RE: newbie question - how to get cat5 cabling into walls?

[Kevin Hawkins]

Just one comment - after reading Keith's post (we overlapped) - he has made
a very valid point that I sort of skipped over.



If you run a cable from A to B that is all it can ever be used
for - another cable from C to D likewise. If later you want to connect A to
C and B to D (or even perhaps A to B and to C and to D - for example using
several KAT5 units to distribute your Sky to two different rooms) then
single run cables are just no good.

Much better to run all your cables back to one point and then
out again - this is what is called 'Node 0' - and here in 'Node 0' you can
cross wire them to achieve what you want - this is done professionally
using
a patch panel - which allows any cable to be connected to any other simply
by plugging them in - a bit like the old telephone exchanges (complete with
human operator) that you see.

In my example - the 'airing cupboard - or 'under the stairs
cupboard' is a typical place where 'Node 0' would sit so all cables should
run through this point - and they would be broken at this point and fed
into
a patch panel. Now in your case this is your first cable so you may feel
such an arrangement is overkill - if so there is a temporary solution.
Decide where you would have a little bit of space to mount your 'Node0' -
perhaps occupying about the size of a small safe - these things can be wall
mounted - allowing for about 24" width 18" height and depth.
(patch panels
are typically 19" wide plus the casing) - B&Q even sell such a
wall mounting
box. - Make sure the cable passes this point. Now leave a loop (coil) of
wire at this point (don't cut it !) - perhaps a couple of metres spare such
that it can be cut and joined to a panel at a later date if (and when !!)
you go to a patch panel. You've now sort of future proofed yourself. If
this
cable is all you ever need then fine - but if, flushed by your success on
this project, you move on to distributing your Hi Fi and TV to several
rooms
you will have the basis of a home AV network set up. KAT5 is capable of
distributing the same source to many different rooms btw !



Kevin







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