, kitchen and 2nd bedroom, and single in the great room
Then 2 coax to master beedroom for 5200 dual tuner PVR

I have 5x5 equipment room in the basement where all terminates along with phone, security, server, router, cable/telco, battery backup and all patches to the rest of the house.

Get it done right when the house was being built. But easier and cheaper. But my house is single floor with an unfinished basement right now so it would have been a good DIY job. for later too.

Good Luck
Bill

I paid the following for cabling when my house was being constructed:

1 Future Smart can with patch panel, 1 Multimedia bundle (2-coax, 2-rj45)
to Great Room TV Location with 3rd Quad sheild to Great
room, 2 Quad shield coax to MBR Tv Location, 2 Double
Computer in Kitchen, 2nd bedroom & Study, 1 TV in Bedroom
2 , 4 quad sheild coax to High Def'n Satelitte west location of garage
Total $1,400.00 + GST

So I have 3 coax at my great room, 2 for sat feed and 1 to back feed the study and 2nd bedroom. I have 9242 dual tuner-dual TV feed PVR.
Then 2 LAN to each of study, kitchen and 2nd bedroom, and single in the great room
Then 2 coax to master beedroom for 5200 dual tuner PVR

I have 5x5 equipment room in the basement where all terminates along with phone, security, server, router, cable/telco, battery backup and all patches to the rest of the house.

Get it done right when the house was being built. But easier and cheaper. But my house is single floor with an unfinished basement right now so it would have been a good DIY job. for later too.

Good Luck
Bill
Thanks for the info. This will be helpful in determining a budget.

As someone who does this for a living, I'd like to address a few statements made here:

1) Yes, there is a code you need to adhere to. The Building Code, Fire Code, and Electrical Code. You need to be aware of the construction, how things are built, what can happen if you drill a hole of a certain size in a particular spot, what happens when you enter duct work, etc.. You cannot just run wires anywhere.

2) Installers will not charge based on what they think you can pay. Any professional installer will charge based on what it costs them to install. If they charge less than that, then they won't last in business very long.

3) If you are renting the house, a professional installer will request a letter of permission from the owner of the property in order to do the work. If they don't and it comes back, the renter and the installer can be liable to return the property to proper condition. I have been on the other side of this when a particular cable company comes in and drills holes every where in a rental and the property owner has me come in to fix it and they bill the cable company.

4) Some electricians are alright at this stuff, but many are not. Reason being is they pull the low-vo cabling the same way as Romex, use metal staples, crush the cabling, improper termination techniques, etc.. Again, I have been on the other side of this having to come in and clean up messes. I don't do electrical since I am not trained and certified to do it. But I do low-vo because I am trained and certified for that.

The OP and home owner are responsible that all building codes are met.

If an Electrician fails to follow local standards for an electrical installation, you can go after his license. There is no equivalent licensing for data cabling. The responsibility is entirely on the home owner (and the OP, in this case). Hiring a "professional" doesn't absolve him of that responsibility, so beware.

I guess you have never been involved in a competitive bid process before. That's how you find the lowest bidder. If everyone charged the real cost, there would be no need for that process. I've been involved in enough of those to know the bids can vary 50-100% easily. It's worth getting a few quotes!

-Mike

There is no equivalent licensing for data cabling. The responsibility is entirely on the home owner (and the OP, in this case). Hiring a "professional" doesn't absolve him of that responsibility, so beware.

Correct, there is no licensing in Ontario for data-cabling. However there are a number of industry certifications that can be used to identify that you are hiring a professional who has gone through training and testing for the job at hand.

Not following building code standards has the high probability of being involved in a lawsuit. Especially on new construction (something I do a lot of) where inspections fail because you put a large hole too far out on the span of an engineered joist, or ran cabling in the wrong spot.


I guess you have never been involved in a competitive bid process before. That's how you find the lowest bidder. If everyone charged the real cost, there would be no need for that process.

I'm involved with it every day. I don't need to charge any more money than I need to make on the job otherwise I know it will be too high.

Some I win, some I lose and I don't lose any money on the jobs I don't get.

There are a lot of hacks out there trying to do things who shouldn't be because they either don't know how to do the job, don't know how to bid the job, or both. It's an unfortunately by-product of a recession as many laid off people are looking to do something for cash that they have no idea on how to do. The homeowner ends up paying for it twice...

CEDIA is a robust and recognized standard of proficiency...I'd recommend looking for this when selecting a supplier.

The electrical trade, on the other hand, has nothing that makes them particularly qualified to properly terminate AV/data cabling. What they do have is an imaginary sense of entitlement to pull wires of any variety. [/SARCASM]

billw describes a pretty good system at a fair price. Future Smart is a great product, and the configuration you have is pretty nice.

Here's what I have in my house, and it's been very practical for me:

Seven drops (Master BR, two other BRs, theatre room, office, living room, kitchen) all home run to a patch panel in the utility room with a four port plate in each room. The four ports are 2x CAT5E and 2x RG6 quad shield. There is also a fibre optic cable in the wall at each plate but it's not terminated since I don't have FTTH. It's cheap to include the strand in the bundled cable, though.

The CAT5E ports are patchable to POTS lines in case I move and the new owner uses POTS instead of the IP phones I use. There is a BellTV dish, Rogers digital cable and HD OTA antenna all run to the patch panel so the RG6 QS jacks are all highly configurable.

I don't have a price since I did this myself (I used to be in the business a few years ago)