Run ethernet everywhere or just go wifi?

[TechBoyJK]

Hi All,

My wife and I recently moved into a freshly remodeled home. We love it.

One thing it's lacking though is ethernet outlets in the walls. My cable internet connection is down in the basement where I'll have my home server, UPS, router, etc. I'd like to run ethernet from here to various spots in the house. I'll likely use a 16port patch panel so that the ethernet lines are more integrated and flexible in their use.

For the most part, we could likely survive using wifi around the house, but I'd like to stick with ethernet if/when reasonably possible. I'm pretty good with fishing lines around, and I can wire the tips no problem, but getting ethernet to the upstairs bedrooms really does seem like a hefty challenge. I'd prefer to have 1Gbps links all throughout the house, and use cable that could support a 10Gbps network in the future. I know ethernet won't fully utlize 10Gbps, but if I could go beyond 1Gbps in the future with plain old ethernet I'd probably do it.

Reality is that everything upstairs would likely be fine on 300Mbps+ wifi, but my wife's home office has to be HIPPA compliant, and they want her stuff (work provided) on ethernet. She'll have a PC and voip phone.

Thoughts? It'd be easiest if I just ran one direct line up to her office. But if I'm going to do it, I feel like I ought to just spend a little more time/effort and drop at least one line in each bedroom. But there isn't much room in the attic to get to anywhere useful in the bedrooms, and I have no idea how I'm going to get them fished up through the walls. I don't want to just have a cable sticking out of the wall. I want to use outlet jacks.

 

[sdifox]

Hardwire where possible. Who does remodeling without adding network

 

[Sheep221]

There are only 2 types of ethernet cables with respect to speed, 2 pairs upto 100Mbps and 4 pairs for over 100Mbps, you can easily go for 10Gbps with basic cat5e FTP cable providing it's not longer than 50 meters(100 meters for 1Gbps speed or less). As you will be wiring your house you can get 10Gigs just about everywhere inside(I would go personally with 6e FTP, they are a bit thicker and have stronger shielding as well), however regardless, you bought or reconstructed a house without installing outlets when the jobs were ongoing, that's mistake because now you have to just have the cables lying around.

 

[mxnerd]

Although I prefer wired ethernet, in your case, I'll just go with wifi.

It's almost impossible to drill holes and then fish cables for insulated exterior walls under the roof.

The best you can do is fishing cables for interior walls, install the outlets and have a long cable to the other side of bedroom where your PCs & devices are.

I searched the net and dit not find HIPAA compliance guidelines that require you to use wired ethernet. WPA2 personal (AES encryption) WiFi with strong password that shared with no one should be good enough.

 

[LPCTech]

If I had money I'd have someone else fish the cables through the walls and hardwire where possible. If I didn't have money I'd do wifi with multiple APs. But hardwire will always be better if you can swing it.

 

[Worthington]

I've had great luck with EoP (Ethernet over Power). Might be something to consider.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wired is always better. Better speed, no chance of any kind of interference, and more secure.

At very least run hard wire to a few central location and put in some APs like Unifi or similar.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm in an apt., and my internet connection is in the other room. I used to use AC1200 wifi, but I had issues with the drivers, and streaming internet radio. So I went wired. (Gigabit Cat5e)

There's a cable strung between the rooms, and then a few switches, and more cables strung to my devices. It's a tiny bit of a mess, but so is the rest of my apt., so it fits in.

Wired is just so infinitely better than wireless, although wireless can work in a pinch. (And does, for my laptops and tablets.)

Edit: And even new-ish devices, like my Gigabyte Brix J1900 units, don't have built-in 802.11ac wireless. Still same old slow 150mbit/sec max 802.11n 2.4Ghz.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Are powerline network adapters really an option here? Wife doesn't need gigabit speeds, and some of these adapters say they'll do approx 400Mbps. Even if you include transport overhead, this is more than enough for her. The house has brand new wiring and I could possibly splice in an outlet to the exact same line she uses (that way it never has to cross the power panel).

 

[adamantine.me]

Wired unless you don't really do a lot of downloading. Wifi these days can meet the demands of streaming, even in higher resolutions. Just be careful not to have your microwave directly between the router and the device

 

[mxnerd]

Powerline definitely an option. There could be huge speed difference between different power outlets, however. So it's try and error. There is no guarantee. If it doesn't work, you return it.

And you can't use surge protector for these adapters.