Which Category ethernet / RJ45 cable for internal house network?

For UK standards, the house is larger than the average at about 4,000 sq ft.  I have the advantage of all walls being open / back to the brick and ceilings open too so cable running and ducting etc will be relatively easy.

I was thinking of cat 6e cabling but I understand that Cat 7 cable is out now.  I use to build computers myself as a hobby and for charities so have some technical knowledge even though this not my field, but hopefully will be able to put this together myself or get the builders to run the wires according to my needs.

What are the main differences between the different and new Cat standards?

Also how many would you recommend to each room? Can a Cat cable be used for phones, or intercoms or room wall panels etc?

CAT7 has different terminations and may not (a) be worth the effort and (b) provide any noticeable improvement in the space you have. 4,000 square feet on two floors is 40 x 50 feet on one floor (excluding basement if one). That is well within the 300 foot limit of CAT6.

If you wish to use CAT7, by all means it will work.

I have a 2 story home with a full basement. I have CAT5e to the upper floor.  I also have a good Cisco Wi-Fi router in the basement behind an 8-inch steel I-beam. I get solid Wi-Fi everywhere in the house.

As a direct answer to your question, CAT6 or above will serve effectively. CAT7 needs different terminations.

@u587162 - I have read up on CAT7 and while it will work fine for you, in this space above, CAT6 will also work very well and crosstalk will not be an issue.

The reason for the special terminations on CAT7 is for the higher speeds/bandwidth and some possibility of signal reflection.

Here is a plan of my house:

I'm thinking of possibly placing it in the cloaks cupboard of the ground floor near the front door, which might also contain alarm system controls, consumer fuse board for electrics etc. Is this a good place or am I likely to get cross talk?  

I will be running mechanical ventilation systems, central vacuuming ducting etc.  Will this have any impact on things, or should I keep things in mind when designing this layout?


Ground floor



1st floor

2nd / top floor

how does the plastic conduit help?

Conduit is an installation convenience factor. It does not affect the signal.

Would you say it is advisable or not advisable to have the whole central kit installed in the cupboard area shown in the coats cupboard near the ground floor front door?  Should security / access to the the rack be an important consideration.

Thanks John.

Before I close this question, I would like to refer back to one point you make and that was to keep the Cat 6 cables a few inches away from electrical cables.

Is it ok for all the Cat 6 or Cat 6e cables to be tied together as they join the path runs from different rooms to a central point in the house / cupboard (for interference purposes).  And the same question goes for a bunch of Cat 6e cables bunched together with other cables e.g. telephone, alarm etc (but not mains electrical cables)?

Thanks.

@u587162 - Thanks and I was happy to help.