Home Networking

I recently finished my basement (~150sq.m. / 1500sq.ft.), I'm nerdy so be prepared. I bought a 300m spool of CAT6a, and ran about 13 drops.

I ran (myself) network to about every other power outlet, 1 stud away from the power. And one to my ceiling (central) for a WiFi access point. This is hands down the most important one for me. Super clean looking and powerful WiFi. I also included power and network in 3 closets (never know where I'll want my NAS) and to the outside corners directly into weather resistant junction boxes so no wire is exposed (cameras). Each of the 3 rooms got 2 (opposing corners), the kitchen, all along the main room wall, and to a built in bookshelf that has become my TV cabinet (receiver/amp + Nvidia Shield feeding to a projector in the main room).

I did not bother with 2 runs everywhere because switches are just too easy and/or WiFi. Heck a basic switch can even be powered over POE so minimal wiring needed. And everything runs back to a "structured media cabinet" housing my fiber-ONT (so I had the ISP move my fiber here), router, switches, and network patch panels for the whole house. Ask the electrician (a low voltage kind) to "terminate to an Ethernet patch panel" so it's easier for you to use. Also demand that they do NOT staple the wires, and test each for at minimum perfect 1 gigabit performance, probably 10Gb at these ranges.

Run a hardwire to each of your tvs for your streaming box or tv directly. Keep them off the wifi

Maybe do two drops per wall plate. Ethernet crushed WiFi performance so it’s nice to have wherever you want it.

CAT 5e or 6

behind TVs

ceiling mounted WAPs

Exterior security cameras

maybe think about potential for home security systems and rough in CAT 5s to doors and windows, can always use individual conductors if not POE

All rooms having dual cables pulled to each room with CAT7 wiring.

Cat 6 everywhere, if you have a furniture diagram all the better - no sense putting in a jack on the other side of the room where your desk will be. Figure out where your furniture will go to and run at least 1 jack there, most of the cost is labor so I'd run 2 jacks to each room, just like outlets, (almost).

Done this. The drywall people or someone put a nail in the longest, most difficult cat wire run. Caught it too late - I lived two States away during construction. Would have had to pull three rooms’ drywall down to find it. Don’t let this happen to you.

Check out my prewire guide to get you started: Presentation Link

Every wall of every room. Every. Wall.

At least 1 wall of each bathroom.

Every ceiling of every room including hallway but not bathrooms.

One wall in every closet including the pantry.

Don’t put the data closet in a crawl space. Put it in a closet.

Run all of the cable in Smurf tunnel to make upgrading/replacing later down the road easier.

This will give you (and the next home owner) the most flexibility in the future. You’ll never have to worry about where the nearest port is regardless of how you arrange each room. Ceiling drops will allow you to ceiling mount WiFi access points.

Pay the extra $$ to have it done now, in the 30 year life of the loan $10k-$15k cost is insignificant.

Make sure you buy a structured media enclosure that is all plastic so that it’s transparent to wireless signals. I bought the Leviton 49605-42P. Works great.

2 to every wallplate 2 to every known TV and even some dream TV locations i.e. garage and patio I would also ask for smurf tubing here 2 to Audio cabinet if applicable smurf tube here as well Every potential security camera spot Door bell location Potential WAP locations If ever adding an ADU I'd run smurf tube to the nearest corner of the house to that structure

If you aren't sure about a location, smurf tube it

2 cables in each. If they're not terminating them, make sure they leave lots of slack.

Why 2 cables? Because you never know. Cable is Cheap. Holes are expensive.

Surprised at all the recommendations for Cat6. That's fine for Gigabit. Houses are already being serviced by fiber with speeds that exceed Gigabit speeds, so the minimum I would suggest in 2023 is Cat6A.

I am currently in the same situation but missed the wiring deadline so I am going to end up running OM4 fiber (10/40/100 Gigabit) under carpets for the office/living room/bedroom. Small SFP+ switches are available for reasonable prices now, so you can have a fast 10Gb trunk to service each floor and take 2.5Gb from them.

Put runs to each corner of the house in the even you want to do PoE cameras. Don’t forget outside also for outdoor TVs or access points. Put runs somewhere in ceilings for access points.

Two drops per room plus a fiber run as well

I would run drops to each corner of your house. One to your door bell. One to your garage. Also run a smurf tube to your outside of the house to your location of the drops.

If he's terminating each end too and has the equipment get him to test and certify each cable for you. Means you know they were working before he left. Proper labeling of each end is also essential.

Never run a single cable when it's just as easy to run 2 or more at the same time. Gives redundancy and/or expansion.

I would also run OM4 fiber to your drops. Fiber is cheap, small and can already support 100gbit.

If you want futureproof throw in some OM4.

ethernet is cheap and easy while the walls are open. Go for 4 drops in each room. A drop behind any TV locations. Drops in the ceiling to put in access points. Where ever you want POE phones, add more drops in those location. Add a few more for POE cameras.

Run cat 6 or 6a everywhere possible and run coax rg6 to where you need tvs or cable modems.

At least on plate in every room with two cat and one coax.

A couple plates placed high for WiFi access points

Areas that might have office or other gear have two plates (4 jacks)

Upgrade power jacks to include usb c charge ports, 30wtt where possible

Put network panel in house in a closet

I normally recommend 2 runs per location minimum. If one fails for whatever reason, like a mouse chewing on a cable, you have a backup.

Running Ethernet to my garage was a big plus also!!! I would like to run Ethernet out for a Doorbell, but that isn't going to be easy with my house. Ethernet for Smart Doorbells is a growing thing.

PoE Security cameras. You might want some in the future. Running Ethernet for that NOW would be easier than later. You leave a bundle of wire at each area you thing you need a camera and it all goes down the the basement.

How about Speaker wires for a surround sound setup? Maybe Whole Home audio? These are some things to think about with new construction. Ethernet for TV Locations!!! Wired is always better then Wifi.

With your Modem downstairs, how about Wifi Access Points mounted on your ceiling? So you can have great Wifi everywhere you go. This would really help if you want to get into some smart home stuff.

Checkout the pinned comments for tips on planning and layout Home Networking Basics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRKID2ucPY&list=PLqkmlrpDHy5M8Kx7zDxsSAWetAcHWtWFl