cat6- multiple drops or switch? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

takeaim · 2012-06-14, 09:32 AM

i couldn't find the thread that discussions were underway for wiring around a home and people were mentioning to put multiple drops to each room for future network expansion.

is this the way to go? or couldn't you just have one run and then add a switch to the room later if you needed multiple pieces attached to the network later? is there a positive/negative for either way?

just curious
thanks

JamesK · 2012-06-14, 12:32 PM

The best way depends on your situation. If you're wiring up a home under construction, then multiple outlets is the way to go. If necessary, you can still add a switch later. On the other hand, if an existing home, adding outlets can be a lot of work and sometimes very difficult, if not impossible. Of course Wifi is quite useful too. I have an "N" access point located near the middle of my condo. I rarely plug my notebook computer into the network anymore, as WiFi works so well. Of course, my cell phone and tablet have to use WiFi.

BTW, when I had my cable modem installed several years ago, Rogers had to run a cable from the living room, where the cable enters my unit to the other end of my unit, where my "computer room" is. They sent a 2 man crew who took 3 hours to fish the cable through my condo. While they were doing that, I had them pull a couple of runs of CAT5, so I now have Ethernet jacks in my living room and master bedroom. They did a real nice job and the cables are only visible where they run across my laundry room ceiling.

audacity · 2012-06-14, 12:55 PM

The effort and cost difference of running a pair of wires vs. just one wire to each room is negligible and there are many rooms where we did use both ports. When you can select from 1/2/3/4/6-jack keystone wall plates you can usually get all the stuff you want in there without needing extra room on the wall for all those Ethernet jacks. In the basement all the wires connect up to a patch panel and it looks very clean and professional.

Adding a switch to each room just adds to the wiring mess because you now have the switch, the power cable to from the switch to the wall, and a additional Ethernet cable.

Another motivation I had for having the "big switch in the basement" is that I wanted to have a reliable data network, even if the power goes out. This is because I use a VoIP phone and want to be able to continue to use it in the event of a power outage - just like a traditional POTS line. This is easily achieved by having a UPS that powers my modem, router, and a 24 port switch. Putting additional UPSes everywhere I might have used a switch would definitely have made the "add switches as you need them" solution more expensive.

takeaim · 2012-06-14, 01:01 PM

my router is upstairs, i was running one line down from the 2nd floor all the way to the basement and then back up to the living room, so i was wondering if the switch would be a better option as 2 lines from 2 floors up is a pain. however perhaps the best route would be to run the one line to the basement and then put a switch there for future expansion and run two lines from that to the living room.

also running line(s) to the bedroom, but that's easy from the router to the attic and down, so probably run 2 there. i'll have to debate the other bedrooms at a later time and decide what to do

audacity · 2012-06-14, 01:16 PM

In your case it may make sense to have two "main" switches. One for all the upstairs drops (via the attic) and one for all the main-floor and basement drops (via the basement ceiling) - provided that you would be able to get at least one Ethernet cable to connect the two switches. That may require some drywall repair.

takeaim · 2012-06-14, 03:30 PM

yes, sounds like that might be the eventual best option. i would think run the one ethernet cable from the router to the basement into a switch and then anything in the basement and main floor runs off of that and then another ethernet line into the attic to switch #2 and then everything upstairs to that. we haven't painted many rooms yet, so drywall repair isn't a big deal and hence why i want to get going on it now. however a few bedrooms are already done.

only problem i see is the power source to a switch in the attic

JamesK · 2012-06-14, 04:17 PM

^^^^
Don't forget about temperature in the attic. Temperature extremes are not good.

audacity · 2012-06-14, 05:26 PM

If I were you, I'd find a interior wall upstairs (not in the attic) where you would terminate all the ethernet cables running to the rooms upstairs. Maybe in a closet or something and get a two gang wall plate (like Monoprice product ID 6838). Then just mount switch #2 to the wall and plug the cables in there and get a bunch of short Ethernet cables (1-2ft).

So all the runs would be from this upstairs interior wall "patch panel" where the switch is located, run up to the attic, then each goes down again to their eventual drop location in the various rooms.

Personally I'd rather have my network gear somewhere other than the attic. Even if you weren't concerned about the operating temperature range of the network gear, its nice to be able to get at the switch if you ever have to troubleshoot something.

Tikker · 2012-06-14, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takeaim

i couldn't find the thread that discussions were underway for wiring around a home and people were mentioning to put multiple drops to each room for future network expansion.

is this the way to go? or couldn't you just have one run and then add a switch to the room later if you needed multiple pieces attached to the network later? is there a positive/negative for either way?

just curious
thanks

it depends on what you're doing

if you've got a single run to a room, then split it with a switch, you're limited in bandwidth to the single pipe into the room

if you've run gigabit or higher rated cable,it's probably not ever going to be an issue

if you're doing any multicasting, the switches will repeat it out every port, wasting fair bit of bandwidth (think vlc, and multiroom audio/video)

all that being said; if you're running cable, run as many as you think you'll need, and then add 1 more to each room

JamesK · 2012-06-15, 12:47 PM

^^^^
A few years ago, I read about one switch, it might have been made by Intel, that fits into an outlet box and used PoE for power. It had 4 jacks on the front. It's a nice, neat solution for when you need multiple outlets at one location.

Tikker · 2012-06-17, 06:26 PM

like this?
http://www.connectixdirect.com/acata...t_Switchx.html

JamesK · 2012-06-17, 09:40 PM

^^^^
No, that switch was designed to fit in an outlet box or mud ring and intended to be a direct replacement for the traditional Ethernet outlet panel.

takeaim · 2012-06-19, 02:27 PM

in the meantime i think i'll run the lines i need with an extra loop in the attic and in the basement so i have the slack to cut the lines later, re-terminate the ends and add in the respective switches at that point.

envirogeek · 2012-06-19, 02:44 PM

@JamesK,

Me thinks perhaps you are remembering the 3Com Intellijack?

