Running patch cables OK?

[Gentoo]

Silly question, but would it be OK to run patch cables through blue conduit in my attic? I have a PS3 in my bedroom that gets pretty spotty wifi, and am considering running a CAT6 shielded patch cable from my switch to the PS3. It is a 75 foot run. All the cables are premade at the factory.

I want to use the conduit because I'm having attic insulation blow in this weekend, and when that is done, no more going in the attic, so the conduit is for future purposes. Plus it seems better than just having wire laying on the rafters. I went with shielded because it is going to run right next to the air conditioner and across some electrical wires.

Bottom line, is patch cable like this (through conduit direct into switch -> coupler keystone jack on wallplate -> another patch to PS3) OK to do? This is for a home.

Thanks!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Teeechnicalllyyyeeeeee... no. Building/fire codes. You probably need to use specific types of cable that are designed to not release poison when they burn, and there's a product called "fire-stop" or something that you're supposed to plug the ends of the conduit with. YMMV based on location and local laws.

But what you're describing will work fine, otherwise, as long as the runs are under 100 yards/meters.

 

[Gentoo]

Yeah I'm not asking about building codes.... I just want to know if computer network wise it is OK to use patch cables like that instead of bulk cable cut to size.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yeah I'm not asking about building codes.... I just want to know if computer network wise it is OK to use patch cables like that instead of bulk cable cut to size.

If the patch cables are long enough, sure. The only reason not to is that patch cables tend to come in two lengths: "a smidge too short," and "way too long."

When I've gone shopping, I typically see all sorts of lengths between 1-10', then 14', 25', 50', and 100'. So if you have a 78' run, you'll end up with a 100' patch cable and 22 feet of coiled up, zip-tied cable under the desk. Not super-sexy.

 

[azazel1024]

It is fine for both building codes (depends on where you live though) and for networking. Technically...patch cables are supposed to be no more than 5 meters in length.

I've got a 100ft cat5e cable sitting in a box that works just fine when I need a quick temp connection far away and I don't (for some crazy reason) have a LAN drop near by.

Fire rated and plenum rated cat cable is generally only required for commercial installation and in duct work respectively. Residential installs and not in duct work, no worries. Though technically you should use in-wall rated cabling, but meh.

Frankly if you are going through the work of going up there and doing this, I'd just install solid core cable and run the wire down through the wall and install a box with a keystone jack in it for a LAN drop, and then get or use a short patch cable. Just put a keystone on both ends and short patch cables.

It looks nicer, is more appropriate to IEEE standards for cat cabling, and future home resale is a lot nicer than a patch cable running out of a wall/ceiling in two rooms. Not much extra work to do it.

 

[Gentoo]

Thanks for the replies! Dave, I too have noticed that "come in two lengths: "a smidge too short," and "way too long." lol. Technically I need 55 foot of cable for one run... so I've got 20' extra to deal with

What I was going to do was just coil up the extra length inside the wall. Plug the end of the patch cord into a female to female keystone jack and attach that to the wall so it looks nice and neat.

I was going to go with solid core, but I was leaning towards getting the shielded kind of cat6 cable.

 

[readymix]

Thanks for the replies! Dave, I too have noticed that "come in two lengths: "a smidge too short," and "way too long." lol. Technically I need 55 foot of cable for one run... so I've got 20' extra to deal with

What I was going to do was just coil up the extra length inside the wall. Plug the end of the patch cord into a female to female keystone jack and attach that to the wall so it looks nice and neat.

I was going to go with solid core, but I was leaning towards getting the shielded kind of cat6 cable.

meh, I'm running 125' of utp patch with 2 inline couplings and the last 40' strapped to 120v bx cable. trouble free, for the last 5 years. yes, I'm a dummy. yes, ethernet is dummy proof.

 

[azazel1024]

Thanks for the replies! Dave, I too have noticed that "come in two lengths: "a smidge too short," and "way too long." lol. Technically I need 55 foot of cable for one run... so I've got 20' extra to deal with

What I was going to do was just coil up the extra length inside the wall. Plug the end of the patch cord into a female to female keystone jack and attach that to the wall so it looks nice and neat.

I was going to go with solid core, but I was leaning towards getting the shielded kind of cat6 cable.

On you final, don't.

Shielded is a pain and makes things massively worse if you do not properly terminate it.

Just use Cat5e, unless you plan on it needing 10GbE capability some day, then Cat6 might be a bit more foreward thinking (5e will handle 10GbE also, but only to 45 meters and somewhat less noise tolerant than cat6, which can do 55 meters in low noise installs. Cat6a IS shielded and can do 100 meters of 10GbE in harsh noise environments).

 

[Gentoo]

OK now I'm confused. What do you mean by terminate?

I purchased CAT 6a shielded cables, they are patch cables. The have the connectors at both ends. So aren't they terminated at the factory? I was going to purchase the CAT 6a shielded female to female keystone jacks and plug the cable directly into that on one end, and directly into the switch on the other.

Will this not work?

 

[azazel1024]

I am refering to making a cable. Pre-terminated cables should be fine.

Of course if for some reason the NIC is not to standard and it doesn't ground the cable properly...you are back to causing problems.

Not sure why you are doing cat6a, waste of a lot of money. You'd be better off doing solid core cat5e/6 with proper termination to keystone jacks and then plugging patch cables in to that. Likely a lower noise setup than that much stranded cat6a, plus several couplings and extra patch cable.

Also likely to be much cheaper. With that kind of setup, even if you are trying to future proof, the "to spec" installed cat5e/6 is much more likely to handle 10GbE properly than bodged together cat6a setup.

For GbE, either way is going to work just fine, with 10GbE, you really want to follow spec, no matter the cable you are using, which means solid core through the walls and attic to keystone jacks and then to patch cables to the networking gear (at 5m or less on each side).

GbE can be kind of slopy, 10GbE cannot be slopy (properly installed Cat5e in a low noise environment can run 10GbE to 45 meters, cat6 in a harsher environment can run 10GbE to 55 meters. Cat6a installed to SPEC can do 10GbE to 100 meters in a harsh noise environment. Anything that compromises the spec can greatly reduce the distance at which any of the cabling can carry 10GbE. The spec for all is 35 solid + 5+5m patch cable on either end, 45 solid + 5+5m patch cable on either end and 90 solid + 5+5m patch cable on either end.

Considering that Cat6a is generall 2x as expensive as Cat6 (or worse), especially when you throw in expensive ends...just get or should have bought the proper length of solid core cable and properly terminated.

I know I am on a rant here, but if you buy expensive things, buy the right expensive things and install them right. Otherwise, don't buy expensive things. Its a huge waste of money because you likely get little extra out of it. Otherwise you are better off with cheap things installed the right way (or even cheap things installed the wrong way).

 

[Gentoo]

OK I think I understand now

I went with the CAT6A because it is going to be run in my attic next to the electrical lines. I thought the shielding would help. Price wise . I did the math, it is wash either using the patch cables I bought or buying bulk CAT 6 solid core and all the tools and stuff I don't have to install it.

I don't really care too much about cost anyways we aren't talking about anything more than just a few dollars. I just want to put in something that will get me the fastest speeds and most reliability.

 

[azazel1024]

The interference from electrical wiring is minimal. Ethernet signalling is at a vastly higher rate than the 50/60Hz you have from electrical. It can possibly interfere, but it takes a lot, not just running near some wires.

 

[wlee]

I've used these in a jam a few times. They are pre-terminated solid core.

They should work OK for your purpose, though punching down is better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...te_Solid_network_cable-_-12-120-998-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...te_Solid_network_cable-_-12-120-999-_-Product