Wiring a new home for LAN Network

[KD5NRH]

Each room should be connected to the panel with its own separate cable. Do not loop one cable in between rooms in a series.

I repeat DO NOT LOOP ONE CABLE BETWEEN ROOMS.

I agree; every house I've lived in has had a single phone cable looped to all the rooms, and it's a royal pain...especially since it means that a break in the line kills all the phones past it, which can easily mean all your phones are dead when oyu need them. I can't imagine any professional running ethernet cables that way, so just doing double runs of cat6 to double-jack keystone plates allows great flexibility and reliability.

As a bonus, you can get keystone plates with 1, 2, 4, and 6 slots in them, and inserts for most types of jacks from phone and ethernet to RCA, (speakers) F, (TV screw thingy) to binding posts, so you might even want to go for overkill; drop the double cat6, RG6, and a shielded-pair speaker wire or two to each box, then hook up what you want. If you decide later that you want a speaker there instead of cable TV, it's a quick fix.

[srwatters]

To be technically correct, the minimum you need is CAT 5e cable for 1000BaseT Ethernet. Having said that, the delta in price for CAT 6 is a no-op when considering the labor cost to string it.

Personally I'd also consider running a 6 pair optical trunk between the MPOE or DMARK and your data closet or media room. Again the cable cost is cheap when compared to what it would cost to run it later (if it can even be done...). YMMV.

[toverman]

I'm not geeky enough, I suppose, but we have thoroughly enjoyed our wireless life. I may be kidding myself, but our service feels blazing and isn't bulletproof but really reliable. We are "connected" anywhere on our property without having to be near an outlet. Or even inside. And it will be so painless to upgrade our router when it goes. I'm for simple!

[David Whatley]

Last 2 houses I've built had "every" room with cable, yes, even the bathroom. Loved it. Even if you never use it, the next owner may love you for it.
DW

[crazeazn]

i have powerline, since wireless/wiring the house was not an option.

[athompson]

2 x Cat6 and 2 x RG6 to each point, all home-run back to your central panel. You can actually buy a bundle cable which makes pulling easier. I did it the hard way though.