How do I run wired internet from a single router to several different rooms in an apartment?

Question

Here is what my apartment layout looks like:

The router will be where the arrow points, the little jack icons are (shockingly enough) where I want ethernet jacks in each room.

The apartment is currently being renovated, and many of the walls have not yet been constructed, so I am planning to wire the house while I have the chance. I will be hiring someone to do it.

The largest distance between the router and a jack would be approximately 10 meters (including the length required to go up over the ceiling and down on the other side). The max speed I am intending to have for internet is 1 gigabit/s, so the cable should be able to transfer at that speed.

From my really basic research because I know nothing about this sort of thing it looks like Cat6 cable will work both for that length and for the speed I want.

Unfortunately in this country (Japan), the folks I have hired to do the work are not too knowledgeable about wiring for internet, and I want to make sure I can clearly tell them what I want/need so that I don't have to rely on wireless.

From my understanding I will need:

1. Enough cat6 cable to connect each of the rooms
2. LAN jacks for each room
3. I think I will also need 4 LAN jacks right next to the router, one for each room, so that I can connect my router to each jack separately?

For the sake of completeness, the internet provider will give me a router that will hook up to the telephone wire, and I will hook up a wireless router (with wired ports as well) to the router they provide. I think I need to hook up a different port for each room I want to use the internet in, but that's where I'm stuck.

Here is a digram on how I think this process should work:

I may be wrong on some/all of this. What I would like to know is what specifically do I need to ask for in order to have working wired internet in everyone room of my apartment from a single router coming out of a phone line connected to a wireless router?

Answer 1

This is my recommendation and similar to what I have in my home.

Since you have the walls open, this is the perfect time to do this. Don't limit yourself to what you need now, think about the future. With the push for streaming and internet connected devices, almost every room will probably have at least one internet connected device. I recommend putting drop points anywhere you plan on having a desk, tv or phone. Also put drop points where you think desk or tv's would be nice.

As for cable, Cat6 will do but I recommend using Cat6A (or sometimes called Cat6e). This cable will handle 10gig+ so in the future (5 years) when 1gig is not enought you will not have to pull new cable. Though at 10 meters, even Cat6 will handle 10gig, but my mindset is put the best in the wall since it is so hard to remove.

As for installing the cable, no sharp bends and no stretching of the cable. Similar rules for coax cable. Most installers now how to install that, just tell them to treat the install the same.

As for the drops. Have the installers either put a one gang electrical box or a low voltage box where you want the jacks installed. For the jacks, here you can save a little money and use Cat5e jacks. If you need more bandwidth in the future, these are easy to upgrade to Cat6(a/e). They have either plates with a jack integrated or whats called a keystone plate. With a keystone plate, you add modules for what you want into the plate. Modules can include telephone, coax, audio or ethernet. Personally in my house I use the keystone plates and most rooms I combine all the low voltage requirements in one box (most being coax and ethernet).

For the other end of the run, I personally would have them go to a closet or cupboard that has power. The router does not need to be where the cables all run to and I find this to be a cleaner solution. In the closet, place a network switch to handle connecting all the devices. Also the network switch does not have to be as big as all the drops in your house, only as big as the drops that are currently being used. I'm assuming you want the router next to your TV where your coax is. Just add a drop there and pug your router into it. The switch in the closet will handle splitting it to the rest of your house. And this will also give 3 or so ports for the devices around your TV. This is how it is setup in my house and all 3 of those extra ports are used. One for the TV, BD Player and Media Streamer.

As for the closet where the end of the run is, if you only have 6 or less drops you can use a keystone plate with ethernet modules. If you have more than 6, I would recommend putting in a patch panel. They come in sizes as small as 8 ports up to any size you would need for an apartment. And with short half meter patch cables, connect the panel to the switch (which can be hung on the wall near the panel).

Answer 2

I'd use the best shielded CAT6 you can afford - it's worth spending a bit more on good cable now, so you don't have to re-do it in a few years to keep up with the newest technology.

As ChrisF says, separate out the 'first fix' (i.e. running the cables) from the final connecting - you can always get someone else in to do that bit if you can't do it yourself.

Personally, I'd build a small cupboard where the router will be, and contain it, the wiring and any other equipment inside. I'd get a patch panel rather than having four separate sockets on the wall, again for neatness and compactness.

It's certainly worth putting in as many ports as possible, more than you think you'll need, for expansion - e.g. for adding connected TVs, audio equipment, etc as well as other computers. At the very least put a twin socket in each location. You'd probably need an additional switch though, assuming that your router only has 4 ports on the back...

You could also run other cables at the same time to allow distributed music, TV signals, etc, all from equipment in or by the central hub cupboard...

Answer 3

Rather than just running cable around the apartment, consider installing conduits through which you can easily pull different types of cables that may be desirable with future technology.

See for example How do I run ethernet cable through a wall cavity? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conduit#Types_of_conduit

Answer 4

Yes you will need four LAN ports next to the router - or at least next to the switch (which may or may not be the same box) - one for each room.

As for connecting the LAN ports in each room to the LAN ports next to the switch you'll need a channel to run the CAT cable separate from the power cables to reduce interference and to keep low and high voltage cables separate. Also you're more likely to want to replace the CAT cable than the power cable and if it's in its own channel that makes it easier.

Given that you're having to go up and over a (presumably load bearing) wall this will be tricky to do post construction. You'll need to run the wires at the same time as the electric cables are run and before the the final finish (plaster, boarding, or whatever) goes up.

One extra consideration is to make sure that there are no tight bends in the cable runs. This will make it much easier to thread new cables at a later date and may even be essential if you replace the CAT cable with fibre optic cable in the future.

At this point the person doing the work doesn't have to any internet knowledge. All they need to do is treat the cable as if it were carrying electric power but run it to the LAN ports and leave enough slack and poking out of the walls for someone who is (you?) to come along and connect up the wires to the ports. Alternatively you could just get them to run strong string/small rope in the channels and then you can pull the CAT cable through afterwards. This might be the better approach if you're unsure what cable you actually need. Personally I'd go for the highest rated cable available so you don't have to replace it any time soon.

As you are remodelling the entire place, I'd be tempted to put a port in every room (bar the bathroom!) and have more (clearly labelled) ports next to the router. That way you don't have to worry about changing uses of room and the inevitable "if only I had a LAN port in the kitchen!" (or where ever).

Answer 5

You should definitely look to the future if you intend to do this, because right now there is very little that can't be done over Wi-Fi. My son just cut the cable and I helped them make some choices on how to go, offering to hard wire their router to their set top boxes if streaming was slow. They have 6 GB DSL, with everything on Wi-Fi, including a PS4, and have had no slowdown; except when there are multiple iPhones (specifically iPhones) attached. I don't do Apple, so they are on their own with that.

Answer 6

Western Digital Livewire is the product name. This product does not require actually running wires from location to location. Livewire uses the buildings' electrical wiring to connect your network. Simply connect one of the boxes, which has 4 Ethernet ports, next your router, using 1 port of the 4 to router. then connect other box(es) in other parts of house and plug each unit DIRECTLY into the wall outlet. There you go, four ethernet ports available and no poking holes in walls or tacking wires up all over place. The speed is a bit slower than direct Ethernet connection, but most actual speed is not even used because most sources cannot reach most equip limits anyhow.