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Forum Thread

How hard is running ethernet cable through your house?

10,953 434 March 30, 2011 at 04:27 PM in Desktop Computers
My router is in the basement. My desktop computer is in a 1st floor office. I've really love to run an ethernet cable there. How hard is that? Who would I hire to do this if I didn't want to do it myself? How much more work is it to run one to my living room also (also first floor, across the house from the office, though).
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Joined Sep 2008
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DoctorBob
04-04-2011 at 07:12 AM.
04-04-2011 at 07:12 AM.
Quote :
My dad is gonna help me fish the wire down to the basement next weekend, but I'm confused at how the cable connected to the face plate.
As per G37's post. You have to buy a jack which you connect the wires to, the jack itself snaps into the faceplate, which you have to connect to the wall. Or, if you have cable that already has RJ45 ends and don't want to do the wiring at the jack, you can buy one that basically has a jack on the front and back, so you connect the cable you ran from downstairs to the backside, snap it into the faceplate and connect to the wall.

Most wall jacks have markings or instructions as to where to put each wire.

For a more visual explanation:

http://www.9thtee.com/networkingts.htm
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Dr. J
04-04-2011 at 07:35 AM.
04-04-2011 at 07:35 AM.
it's really easy if you have the tools. The biggest PITA is if you don't have termination equipment and need to fish a wire with "plugs" on the end. I recently moved our router/switch/ooma/tel dist/NAS into a "closet" in the basement. I still have a bunch of wiring to run, but if you can run straight cabling it's far easier.
Go with keystone jacks - they may be a tad more expensive but are fully configurable and very easy to install - most will come with a little punchdown tool, and I've never seen one that wasn't color coded for both the A and B standards.
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Joined Oct 2004
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someone28624
04-04-2011 at 08:28 AM.
04-04-2011 at 08:28 AM.
Quote from DoctorBob :
Or, if you have cable that already has RJ45 ends and don't want to do the wiring at the jack, you can buy one that basically has a jack on the front and back, so you connect the cable you ran from downstairs to the backside, snap it into the faceplate and connect to the wall.
Can you buy a cable with RJ45 ends? Then I just run the cable to the router, plug it into the router, plug it into the faceplate, screw the faceplate to the wall, and plug in a normal ethernet cable to the computer?
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akkkmed
04-04-2011 at 08:37 AM.
04-04-2011 at 08:37 AM.
Quote from someone28624 :
Can you buy a cable with RJ45 ends? Then I just run the cable to the router, plug it into the router, plug it into the faceplate, screw the faceplate to the wall, and plug in a normal ethernet cable to the computer?
Yes, look at Monoprice.com

100 feet: http://www.monoprice.com/products...1&format=2

75 feet: http://www.monoprice.com/products...1&format=2


Plus every other length you would need...
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DC
04-04-2011 at 11:37 AM.
04-04-2011 at 11:37 AM.
Quote from someone28624 :
Can you buy a cable with RJ45 ends? Then I just run the cable to the router, plug it into the router, plug it into the faceplate, screw the faceplate to the wall, and plug in a normal ethernet cable to the computer?
You mean the clear "Icecubes" on both ends...yeah? That's just a patch cord...and depending on where you go...you can get them upto 300 feet long.

