How to Wire Your House With Cat-5 (or 6) For Ethernet Networking

Step 2 Required Tools and Materials (and costs)

Your tools and materials can vary a lot on your needs and what you already may have.

Tools

Ethernet crimping tool (only if you're putting plug on the ends) $0 True geeks should have one
Drill (primarily for drilling through wall top plates, but makes screwing faster too) $0 Already had
Paddle bit or hole saw (size will vary by how many cables you're running) $0 Borrowed Dads
Pointed hand saw (this makes it easy to cut holes for the gang boxes/wall plates) $0 Borrowed
Strong string or a fish tape $0 Had it laying around
Label Maker (optional) $0 Had it
Pencil $0 had it
Sharpie type Marker $0 Had it
Ruler $0 Had it (I'm noticing a trend)
Stud finder $0 Had it
Punchdown tool (optional) $0 Cause I used a small screwdriver
Laptop or Cable tester (to test each drop) $0 Had a laptop

Materials

1000' spool Cat-5e or Cat-6 (more or less based on your need) $0 Free from a friend
Single Gang Retrofit Boxes (the kind that clamp to the drywall, open back) $0.25 each
RJ-45 Jacks and plates (get what you need, maybe an extra or two) $0.35/plate, $14 for 12 jacks
RJ-45 plugs (optional) $0 I didn't use them
Plastic grommet (optional, makes the cabling look professional) $0.60
Patch panel (optional, another professional touch) $0 Dragged out of the dumpster at work
Ethernet Switch $0 Given by a friend
Router/Firewall (optional, may be required by you ISP) $0 Already had one
Velcro strips for cable management (optional) $3 for a roll
Short patch cables (optional) $5 This will vary depending on length

Now that we've (hopefully) got all the stuff we need, lets mount the wall plates!

Comments

[bblackmoor]

I found this write-up very helpful and informative. I am going to wire our house for ethernet, and this instructable brought to mind several things I had overlooked. I appreciate the complete lists of parts and supplies. Very helpful.

(Some people have commented on the lack of prices, but I would expect prices to change, anyway, so I really don't think that's a big deal. Besides, this documenting the author's project, and if he got something free, then he got it free. I don't see the issue there.)

[carniemechanic]

 Why write anything at all about costs knowing you'll say nothing informative? Most of us have tools, I'm sure; subscribing to Instructables implies this. Few of us have access to so much free material and components.
 Please make the article you write as informative as it is instructive. I find incomplete information frustrating.

[rrrmanion]

i think you'll find other people would not find him(/her listing the prices useful anyway, the prices would have been in dollars, and prices in the US, instructables is available all over the world, i live in the UK, and we use pounds, so you might just have to put up with it, and think how at least most of the instructables are listed in your currency.

[Rogue Agent]

There's plenty informative.  Even if I don't list all the costs, the proper tools and materials listing is helpful.  I listed what it cost me, some of which was $0.  But I'm not going to research costs on everything for your convenience.  If you find my instructable frustrating, move along and don't read it. 

[Danish M1Garand]

Costs are relative. Will you buy or scrounge every bit of this? I have friends that do this for a living. With nearly empty spools of wire and a scrounged connector or two I bet i'd get down to zero cost. If you hire the job done then it could cost thousands. Cat5 wire is cheap here in the USA i'd bet in some parts of the world it is difficult and expensive to find.

[justgettingstarted]

Rogue Agent - You've done a very good job at presenting a project that many would never attempt without that little nudge from someone who has already done it and documented it so they could see the potential pitfalls. Kudos! As to those who feel the need to criticize what they couldn't do themselves, well, just let them go about their way without trying to retaliate. You can never truly "get even." More and more I find myself applying the old saying - "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." When we are so quick to defend what doesn't need defending we create the appearance that it needs defense. Just shake your head, smile and let it go. Don't make their frustration yours.

[NachoMahma]

.  Amen!

[InstructablesMMX]

Hello, Does anyone knows where to get the Single Gang Retrofit Boxes at $0.25 each? I looked at monoprice.com and even at bulk it cost .80 and up... TIA!

[wbsbadboy]

You are right on the money, Riggertrev.
they are called Keystone connectors because of the shape of the outlet.

[Beantown]

MMX you can get inexpensive keystone jacks, cables, etc at www.monoprice.com

[InstructablesMMX]

how can one buy the keystone jacks at the rate of 12 for $14 as mentioned in this article? Everywhere I look is about $3 and up... Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Briguy9]

I think they call them keystone because of what it looks like. You know, the bumpy side of a key?

[PieFlinger]

Good guess, but "keystone" actually does refer, as Rigger figured, to the stone at the apex of an arch.

[Riggertrev]

I think Keystone actually refers to the shape of both the jack and the plug.. like the keystone of an arch..see the stepped shape of the opening?