Networking → Re: Home networking options for Internet speed > 25mbps

It's my main PC. Also in the same location is an access point covering two bedrooms upstairs on that side of the house.

All the more reason to run Ethernet.

What WiFi router do you have ? It doesn't work or cover that end of the house ?

Belkin Surf N300, a pair. The second one was because the bedrooms upstairs are kind of on the edge of the coverage of the first one and connections were a little spotty

I also say go with Cat5 Ethernet, I'm in my third home since the '80's, and all of them have had Ethernet. I'm a firm believer in Hard Wire for the best in Networking. If you end up going this route, don't forget your Entertainment Center to Hard Wire your Streaming Device to get the best Streaming Video to your HDTV. Don't sell out to Wireless, you will regret it later.

I'm really leaning in that direction. I'd really love to be able wire my house for ethernet. I may be able to get a thing or two from work (with permission... they're replacing a lot of stuff).

I was thinking earlier... I've got a bunch of phone wall plates in about every room. I'm wondering if maybe I can replace the phone cable and use it to drag Ethernet cabling. Just thought of it earlier and haven't had a chance yet to check at home to see if I can see where the phone cables lead to. I'd love it if I can make that work.

If that phone wiring was added after the house was built, maybe you can do that. If it was added during construction of the house, it's likely stapled to studs or joists in a few locations and you won't be able to pull it out. Another issue can be that phone wiring can be spliced and split or daisy-chained to feed different rooms.

How old is your house ? What design is it ? Do you have an attic that you can move around in ? Basement or crawlspace ? Or, as someone mentioned earlier, you can run Ethernet on the outside of your house although I don't know how cold of temperatures it can tolerate. I could see it getting brittle from extreme cold but I also think that would be a concern if you were moving, bending, etc the wire while it's cold. I think on the high end, CAT5 is good at up to 90º C, which we don't encounter in SW Ohio !

The house was completed in 1980, I believe. Not sure what you call the design. It's got an attic which has no floor (been up there once or twice). Basement too. I'll have to look around tonight.

Since it's summertime, run the CAT5 or CAT6 through the basement. Unless it's a finished basement with drywall ceilings, it should be pretty easy. You can even run a single cable and just add a switch if you want to hardwire multiple rooms. You can also add an AP to provide WiFi at that end of the house.

Like others have said, Cat5 Ethernet is run from a main location out to the different rooms called Home Runs. Telephone Wiring is usually from Jack to Jack, unless it was done recently. Also the Jacks are a different size Phone is RJ11, and Cat5 is RJ45 bigger. Home Depot has a good department that will have everything you need. You can talk to them, and buy a little at a time or take out an Account with them. I suggest reading up on Ethernet, and if you can find someone that has done this wiring before to help you, even better. There is a lot of good help on here with other Postings and Pictures. Please feel free to ask more questions.

I was hoping the telephone wires ran back to a central location too. I'm not completely unfamiliar with Ethernet, I've been working in networking for 20+ years. I'll just need my wife's help on the wire color because my color vision isn't the best. I haven't had to drag wire in quite a while though. The place I'm at (about 8 years) I'm not really allowed to (union job).

If they did, as in the "home run" arrangement that alchav mentions, that most likely have been done that way when the house was built. I don't believe that was common in homes built 25+ years ago but could be wrong. Even if it was, as I said earlier, the wiring would be stapled in place.

Do you own a tone generator and wand? Here's a link to one for reference:

»www.phonegeeks.com/ustogepr.html

If so, you can use that to figure out if your phone wiring is home run or loop through. But my guess is it will be looped or "daisy chained". It will also likely be stapled to the 2x4's in your walls.

I don't have one myself, but I know at least two people at work who do. I probably could try and borrow from them if need be.

If you buy the jacks and panel from Monoprice, a 12-port CAT6 rated patch panel can be had for $16ish. That's enough to comfortably wire 6 rooms. Any rooms that have more than 2 network devices can be outfitted with a cheap 5 or 8 port gigabit dumb switch in the $10-$15 ballpark if you shop around.

They are selling colour-coded keystone jacks for $1.42 a pop and they are perfectly fine. Never had any issues with them. You can also get a pretty decent punchdown tool, good enough for home use on the cheap there (check the reviews).

For actual keystone plates, I'd just squeeze my cheeks and get the Leviton branded ones from the big orange. They may cost a bit more but they will save you lots of sweat and swear words compared to the cheaper ones you can order from Monoprice.

i had 0 issue with any of the monoprice plates or jacks, i use all monoprice to do my house with 0 issue

If you are going to do this yourself it's going to take some time and planning. So I would say get your own stuff, Toner and Generator, and you will also need a Tester. You can buy all this at Home Depot too, like I said get an Account or you can pay with PayPal too, if you have an Account with them. Buy the stuff get familiar with it before you start your Project.