CCA or Copper, Cat6 or Cat7?

[rfisher]

Lots of ethernet cable for sale on Ebay.

Which type do I need to make up my own leads to hardwire around the house and planned extension via conduits?

I want to have ethernet sockets next to some of the electrical sockets.

Happy to pay more now to use the right type of cable rather than have to redo later.

[gmugs]

Stay away from CCA. It can't be used to make real Cat5 and certainly not Cat6 or 7. There are many reasons to avoid it which I'm sure you can look up. Stick with copper. Spend the extra money and never think about it again.

[Mr Pointy]

Don't use CCA (copper clad aluminium). CAT5e is adequate, use CAT6a if you want the aggro but you need compatible jacks, patch panels & patch leads to get the benefit. Consider buying from a distributor (eg Comms Express, there are plenty of others) rather than ebay.

[Mattt]

Cablemonkey are good - don’t use CCA.

If you can maintain the correct bend radius etc then I’d go for Cat 6 over Cat 5e for future proofing.

If you’re installing conduit then make sure you put in extra draw wire for the future.

[rxe]

Cat 5e is all you need.

Yes, the specs of Cat 6 are better, but in reality it makes very little difference.

You can run 1 Gbit full duplex for about 120 meters on Cat 5e - that's about the best socket you can buy today outside data centres.

You can even run 10 Gbit over Cat5e for about 45 meters. Almost nobody had a 10 Gbit port in their homes - OK, I'm a nerd, I have a 30 cm 10 Gbit interlink between two switches, but most people don't.

Eventually 10Gbit will become more affordable, but very few of the devices we use in a home could possibly need that sort of bandwidth. But IF it does - I could drop a 10 Gbit switch into my network tomorrow, and all the ports in the house would achieve 10 Gbit. The ports in the garage would be fine, but the ports in the shed up the garden would possibly drop to 1 Gbit.

If you want to future proof, then putting proper ducting in so that you can drop whatever cable is invented in the next 20 years is the best idea.

[robbieduncan]

There is one thing you didn't ask: solid core vs stranded cables. Solid core should be used for the in-wall runs. Stranded for patch cables/fly leads.

[megaphone]

robbieduncan said:

There is one thing you didn't ask: solid core vs stranded cables. Solid core should be used for the in-wall runs. Stranded for patch cables/fly leads.

Making off stranded patch cables is a PITA.

[Mr Pointy]

megaphone said:

robbieduncan said:

There is one thing you didn't ask: solid core vs stranded cables. Solid core should be used for the in-wall runs. Stranded for patch cables/fly leads.

Making off stranded patch cables is a PITA.

That's why you buy them pre-made.

I wonder how many know that there are different RJ45 connectors for solid & stranded cable?