Wiring up a Home Network

[Silmeron]

I know this is slightly off topic, but I wanted to see if any of you fellow tech types had installed a wired network solution in your homes.

I just recently moved into a 15-year old, two story house and I'd like to set up a gigabit network throughout the house. Unfortunately in this case, the house has vaulted ceilings, so I have no access to get into the drywall without poking around all over the place.

Downstairs I have a small closet that I'd like to house my switches and broadband router. My plan was to just make tight, clean runs around the edges of the room along the tackboard, but was wondering if I'm wasting my efforts. Each upstairs room could have 3-6 CAT5e wires running around them.

Any tips or warstories you can share?

Thanks!

 

[ade099]

hey silmeron.
i live in a 3 story house and actually use both wired and wireless. how many comps are you planning to hook up? i've got 4 wireless and 3 wired. topfloor has one wired. garage has one wireless. and the rest are on the middle floor, but scattered from one end of the house to the other. i just try to keep all the wires as close to the walls/doorframes as possible. get yourself a staple gun and have a fun day of making our wires look as inconspicuous as possible. avoided drilling holes in ceilings and walls cuz that'd yield gruesome results when/if i move out. oh, if you have hallway runners or rugs (not wall to wall carpeting), you can always hide wires under those..and behind large pieces of furniture.

-a

 

[Silmeron]

Thanks A! Since I have the carpet off, I started tacking down CAT 5e along the tack board (between the board and where the carpet padding will go). Hopefully that'll work out OK, guess I just need to be careful with furniture

 

[ade099]

and beware if you have any cats. for some reason, i find that they like tearing up wires

 

[chiefred]

http://www.wiretracks.com/faq.html

you might want to check into this---it seems to help with hard to get to installations

 

[chiefred]

http://www.wiretracks.com/faq.html

sorry

 

[Silmeron]

Thanks Chief Red, that looks really cool!