Connect the Ethernet cable to the appropriate ports on your device and router.
Connect the Ethernet cable to the appropriate ports on your device and router.
Hello! It seems you're looking for advice on setting up Ethernet connections in your future home. You mentioned planning to use Cat 6 or Cat 7 cables, specifically the Gembird model, and are considering a shielded option for long-term use. Since your street won't have wired internet for years, you're thinking about mobile connectivity via 4G with speeds up to 160 Mbps. You also plan a central room with an internet modem near a window, possibly using a Wi-Fi mesh system. The walls are made of aerated concrete blocks with a metal roof, and you're unsure about the distances for running Ethernet cables without parallel or crossing wires. As a carpenter without electrical experience, you're seeking guidance on distances, shielding requirements, and whether mobile modems can work effectively in this setup. Any clarification or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Greetings, Mr. Here’s what I’ve learned from my own wiring projects around the house, especially near the fencing for horses. The fencing has high-voltage electric wires at 10,000 volts to keep the horses contained. This was the only situation where I faced problems due to proximity. I’m using pure copper FTP CAT6 cable, which is ideal for CCTV cameras powered over Ethernet. The issue I encountered was related to distance—when close to the fence (within 15cm), the lights would flicker in time with the fence’s rhythm. The rest of the house has worked well with electricity, even at 330V, though the runs aren’t very long. My advice is to keep a good separation from electrical components—about 5cm or more—to avoid any issues.
Additionally, keystone jacks are suggested for easier installation of wallplates and similar tasks. They offer greater adaptability if things don’t go perfectly.
I installed CAT 7 cables in my walls before moving in as part of a rewire. From my perspective, CAT 7 seems like an unnecessary expense. Consumer networking gear hasn't fully adopted it even six years after installation, and with Wi-Fi 6E we were nearing those speeds already. Theoretically, CAT 7 could support up to 50Gbps, but it's also more challenging to terminate. CAT 6 works just fine. Consider using shielded Ethernet, then you can position your cables as close as 10cm to the wiring. Otherwise, you're limited to about 40cm.
I believe adding a budget gigabit switch between those connections would help. That's what I implemented. This reduces concerns about signal loss and lets you connect more devices. In a typical home setting, congestion shouldn't be a problem. My internet service arrives at the office, which connects to my router. The router then interfaces with one of the two RJ45 ports in the wall. Both routes pass through walls into the living room—only one was needed, but I kept two for flexibility. On the living side, a switch links to gaming consoles, Ethernet backhaul for my mesh access point, etc. Adjacent to the two ports are two additional ports that lead into the dining room. One Ethernet cable runs from the switch to one of those ports, providing a socket in the dining area. The other port supports HDMI over Ethernet for a TV in the dining room (though I haven't tried it yet, it's an option). This setup gave me greater flexibility and eliminated the need for a crowded wall of ports.