Modern home wiring uses Cat6 cables for reliable connections.
Modern home wiring uses Cat6 cables for reliable connections.
For your patch panel, stick with Cat6A cables and connectors. I haven’t seen PoE routed through an Ethernet coupler—just go around the patch panel directly to the switch for reliability. High-quality couplers from FS should work without issues.
Have you heard of any trustworthy Ethernet cable makers? TrueCABLE and Newyork Cables look good, but I’m struggling to find S/FTP cables. I’m leaning toward a shielded option because it helps with heat dissipation for PoE+ in my Wi-Fi access points. Do you think S/FTP is unnecessary and should I choose S/UTP or F/UTP instead? Should the shielding be on the twisted pairs or the entire cable?
Belden offers some of the top cable options. I personally use fs.com cable. Previously, I relied on monoprice, but the jacket quality wasn’t great. Sftp seems excessive unless you’re near power lines.