Call FS tomorrow and ask - they normally supply external Cat5e/6 cut to length. I happen to have a 40m length sitting here, supplied by them.

The link is for armoured - you may feel that you can use plain exterior Cat6 https://www.fscables.com/products/cat-6-external.htm...[]=1,3,7

In reply to a post by MikeJG:

The link you provided is over £150 for a cable though.

I just want a cable i can run from the router to the switch and will be okay to be outside and will provie me with my 300Mbps or up to 1000Mbps in the future.

I wasn't wanting to have to cut the cables or do anything like that.

Is there no other alternatives for a good cable for under £40

If you aren't planning to cut cables or put ends on yourself then just getting a good quality Cat6 pre-made cable will be fine, don't need to pay that much for it. I would not normally recommend it, but if you just want a quick install then it should be fine. Just make sure you use at the very least surge protection on the switches. Some people do go overboard on insisting on armour cable, but seen plenty of Sky installs where it's just really cheap cable used for the outside.

Hi, i've just emailed them asking which cable they would reccomend and if they could supply say a 25m ethernet for me.

Whats the surge protector required for?
also whats the best way to get wifi from the ethernet switch? pluging in a router?

Given 2.5Gbps is rated for the full 100m on Cat5e, that is a pretty dumb reason to go for Cat6. I would however personally recommend Cat6 in a domestic enviroment as the distance and bundling limitations are unlikely to come into play for even 10Gbps unless you live in a mansion and you get the full 100m at 5Gbps too. Though in a domestic enviroment Cat5e is will be good enough for 5Gbps as the distance limitations won't effect you.

What works on paper doesn't always work in real life. I've already had to replace a number of cat5e installs because they are not up to the job of doing 2.5gbe

Surge protector stops surges getting through to your computer equipment, it's far cheaper to replace simple surge protectors than buying a new PC/Games Console and Router etc.

Plug in wireless access points where you want the wifi

Right, so what plugs into what then? i dont have much idea, would it be homehub>20/25m ethernet>surge protector>ethernet switch and then what ever devices into the switch?

do you have any reccomendations for a cheap surge protector? ethernet cable and switch, theres a few switches on amazon, ideally i'd like to go for budget orientated items if possible.

surge protectors, https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ethernet+surge+protecto...

ethernet cables https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ethernet+cable+outdoor&...

ethernet switches https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ethernet+switch&i=compu...

Edited by MikeJG (Tue 29-Dec-20 20:46:37)

Then it was not Cat5e, or was not properly terminated. There is lots of copper clad steel being used for Cat5e cables and plenty of older plain Cat5 floating about.

However new structured wiring should be Cat6 or Cat6a.

Thoughts on these cables.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0765DSJGV/ref=cm_sw_r_s...


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06VX428P9/ref=cm_sw_r_c...