Cat5 to Outlets

[amirm]

Just a suggestion, but if you are building a new house, why not wire cat6? Pricing is about the same, but there are many benefits to 6 including lower cross-talk, gigabit LAN support, and modern device compatibility. I know 5e and 6 sound close, but they have bandwidths, a different size, and have completely different end components. 5e vs 6 could be the difference that lets you run internet, VOIP, streaming HD, and streaming music all at once. Hope this helps.

You can do all of that with Cat-5e as it also supports gigabit network. That said, I agree that crosstalk is lower on cat-6 so for applications such as HDMI over such wires, cat-6 provides better reliability and longer distance runs typically.

 

[broconne]

I asked my electrician to put some switched outlets around the house, ran cat5e to the switches. There are some special outlets that solve the issue of dimming the outlet's load. (lutron model here)

Just a suggestion, but if you are building a new house, why not wire cat6? Pricing is about the same, but there are many benefits to 6 including lower cross-talk, gigabit LAN support, and modern device compatibility. I know 5e and 6 sound close, but they have bandwidths, a different size, and have completely different end components. 5e vs 6 could be the difference that lets you run internet, VOIP, streaming HD, and streaming music all at once. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the tip on the cat6. I do plan to wire all the standard ethernet outlets in my house with CAT6. But, doesn't seem worth it to my lighting switches (and or the topic of this thread - my electric outlets).

 

[felixrosbergen]

For what i call my media outlets i'm running 2 RG6, 1 Cat5e and 1 Cat6. The Cat6 is for LAN, the Cat5e for serial/IR/etc.

For the ALC switches i'll be runnign Cat5e, don't see any purpose for Cat6 there...and it is still a bit more expensive.

 

[sic0048]

For what i call my media outlets i'm running 2 RG6, 1 Cat5e and 1 Cat6. The Cat6 is for LAN, the Cat5e for serial/IR/etc.

For the ALC switches i'll be runnign Cat5e, don't see any purpose for Cat6 there...and it is still a bit more expensive.

You'll want more wires there, trust me. You are good on the RG-6. You'll use this for source distribution like cable, OTA, or satellite distribution (with STB located at TV). But if you want to distribute A/V you'll want a way to distribute at least component video and audio. So either run some precision coaxial cable (designed for line level signals like component and digital audio) or run several more cat5e/cat6 wires to use baluns in the future.

At my main TVs, I've run 2 RG-6, 3-5 precision coaxial cables (depending on audio needs) and 2 cat5e wires. I've already maxed out the wires and I may have to run more in the future (where I can). I have network and IR running to the TVs now with component signals from my video distribution system.

Actually looking at your progress page, it looks like you may be beyond the point of no return.

 

[felixrosbergen]

Hi sic...

I have no intentions of distributing component...if i ever did i'd use baluns to distribute HDMI probably...

I mainly use SageTV.

The media oulets actually have 3/4" conduit...I've testing 3/4" conduit with 2 RG6+3cat5. If needed i can always pull a coax out and put something else in.

my progress page is terribly outdated..the house is actually done but i can't move in because for the last 3 weeks we've been unable to get the power company to hook us up to the grid. It's a real nightmare.

Even if I didnt have the conduit the cost of running all this prevision coax for possible component distribution seems hard to justify with HMDIA over cat5 baluns as an alternative...a bundle of 5 precision coax is a hell of a lot of wire in the walls.

Hopefully my conduit strategy works out...I'll either be recommending it to everybody in a few weeks or i'll be eating crow....for a new construction where you cannot do the wiring yourself i think it's the most economical way to go...you also need attic and basement access so the conduit runs are short.

 

[Steve]

Are you not using the extenders with Sage? If Cat6 is for LAN and the 5e is for serial/IR, etc. how are you connecting the Sage box? Or are you using the LAN port for it and hoping you don't need another data connection???

 

[tmbrown97]

worst case, there's always cheap gigabit switches.