Consider your needs and the available options before deciding.
Consider your needs and the available options before deciding.
You recently purchased a Cat 7 Ethernet cable. Many sources suggest it offers no significant advantage over older Cat6/a models, and some warn about potential damage risks. For your installation plan—running it under the floor for about 10 meters—consider these points. The link you shared appears to be a direct purchase page; verify its compatibility with your setup before proceeding.
You received the order, it's acceptable—it's just more rigid than Cat 5e/6, offering greater isolation and supporting up to 10Gbps.
You can purchase those plastic channels, pipes, or raceways and direct the cables along the edges of your space. For instance, D-Line CC-1 Cable Protector, Floor Cord Channel, Wire Cover, and Cable Protection to avoid tripping hazards are available. They come in 1.8 meters, measuring 17mm wide by 9mm high, black, and sold on Amazon.co.uk. The D-Line 3015KIT001 offers a 4-meter self-adhesive trunking multipack with 1-meter lengths, ideal for organizing electrical wires. The MUDEELA Cable Concealer and Cable Trunking Kit provide self-adhesive solutions for hiding cords in home offices, with various sizes and colors. Lighting options are also listed.
Sure, I have a few for my surround sound HTPC setup—pretty stylish on the walls, though it might not suit everyone.
While those look decent, I unfortunately have a wall and door between my desktop and the router so I'd have to drill through skirting board and brick which no one in the house is careful enough to be doing
Multi-mode fiber offers advantages over Cat7 in terms of performance and versatility.
In my area, CAT7a is commonly available at stores. I used it during a renovation where I laid cables everywhere. It works, but the cable tends to be stiff and can be tricky to connect if the socket isn’t on a dry wall. For concrete walls, it’s important to use deep installation boxes. The same applies to server racks—stiffness can make running cables behind equipment difficult, especially without a deep rack. Even though CAT7a usually needs GG45/Terra connectors (most devices don’t use it), it’s useful when you need to run cables near power lines. In projects where you have to adapt often, the extra shielding of CAT7 can help reach 10Gbps speeds. My take on CAT7 is to choose it when the cost difference to CAT6a is small and you have room in your walls or rack.