How to setup a home wired network
We have discussed wireless networking in several articles but, in this article, we will cover the benefits and methods for ‘hard wiring’ your property.
Why use a wired network?
Wired networks are typically more reliable and robust as they do not suffer from interference, signal black spots, or signal loss but they require more planning and take longer to deploy. If you run an ethernet cable to each room in your property from your broadband router, you achieve a dedicated and resilient connection to your broadband internet connection. These lines offer great flexibility in terms of what can be connected in each room of your property. You may opt to install a wireless router or access point offering a localised and strong wireless network in a room – or you may simply want to hard wire a high demand device such as a 4K television or a games console for ‘unbreakable’ connectivity.
What is the downside of using a wired network?
In terms of connectivity and performance, none. Wired networks are incredibly reliable and networking cables and devices are readily available at very affordable prices with speeds up to 1Gbps. The only major downside of installing a wired network is the wiring itself; if you are moving into a new, empty property then it may prove relatively straightforward to professionally install ethernet cables and wall sockets, but it can cause great disruption for those planning to update an already occupied property. A completely indoor installation of ethernet cable would either see cables routed into your walls, like power cables, or run along walls inside cable trunking – the method depends on your budget and the desired look of the project. There are ways around the disruption - for example Cat6 ethernet cable is suitable for outdoor use so, in theory, you could install the cable outside by drilling holes to bring the cable back inside to connect to wall sockets. Of course, some may simply opt for a simpler approach of loosely laying premade ethernet cables from point A to B – not an uncommon sight in the home of a tech enthusiast.
Things to consider when installing wired networking
Beyond deciding if you will route cables into your walls, run cables through conduits, or simply loosely lay cables - there are a couple of things to consider when installing a wired network in your property. You may be tempted to opt for Cat5 ethernet cable as this will be suitable for use with services such as fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) broadband which offers speeds up to 80Mbps, but Cat5 ethernet cable only supports a maximum of 1000Mbps (1Gbps). Cat6, on the other hand, supports speeds up to 10Gbps (10000Mbps). Whilst the fastest fibre-to-the-property (FTTP) currently offers speeds up to 900Mbps, it is likely that in the near future speeds will exceed 1000Mbps or 1Gbps – so we would recommend future-proofing your wired network by installing Cat6. In addition to the enhanced speeds supported by Cat6, it is also more suitable for outdoor use due to better shielding than its Cat5 counterpart. If you are opting for conduit or wall-routed ethernet cabling, consider the placement of your wall sockets carefully. Where possible, locate them near to power sockets as the devices that will use wired connections will also need power.
What is PoE and do I need it?
Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) devices allow for a device to be powered using ethernet cables – handy when it comes to minimising cable clutter. To take advantage of PoE, you will first need to ensure that the device you are connecting by ethernet is PoE capable. Most PoE devices are small or low-powered devices such as digital telephones or CCTV cameras. If you do not have any PoE capable devices, it is not worth spending the extra money to install PoE switches or PoE injectors – unless you know that you will be purchasing PoE devices in the future.
I have multiple devices that I want to connect to my wired network - do I need to run individual cables?
In short, no. You could run a single ethernet cable to each room and simply install a switch or cable-DSL router/wireless router in each room to create extra connections for multiple devices.
Can I hire someone to install a wired network at my property?
Freedomsat does not offer this service, but it is possible to hire a professional to install a wired network at your property. It is recommended that you search for reputable networking engineers on a trusted trade website, such as Checkatrade. If you will not be supplying the equipment for the network, we recommend you research the typical cost of the elements that form a wired network so that you know what to expect from a professional installer’s quotation. You should be clear what type of installation you would like and understand that routed cable installations, in particular, will involve a significant amount of additional work beyond the actual wiring. Some installers may assist with connecting your devices to your new wired network or some may simply use a special tool to test that the cables are fully working before leaving you to connect your devices.