The standard way is to use a jack at each end to terminate the cable on, mount the jack in a faceplate and then use a patch cord from the faceplate/jack to your device.
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jkee
04-04-2011 at 01:10 PM.
04-04-2011 at 01:10 PM.
Generally it isn't the best practice to run terminated (has rj-45 jacks on the ends) ethernet cable through your walls. It's easy to damage the rj-45 plugs breaking the tab off. Also, solid cable is generally preferred for in-wall usage over stranded cable. It's pretty easy to terminate a punch down type keystone jack (you can buy the leviton ones at home depot that include a little disposable tool) or a cheap punch down tool from monoprice.
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Ram|bunc|tious
04-04-2011 at 01:36 PM.
04-04-2011 at 01:36 PM.
Quote from someone28624 :
Can you buy a cable with RJ45 ends? Then I just run the cable to the router, plug it into the router, plug it into the faceplate, screw the faceplate to the wall, and plug in a normal ethernet cable to the computer?
I just did this through another wall and added some jacks and coax outlet on a single faceplate. In the interest of time, I just ran to the local Lowe's (albeit driving would have been faster) and picked up a couple of these: http://www.lowes.com/pd_317275-60...Ntt%3Drj45 Just cut off the end of the Cat 5 cable, expose the wires underneath and following the mapping directions on these jacks and connect the plug through these faceplates: http://www.lowes.com/pd_248301-60...-q%2Bplate. Easy as pie. Mmmm... pie. Eat
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cdog90260
04-04-2011 at 01:38 PM.
04-04-2011 at 01:38 PM.
Quote from brbubba :
If your house is new you should be able to DIY fairly easily. If the house is really old, I might consider hiring a GOOD professional. I saw one old house where the installer ran cable outside the house, down the exterior wall and back into the house!
sounds like a cable installer. I've done a few houses home and new. it's not too difficult if you're willing to get a little dirty and patch up walls. Wall patch kits (if necessary) from home depot makes it easy for anyone to fix their walls. There are tutorials on youtube on hole fixing.
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DoctorBob
04-04-2011 at 01:43 PM.
04-04-2011 at 01:43 PM.
Quote :
Can you buy a cable with RJ45 ends? Then I just run the cable to the router, plug it into the router, plug it into the faceplate, screw the faceplate to the wall, and plug in a normal ethernet cable to the computer?
As others have mentioned, yes, you can purchase cables with the RJ45 plugs on them. Similar to what you already must have connecting your router to your computer etc. You can purchase varying lengths.

You do have to be careful about pulling the cable and not damaging the ends if you do it that way, yet if you are drilling say one hole in the floor it would be pretty easy. Years ago I used the premade cables, now I buy the cable and put the RJ45's on myself. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy.
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cdog90260
04-04-2011 at 01:49 PM.
04-04-2011 at 01:49 PM.
dont bother running cables with the ends. leaves a really un professional look, and you're likely going to need to over drill stuff. I've done it before in really bad tight spots, but it's really cutting corners. Only do it as a last option.

a low power outlet + plate is not hard to do, and looks infinitely better than an oversized hole in the wall followed by a coupling.
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redmaxx
04-04-2011 at 02:00 PM.
04-04-2011 at 02:00 PM.
IMHO, running it with connectors already on the ends is best. That way, when you move into a house and the moronic installer doesn't run all the cables to the wiring panel, you can just rearrange the jack configuration as you like instead of it being fixed the way they punched it down. Big Grin
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moey
04-05-2011 at 05:16 AM.
04-05-2011 at 05:16 AM.
Do I dare ask why you dont just buy a access point?
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brbubba
04-06-2011 at 04:13 AM.
04-06-2011 at 04:13 AM.
Quote from redmaxx :
IMHO, running it with connectors already on the ends is best. That way, when you move into a house and the moronic installer doesn't run all the cables to the wiring panel, you can just rearrange the jack configuration as you like instead of it being fixed the way they punched it down. Big Grin
You can just repunch it down if you absolutely had to. I can't stand cables in a wiring closet that haven't been terminated at a patch panel. Also it shouldn't matter how it's punched down in the patch panel, is there some order that it has to be in for you??? If it's that much of a concern I would just chat with the installer before the job starts and then check it again before he leaves.
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DC
04-06-2011 at 08:48 AM.
04-06-2011 at 08:48 AM.
Quote from brbubba :
You can just repunch it down if you absolutely had to. I can't stand cables in a wiring closet that haven't been terminated at a patch panel. Also it shouldn't matter how it's punched down in the patch panel, is there some order that it has to be in for you??? If it's that much of a concern I would just chat with the installer before the job starts and then check it again before he leaves.
Typical rule of thumb is to number the outlets starting to the right of the doorway in a clockwise direction in ascending order in each room.
You also start with one room and work your way around the building in a clock wise manner as well...you can continue the counts from the last room (say 1-4 were in there) with outlet #5 in the next room...or designate rooms with numbers, then jack numbers...so room 1 Jacks 1-4, Room 2 Jacks 1-6, Room 3 1-2, etc...or 1-4, 5-10, 11-12 and so on....So when those cables are terminated on the panel they should be in the same order...makes trouble shooting and maintenance a lot easier.
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Dr. J
04-06-2011 at 10:35 AM.
04-06-2011 at 10:35 AM.
I can't stand punch downs, personally. I think in a home setting there is no need for punchdown - why not just terminate with a jack? It would make it far easier to switch to a phone jack if needed.,
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