ᐅ Cabling for access points: choosing the correct network cable
Created on: 24 May 2021 21:46
M
Maria88
Hello everyone,
Last week, I went through our terraced house with the electrician and shared all my requests, including where the access points should be installed in the future.
I was thinking of using Unify Nano devices, and it is important to me that the power is supplied via the network cable at the ceiling.
Now I am wondering if I should have a special cable installed, or if it doesn’t matter for the power supply as long as it is a network cable.
Thank you very much in advance.
Last week, I went through our terraced house with the electrician and shared all my requests, including where the access points should be installed in the future.
I was thinking of using Unify Nano devices, and it is important to me that the power is supplied via the network cable at the ceiling.
Now I am wondering if I should have a special cable installed, or if it doesn’t matter for the power supply as long as it is a network cable.
Thank you very much in advance.
I’m not involved with the electrical topic, as I leave that entirely to the electrician due to my lack of knowledge.
LAN wiring is usually done from a central point -> star topology. In existing buildings, compromises are sometimes necessary, but these always need to be examined in detail. For cable type, I would recommend CAT 7 or CAT 7a. Always install these cables in conduit to keep them replaceable. Pay attention to installation zones and coordinate closely with the electrician.
Place network outlets wherever devices are planned. Don’t forget secondary rooms like hobby rooms and garages. Basically, always install a double outlet that doesn’t take up more space than a single outlet. Use deep flush-mounted boxes for the network outlets or even better, electronic boxes. Where all the cables converge, it’s best to use a network cabinet with cables terminating in a patch panel (like a network outlet but with many ports). For network outlets and the patch panel, I’d recommend keystone modules because they are more fault-tolerant and better suited for non-experts. There are also some other distribution options available. Always have the electrician handle the grounding of the network cabinet. You can check out the Kabelscheune for a good overview of individual network components.
In addition to the fixed wiring of components, WLAN also comes into play. Ideally, plan for at least one access point per floor. Position it high on the wall or on the ceiling. For non-PoE access points, you will also need power nearby. When planning WLAN, don’t forget an access point for the terrace and garden, as indoor coverage usually does not reach those areas.
That was a quick run-through of the topic. Read up, read up, read up!
LAN wiring is usually done from a central point -> star topology. In existing buildings, compromises are sometimes necessary, but these always need to be examined in detail. For cable type, I would recommend CAT 7 or CAT 7a. Always install these cables in conduit to keep them replaceable. Pay attention to installation zones and coordinate closely with the electrician.
Place network outlets wherever devices are planned. Don’t forget secondary rooms like hobby rooms and garages. Basically, always install a double outlet that doesn’t take up more space than a single outlet. Use deep flush-mounted boxes for the network outlets or even better, electronic boxes. Where all the cables converge, it’s best to use a network cabinet with cables terminating in a patch panel (like a network outlet but with many ports). For network outlets and the patch panel, I’d recommend keystone modules because they are more fault-tolerant and better suited for non-experts. There are also some other distribution options available. Always have the electrician handle the grounding of the network cabinet. You can check out the Kabelscheune for a good overview of individual network components.
In addition to the fixed wiring of components, WLAN also comes into play. Ideally, plan for at least one access point per floor. Position it high on the wall or on the ceiling. For non-PoE access points, you will also need power nearby. When planning WLAN, don’t forget an access point for the terrace and garden, as indoor coverage usually does not reach those areas.
That was a quick run-through of the topic. Read up, read up, read up!
hanse987 schrieb:
When it comes to electrical work, I’m out, as I leave that to the electrician due to lack of knowledge.This is also highly recommended to @Rumbi441. Anyone who needs to ask such questions should definitely stay away from electricity, otherwise it can end badly.C
Christian14431 May 2021 09:03Good morning to everyone in the Ruden,
since there has been so much talk about CAT7 and CAT7A cables... Are there actually quality criteria for network cables? Or rather, what should you pay attention to (besides the maximum possible speed) before buying network cables for installation in a new build?
since there has been so much talk about CAT7 and CAT7A cables... Are there actually quality criteria for network cables? Or rather, what should you pay attention to (besides the maximum possible speed) before buying network cables for installation in a new build?
Quality distinctions like good or bad manufacturers don’t really exist since everything is standardized. The especially good manufacturers simply provide detailed measurement data for their cables, but most consumers (and electricians) can't really make much use of that.
It is interesting that, for example, with Category 7 cables, different maximum transmission frequencies are sometimes specified, but they still meet the minimum standard. For instance, some are rated for 600 MHz (minimum) while others reach 1000 MHz. Additionally, the physical properties of the cable do not necessarily correspond directly to a certain bandwidth because the different standard categories were developed at different times with different goals. For example, Category 8 is specified for speeds up to 100 Gbps, but only over significantly shorter distances than Category 7. Therefore, it can reach the required 1600 MHz, but only for a maximum of 30 meters (approximately 98 feet), while Category 7 supports at least 600 MHz for distances up to 100 meters (approximately 328 feet). I believe that a good Category 7a cable, for example specified at 1500 MHz, is hardly any worse (if at all) than a standard-compliant Category 8 cable.
As far as I know, there are no Category 8 duplex cables yet, which makes installation a bit more complicated. Other important characteristics include the conductor cross-section. Most installation cables are AWG 23. Using AWG 22 cables could be advantageous for long distances and Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications. Last but not least, the overall cable diameter affects how easily the cable can be installed, but it does not impact signal quality.
As you can see, this is a quite complex, multidimensional topic that overwhelms most electricians. That’s why it’s good for homeowners to acquire at least some basic knowledge.
It is interesting that, for example, with Category 7 cables, different maximum transmission frequencies are sometimes specified, but they still meet the minimum standard. For instance, some are rated for 600 MHz (minimum) while others reach 1000 MHz. Additionally, the physical properties of the cable do not necessarily correspond directly to a certain bandwidth because the different standard categories were developed at different times with different goals. For example, Category 8 is specified for speeds up to 100 Gbps, but only over significantly shorter distances than Category 7. Therefore, it can reach the required 1600 MHz, but only for a maximum of 30 meters (approximately 98 feet), while Category 7 supports at least 600 MHz for distances up to 100 meters (approximately 328 feet). I believe that a good Category 7a cable, for example specified at 1500 MHz, is hardly any worse (if at all) than a standard-compliant Category 8 cable.
As far as I know, there are no Category 8 duplex cables yet, which makes installation a bit more complicated. Other important characteristics include the conductor cross-section. Most installation cables are AWG 23. Using AWG 22 cables could be advantageous for long distances and Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications. Last but not least, the overall cable diameter affects how easily the cable can be installed, but it does not impact signal quality.
As you can see, this is a quite complex, multidimensional topic that overwhelms most electricians. That’s why it’s good for homeowners to acquire at least some basic knowledge.
T
T_im_Norden31 May 2021 09:38Pay attention to the cable shielding
T_im_Norden schrieb:
Pay attention to the cable shielding That was the crucial tip! 😀
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