gigabit network and cables

felixthecat99

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May 18, 2015
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I want to install Ethernet cable in my property from an upstairs BT home hub four (only one gigabit port) to downstairs to an xbox pc and NAS drive. the longest distance is only about 20m.
I want to future proof it. I would run a single cable to a gigabit switch downstairs
we have normal broadband but will be getting fiber optic soon within next month and probably be upgrading to a home hub 5 with multiple gigabit ports.
Q1. if i use a gigabit switch to increase the number of ports run off the one port on the router will this slow down the individual speed of the cables coming off the switch. so when i upgrade to HH5 would it be better to run individual cables directly off the new router.
Q2, should i use cat 6 or cat 6a cabling. i am guessing it will not make a difference as longest length only 20 m.
 
Solution
The first thing to remember is no matter how many ports you have you are limited to the speed of the ISP. So if you are looking at internet speeds it likely makes no difference.

Most switches are what are called wirespeed. Look for a something that states the speed of the device or backplane. Most time it is 2x1gxnumber of ports. So a 24port switch would say 48g. This used to be a special feature now it is very common.

What this mean is all ports can run at full speed without slow other ports down. Most routers that have 4 ports are using a chip that is a 5 port switch. 4 lan ports and a fifth connecting to the router chip. These too tend to be wirespeed.

How you cable it likely will make no difference unless you really...
The first thing to remember is no matter how many ports you have you are limited to the speed of the ISP. So if you are looking at internet speeds it likely makes no difference.

Most switches are what are called wirespeed. Look for a something that states the speed of the device or backplane. Most time it is 2x1gxnumber of ports. So a 24port switch would say 48g. This used to be a special feature now it is very common.

What this mean is all ports can run at full speed without slow other ports down. Most routers that have 4 ports are using a chip that is a 5 port switch. 4 lan ports and a fifth connecting to the router chip. These too tend to be wirespeed.

How you cable it likely will make no difference unless you really think you are going to run more than 1g between devices inside the house.

I would use cat5e cable especially if these are just simple patch cables. You would only use cat6a if you had 10g ports and by the time 10g ports are cheap on end user equipment I am sure cat6a cables will be also. The port controls the speed not the cable and 1g ports only need cat5e. I would not use cat6 unless you can get it cheaper than cat5e. Normal cat6 has no real advantage, it can run 10g at short distances but if your can afford 10g ports the small extra between cat6 and cat6a is not really that much.
 
Solution