Re: Cat-6 Installation Advice

[jaykchan@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I have recently run cat-6 around the house. And I suggest these:

-  Don't use the jacks and DIY-plugs from lanshack.com.

   Somehow, when I insert a plug (their plug or a plug
   from other source) into a jack from them, the plug
   cannot click. This means the plug is only being held
   with fiction. I don't know why it is like this.
   Otherwise, their jack is really good; it has "cat-6"
   printed on it, very nice; and it has a way to tie
   down the cable onto the jack.

   I cannot use their DIY-plugs to make a patch cable.
   Didn't matter how hard I try, I got zero success.
   If you want to try your luck, I can mail them to
   you as long as you pay for the return-mail. But I
   don't recommend this.

   I suggest to get the jacks and DIY-plugs from
   action-electronics.com. The only warning is that
   when you trim wires from a DIY-plug (this is the
   last step to make a DIY-patch cable using their
   DIY-plug), you should use something like a nail
   clipper to trim them instead of a utility knief
   or other cutter. The point is to get a clean cut.
   Otherwise, crushed wires may cross each other
   and short. Or, you can order pre-made patch cables.

   I use a roll of cat-6 cable from lanshack and jacks
   and plugs from action-electronics. The result is
   good. I can get gigabit speed according to my
   LinkSys gigabit switch.

-  You can get a low cost cable-tester that is for
   cat-5. We use it to test continuity. Basically,
   we can get other tools from a retail store
   instead of ordering them online; the price can
   actually cheaper this way.

-  The bare patch panel idea shown in lanshack sample
   home network is good. I use their bare patch panel.
   But I don't use their coupling-jacks. I use normal
   jacks instead -- cheaper this way and are easily
   available.

-  Use two jacks in each outlet for networking instead
   of just one. You may need two devices in the
   location where the outlet is: One is a PC, another
   one may be a network media player, such as a
   MediaVP or a Microsoft Media Center Extender.

-  While you have the wall open, you may take the
   opportunity to add other cables and jacks:

   Two phone cables: One for voice, another one for
   a set-top box. You may add the third phone jack
   if you want to output SkyPe VoIP phone connection
   from a PC in the basement to the other part of
   the house (Honestly I haven't tried this yet).
   The alternative is to use cordless phones to
   connect to a SkyPe device in the basement.

   Two coax cables: One for video input from satellite
   dish, or from cable company, or from antenna dish.
   Another one for video output from a dual-tunner
   receiver (such as the one from Dish Network), or
   from another video source (such as a shared DVD
   player).

   Put all these cables together inside a tude, and
   leave one or two strings inside the tude for
   pulling other cables in the future.

-  Buy ready made central panel (a box) from Home Depot
   for all the cables to home run into it. This is
   neater this way than using a piece of plywall.
   I am currently using a piece of plywall and a
   home-made shelf to house everything. But I figure
   buying a ready-made one is probably saves me time
   and is much neater. The only reservation is that
   I probably want the box to be deep enough to put
   a SOHO style router horizontally or at 45-degree
   angle then I can check the LED in front of the
   router.

Good luck.

Jay Chan