Help with CAT5e run please

Hi,

Hopefully you can help me with some questions, I'm going to run some cat5e from the living room to a bedroom, 2 devices need to be connected but I don't want to use a switch and can only run a single cable, so I am going to cable it for 100Mbps and use the spare pairs as a second connection.

Do I use stranded or solid core CAT5e for a 10 meter run?

Does the CAT5e module accept both stranded and solid core?

Should I get sheilded CAT5e modules?

Thanks for your help.

Edited by deleted (Mon 06-Dec-10 15:54:17)

Hi, solid core is cheaper per metre but is usually sold in 305m boxes so is probably a false economy. It is also only suitable when installed and secured at each end - e.g. in sockets. Multistranded cable as used in patch cables is more expensive but can be flexed without damage.

A 10m patch cable can be bought for £5-£10 from online stores such as Dabs or eBuyer or from highstreet stores such as PC World, Staples, Maplin etc.

Not too sure what you mean by 'modules' - do you mean the devices you can buy for each end of a CAT5 cable to split it into two signal paths (using as you say, the spare pairs)? Sheilded really isn't necessary on CAT5e cabling - it's very unlikely you're going to have such severe sources of electrical noise in the home.

I'm curous why you don't want to use a switch - small ones are pretty cheap these days, and probably only little more than a pair of splitters that you would require otherwise.

Hope that helps
Colin

Stranded cable should not be used with IDC outlets as they are designed to use solid core cable.
If you can only run one cable then get a premade one and use some cat 5 splitters, like these.

Hi,

I don't want to use a switch because it brings yet another power plug into use.

By devises I mean PC/Xbox and by module I mean: http://www.dcdi.co.uk/product/46/cat5e/51/cat5e-modu...

What I will be doing is using two of those modules coupled with a faceplate and Back Box on each end of the cable, effectively providing two 100Mbit cables in one.

Looks like that Cat5e Splitter does the same as what I'll be doing.

So if there is no stranded version of those modules I'll have to use solid cable, ok thanks.

As Dave said, don't try to use stranded cable with the IDC modules - it doesn't work (been there, tried it, found out the hard way

Doing the splitting yourself with the cores is fine, albeit rather fiddly and you'll need to work out your own wiring scheme. Biggest gotcha you'll face is trying to buy a short length of solid core cable. If you can only get it in 305m boxes, it'll be cheaper to buy a 10m ordinary patch cable, a pair of couplers and a pair of splitters. That would also save some time doing the installation.

Cheers
Colin

Looks like maplin and broadbandbuyer sell it by the meter. Not sure about the quality of the cable though.

The wiring scheme is something I need to sus out next, I'm hopefully this will help me.

Thanks for your help Dave and Colin.

It would probably be easier and cheaper to to fit a new 4 gang electrical socket in place of an existing single or 2 gang and then use patch cables and a switch. It would certainly be more versatile.
Whichever method you choose, it would be wise to run your cables through some form of conduit if possible. Also, if they're going to be buried forever, it's worth doubling up on cables for redundancy.