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.
K1300S31 May 2021 14:50
It might feel different, but in fact, even "only" 10 Gbps should still be sufficient for a while. 😉
K1300S31 May 2021 17:42
i_b_n_a_n schrieb:

Neither Cat5(e) nor Cat6 have met current standards for what feels like 20 years 😉
Haha, just reread it carefully now. I totally agree with that statement. Cheers to the double negative! :p
Tarnari31 May 2021 18:04
It’s important to distinguish between the in-house wiring and the cables connected to the device. Even a Cat 5e cable can easily support Gigabit speeds over typical distances. So, what is considered standard is somewhat relative. If you buy a device that comes with a cable, it will most likely include a Cat 5e cable. Of course, when purchasing cables separately, it’s better to choose Cat 6a, as the price difference is minimal. However, replacing a Cat 5e cable because it supposedly doesn’t perform well enough is usually unnecessary. Structured in-house wiring is a different matter altogether.
K1300S31 May 2021 18:37
Tarnari schrieb:

Even a Cat 5e can easily handle Gigabit speeds over normal distances.
Even over long distances, as the specification already allows for that. 😉 The reason I suggested Cat 6 (or better) is that it can support 10 Gbps, which should definitely be sufficient for the average user now and in the future. I would definitely not recommend Cat 5(e) for new cabling today, but we are obviously in agreement on that.
Tarnari31 May 2021 18:42
That’s why “standard” distances are recommended. In normal cases, a device should not be wired over more than 100m (330 feet).

As I mentioned, I just wanted to emphasize that it’s important to distinguish between house wiring and device wiring. Otherwise, it might cause unnecessary uncertainty.
K1300S31 May 2021 18:50
Tarnari schrieb:

Normally, a device should not be wired over distances longer than 100 m (328 feet).

Any length beyond 100 m (328 feet) is out of specification regardless of which standard is used, so that goes without saying. To be fair, it’s worth mentioning that Cat6 supports 10 Gbps speeds only up to a maximum cable length of 55 m (180 feet), although such setups are relatively uncommon even in larger single-family homes.