2012-06-14, 09:32 AM	#1
takeaim Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 370	cat6- multiple drops or switch? i couldn't find the thread that discussions were underway for wiring around a home and people were mentioning to put multiple drops to each room for future network expansion. is this the way to go? or couldn't you just have one run and then add a switch to the room later if you needed multiple pieces attached to the network later? is there a positive/negative for either way? just curious thanks

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2012-06-14, 12:32 PM	#2
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,089	The best way depends on your situation. If you're wiring up a home under construction, then multiple outlets is the way to go. If necessary, you can still add a switch later. On the other hand, if an existing home, adding outlets can be a lot of work and sometimes very difficult, if not impossible. Of course Wifi is quite useful too. I have an "N" access point located near the middle of my condo. I rarely plug my notebook computer into the network anymore, as WiFi works so well. Of course, my cell phone and tablet have to use WiFi. BTW, when I had my cable modem installed several years ago, Rogers had to run a cable from the living room, where the cable enters my unit to the other end of my unit, where my "computer room" is. They sent a 2 man crew who took 3 hours to fish the cable through my condo. While they were doing that, I had them pull a couple of runs of CAT5, so I now have Ethernet jacks in my living room and master bedroom. They did a real nice job and the cables are only visible where they run across my laundry room ceiling.

2012-06-14, 12:55 PM	#3
audacity Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,850	The effort and cost difference of running a pair of wires vs. just one wire to each room is negligible and there are many rooms where we did use both ports. When you can select from 1/2/3/4/6-jack keystone wall plates you can usually get all the stuff you want in there without needing extra room on the wall for all those Ethernet jacks. In the basement all the wires connect up to a patch panel and it looks very clean and professional. Adding a switch to each room just adds to the wiring mess because you now have the switch, the power cable to from the switch to the wall, and a additional Ethernet cable. Another motivation I had for having the "big switch in the basement" is that I wanted to have a reliable data network, even if the power goes out. This is because I use a VoIP phone and want to be able to continue to use it in the event of a power outage - just like a traditional POTS line. This is easily achieved by having a UPS that powers my modem, router, and a 24 port switch. Putting additional UPSes everywhere I might have used a switch would definitely have made the "add switches as you need them" solution more expensive.

2012-06-14, 01:01 PM	#4
takeaim Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 370	my router is upstairs, i was running one line down from the 2nd floor all the way to the basement and then back up to the living room, so i was wondering if the switch would be a better option as 2 lines from 2 floors up is a pain. however perhaps the best route would be to run the one line to the basement and then put a switch there for future expansion and run two lines from that to the living room. also running line(s) to the bedroom, but that's easy from the router to the attic and down, so probably run 2 there. i'll have to debate the other bedrooms at a later time and decide what to do

2012-06-14, 01:16 PM	#5
audacity Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,850	In your case it may make sense to have two "main" switches. One for all the upstairs drops (via the attic) and one for all the main-floor and basement drops (via the basement ceiling) - provided that you would be able to get at least one Ethernet cable to connect the two switches. That may require some drywall repair.

2012-06-14, 03:30 PM	#6
takeaim Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 370	yes, sounds like that might be the eventual best option. i would think run the one ethernet cable from the router to the basement into a switch and then anything in the basement and main floor runs off of that and then another ethernet line into the attic to switch #2 and then everything upstairs to that. we haven't painted many rooms yet, so drywall repair isn't a big deal and hence why i want to get going on it now. however a few bedrooms are already done. only problem i see is the power source to a switch in the attic

2012-06-14, 04:17 PM	#7
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,089	^^^^ Don't forget about temperature in the attic. Temperature extremes are not good.

2012-06-14, 05:26 PM	#8
audacity Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,850	If I were you, I'd find a interior wall upstairs (not in the attic) where you would terminate all the ethernet cables running to the rooms upstairs. Maybe in a closet or something and get a two gang wall plate (like Monoprice product ID 6838). Then just mount switch #2 to the wall and plug the cables in there and get a bunch of short Ethernet cables (1-2ft). So all the runs would be from this upstairs interior wall "patch panel" where the switch is located, run up to the attic, then each goes down again to their eventual drop location in the various rooms. Personally I'd rather have my network gear somewhere other than the attic. Even if you weren't concerned about the operating temperature range of the network gear, its nice to be able to get at the switch if you ever have to troubleshoot something.

2012-06-15, 12:47 PM	#10
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,089	^^^^ A few years ago, I read about one switch, it might have been made by Intel, that fits into an outlet box and used PoE for power. It had 4 jacks on the front. It's a nice, neat solution for when you need multiple outlets at one location.

2012-06-17, 06:26 PM	#11
Tikker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SaskTel Posts: 906	like this? http://www.connectixdirect.com/acata...t_Switchx.html

2012-06-17, 09:40 PM	#12
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,089	^^^^ No, that switch was designed to fit in an outlet box or mud ring and intended to be a direct replacement for the traditional Ethernet outlet panel.

2012-06-19, 02:44 PM	#14
envirogeek Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Calgary - Shaw phone & internet, 4 bay OTA in attic / Pigeon Lake - CCI Wireless, 8 bay OTA on roof Posts: 565	@JamesK, Me thinks perhaps you are remembering the 3Com Intellijack?

2012-06-19, 02:27 PM	#13
takeaim Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 370	in the meantime i think i'll run the lines i need with an extra loop in the attic and in the basement so i have the slack to cut the lines later, re-terminate the ends and add in the respective switches at that point.