Checklist: Installing Cat5e Cables in Your Home

We all love technology, so it only makes sense to have it in our homes everywhere we look, right? If you are interested in getting a high-performing Internet connection, it is crucial to invest in Cat6 cables or Cat5e cables in your home. Simply put, these cables will be able to connect your computer or television to your wireless router, and they differ only in the amount of high-speed frequency they can deliver.

If you are looking to install either Cat6 or Cat5e cables into your home, it is imperative you follow a specific series of steps in order to get the best media sharing, streaming, gaming, and Internet access possible. Here is a checklist that will help with the entire process.

The Planning Stage

  • Figure out where you need/want to put the cables. Which rooms do you want to be wired? Which rooms typically get the best service?
  • Is there a specific number of ports you need for a connection in each room?
  • What is your ideal network speed?

Tools Required – Make sure you have all these tools before you start your project!

  • A drill for drilling through the wall plates — You may not need one if there is already an appropriate hole
  • Strong string/tape
  • A pencil and a permanent marker for labeling
  • A small screwdriver
  • A surge protector — When shopping around for one, make sure it has a UL rating of 1449, a clamping voltage close to 120 volts, and it absorbs at least 600 joules of energy

Assembly

  • Step 1: Mount the wall plates. If you don’t know where to start, consider putting them near your cable TV jacks if you have them.
  • Step 2: Measure and run your cables to each location.
  • Step 3: Connect the network jacks to the patch panels.
  • Step 4: Test your connection! Simply grab your laptop and see if it works in different parts of your home.

And that is all you need to do to ensure that you have quality Internet throughout your home. Pretty simple, right?

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