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Home Network Cable

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:42 pm
by Mr Charisma
Hey guys,

I have the standard Telstra 4 port Modem / Router thingo and I want to hardwire this to 4 points in the house.

I am thinking of getting 305m CAT5e box as it will only be linking to a TBox, PS3 and PC with 1 port spare ( laptop? ).

Can anyone point me in the direct of who sells some decent stuff?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:48 pm
by LZY_EYE
John R Turk on Tuggerah straight is probably the go.

Work has an account, not sure how much cheaper I could get it.

Are you going to run wall plates, or just punch it through a hole in the wall and put a plug on? I have crimpers, connectors and a cable tester you could borrow.

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:16 pm
by The X
If you're gonna do it, do it properly, go the CAT6 - get GigE and shielded. :P
you could probably get a heap from eBay for decent pricing - hopefully decent quality

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:17 pm
by Mitsi
http://www.jaycar.com.au/ is a techie's paradise or you could go wireless ;)

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:34 pm
by Mr Charisma
@ Shane - Thanks mate, will have a look into that as I heard they are good but didn't realise there was one so close! Appreciate the offer for the tools, I think I better get some as I am not going to use it all in one go :P

Going to use wall plates. I think I found some but will look at that too.

@ Pete - I thought about it.. but then when our internet is always going to be crap, I decided CAT5 is more than enough. Looked on ebay and other online sites but they look kinda dodgy :(

@Mitsi - We can have 10 things hooked up wirelessly sometimes, wanted to hardwire it in if I could. I do like Jaycar!!

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:45 pm
by stewy
VRX_Pete wrote:If youre gonna do it, do it properly, go the CAT6 - get GigE and shielded. :P you could probably get a heap from eBay for decent pricing - hopefully decent quality


Or go to an electrical wholesaler, the same spot where tradies get their gear from. Most have a fair bit of competition in the area and will give the general public trade pricing.

For the record though DIY fixed Ethernet cable isn't legal unless you have a ACMA cabler's license.

Cat5e is also capable of running Gigabit Ethernet perfectly fine, but it would be wise to get Cat 6 put in because it isn't all that much dearer. However for it to be compliant to the standards it's supposed to be TDR tested in order to confirm there isn't too much cross-talk, etc and you have to be careful that you keep the minimum bending radiuses when the cable makes any turns along its run. Also shielded is a waste of money, in industry I've never seen it used (longer runs we just whack on fibre) and you are supposed to be installing it at a minimum distance from any power cabling anyway as per AS/NZS3000:2007....

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:58 pm
by Mr Charisma
Cheers Stewy.

May have to ask around my Sparky mates about that.

How far away from power should it be approx?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:03 pm
by Speedie
Its not the cable that has the price difference its the keystones. Depending on what your thinking maybe look at a small home hub.

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:58 pm
by stewy
Mr Charisma wrote:Cheers Stewy. May have to ask around my Sparky mates about that. How far away from power should it be approx?


According to AS/NZS 3000:2007 Clause 3.8.4, Figure 3.8 either in conduit or a minimum of 50mm from power cabling but it does say AS/ACIF S009 goes more in depth into it...


Personally I would allow for a lot more than 50mm clearance and if you do have to cross over any power cables do so at a right angle (minimizes EMI) and in a short length of conduit (so as to maintain minimum separation rules).

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 6:54 pm
by Speedie
it also states that they are not allowed to share the same wall cavity

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:19 pm
by justin
When i did mine i ran Cat5e to every room in the house, i got all my stuff from Lawrence and Hanson Electrical whole salers but all whole salers sell the stuff its just that i worked there at the time....

just make sure you run it atleast half a meter from the power i reckon, 50mm is the standards but go a bit more no harm in that. careful of bends etc as ppl have said already, i had a mate that was a sparky give me a hand since he had the tools.

personally i think wireless is a bit crappy espeically when it comes to streaming stuff so i only run it on portable devices...

Like pete said tho run CAT6 its not that much more pricey now... and mighten make much difference now but might in the future so again no harm in spending a little more for a bit better...
305 box is crazy i decided i ran my box to 7 ports... all the way to the front of the house from the back and i still had half a box left, now had 3 mates use it and still some left... so yeah bit over kill see if you can find say 50-100m

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:02 pm
by Mr Charisma
Thanks Stewy, I tried to view a copy of the AS/NZS 3000:2007 but they are all locked.

Speedie - Yeah I have sussed out the wall plates :( . Separate wall cavity might be an issue.. we will see.

Justin - I measured it up and yeah I will probably only need 70-80 metres max so I might tone it back to a 100m roll. Agree with the Wireless, Tbox has issues with the internet TV.

Getting a mate to see if he can source some first since he reckons he can, otherwise I might hit up some places.

Thanks for your input guys.

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:32 pm
by justin
try like
TLE
John R Turk
dont think theres a lawrence and hanson up there for memory
and there are a few others but cant rememeber the name...

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:13 pm
by Speedie
http://www.megabuy.com.au/cat6-stranded ... 54363.html
wouldn't pay more than this for cat 6 but really it should only be $60

Also check out http://www.gamedude.com.au/ they have 305m rolls for under 4100

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:18 pm
by Hitman
Hi Phil, if only you had asked about this a few months ago. I threw out nearly a full box of C5E & 1/2 a box of C5, had been laying around for a few years & finally had a tidy up.