Wired network help

[leehookem]

So I'm getting ready to hard wire my house. In my living room, I have 6 components that I want to hook up. Would it be better to have a six keystone wall plate and have each box wired directly, or have a one keystone and a network switch to direct to each component?

[Gordon]

ideally all would have there own drop but logistically I would run two or three drops to a switch.

we're building a new house and my buddy and I got to do all the cat 6 wiring ourselves. In rooms where I need multiple connections we ran two drops to different parts of the room and will use switches as needed.

[voltronic]

So I'm getting ready to hard wire my house. In my living room, I have 6 components that I want to hook up. Would it be better to have a six keystone wall plate and have each box wired directly, or have a one keystone and a network switch to direct to each component?

I'd go with option A.  My preference is to have network switching centralized in one location.  That may mean you need to buy a larger switch with more ports to run your whole house network, but that's the best way to do it, IMO.

Option B may be cheaper in the sense that you'd only be running 1 cable to your living room rather than 6, and you'd have two cheaper switches involved: one at your router / gateway at one end of this and then a second in your living room at the other end.  But then you're relying on two switches to make this work, and that's potentially less reliable than option A.

The fact that you are going hard wired rather than relying on WiFi says that you care about stability and performance, not to mention better security.  Kudos to you for going this route.

[leehookem]

But then you're relying on two switches to make this work, and that's potentially less reliable than option A.

This is my main concern.  I just want a solid, reliable connection.  I'm not worried about cheaper.  A 1K' roll is around a hundred bucks.  No biggie. 

[Gordon]

we used this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008I8AIBC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

awesome solid core.  also recommend using a patch panel to keep things nice and tidy where all the drops come together.  I got a 24 port patch panel and a 16 port switch.  I only need 12 drops so the 24 port patch panel gives me twice what I need incase of bad terminations etc. 

[leehookem]

Already have that exact same cable in my cart at Monoprice.  Priced at $106. 

[Gordon]

Priced at $106. 

+ shipping will = the amazon price I bet.

[leehookem]

we used this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008I8AIBC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

awesome solid core.  also recommend using a patch panel to keep things nice and tidy where all the drops come together.  I got a 24 port patch panel and a 16 port switch.  I only need 12 drops so the 24 port patch panel gives me twice what I need incase of bad terminations etc. 

What would the purpose (advantage) be?  Why not just router > switch > cables > wall plate?  Just fewer cable terminations?

[Gordon]

have a look here

http://superuser.com/questions/403285/how-to-use-a-home-network-patch-panel

A patch panel has the solid-cored cable connected in at the rear using a punch down style of connection. At the front it has 8P8C sockets (casually called RJ45 sockets). Into these sockets you can plug Ethernet patch cables (which have stranded conductors unlike the cables used in walls)

The cables used in walls is stiff which would be inconvenient for use with a switch

From another site

There is absolutely nothing wrong with terminating one end of a "building wiring" Ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector and plugging it directly into a network switch, thus eliminating the need for a patch panel altogether. HOWEVER, "standard" RJ45 connectors are designed for stranded-core Ethernet cables and are not suitable for use with solid-core cable. You need to buy RJ45 connectors which are specifically designed for solid core cable. As mentioned above, solid core cables are not really designed to be moved around a lot so only plug them directly into the switch if you don't plan on moving them afterwards.

I've made a few "patch" cables with the above cat 6 and the "special" rj45 connectors and it's a pain in the ass!  much easier to terminate into a patch panel and then use standard cat 6 patch cables to go to the switch.  Also it will look MUCH neater than having cables coming out of the wall directly to the switch. 

I ordered a wall mount like this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UX0RTS?colid=3SXQS42U28CJD&coliid=I217EWB3IAWKOG&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl

It will hold the patch panel, switch, rackmount power surge/strip and an extra shelf on top for modem/router.

[leehookem]

Thanks for that last post Gordon.  Saved me a lot of time.  Answered most of my questions. 

per Monoprice...

Note that the width of the RJ45 keystones is such that two cannot be used side-by-side in the same wall-plate.

I'm guessing just go with a double gang for those spots I'm going over two drops then?

[Gordon]

Sounds right. I checked the back of the wall plates and it doesn't look like two will fit beside each other.  With a double gang you should be able to get 4.

[kindms]

Thanks for that last post Gordon.  Saved me a lot of time.  Answered most of my questions. 

per Monoprice...

Note that the width of the RJ45 keystones is such that two cannot be used side-by-side in the same wall-plate.

I'm guessing just go with a double gang for those spots I'm going over two drops then?

When I did part 1 of my wiring of my house I did 2 cat6e shielded plenum runs to each room * (one room only got 1) and ran them all to a central closet in the basement. I have shielded cat6e keystones at the wall plates and at the patch panel. I went with a 24port switch (I dont need 24 but it was only like 10 bucks more than the the 16port) that shuts off the ports not being used to save power.

I would suggest going PoE if you haven't picked up a switch yet. I have a few injectors but it would be much tidier if i went PoE from the switch. I also ran all the cable tv COAX to the same closet and will eventually redo the telephone run to the cloest if i ever decided to start shopping internet connections again.

Part 2 is to run the same cable in to the attic for AP drops and probably a camera over the front door.

[kindms]

Here is a pic of my rack and switch etc

also a link to the thread from a while back in the open forum that you may find useful

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=166454.0

[Jamos]

If anyone needs that spool of CAT6, you can get another $15 off orders of $75 and over at Monoprice right now. 
Use code SD15 at checkout.  Not sure how long it's good for, but I just used it to order some cable, strain relief boots, and connectors.