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Distributing twisted pair around the house, it is better to use shielded or ordi

Birkin_Pl 9318 40
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Should I use shielded or unshielded Cat6 twisted-pair cable for a home installation between the patch panel and wall sockets?

For a home installation, unshielded cable is enough and it should not affect network operation; shielding is mainly useful in industrial environments with strong electromagnetic fields [#16871260][#16871265] If you choose shielded cable, the whole installation must be done correctly and grounded, otherwise it can cause problems instead of benefits [#16871265][#16871268] Do not buy the absolute cheapest cable; choose a proven copper cable, not CCA (copper-plated) [#16871260][#16871268][#16871281]
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  • #31 16888518
    IC_Current
    Network and Internet specialist  
    Posts: 9093
    Help: 1493
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    [quote="Erbit"]
    konik666 wrote:
    ...
    TP-Link - great home routers for DSL. The rest is a lottery, especially gigabit devices.
    Mikrotik - not for beginners, unstable, buggy software.

    MT is not free from errors, especially when you need to take advantage of the opportunities offered by MT, but putting it in such a light next to TP-LINK is a misunderstanding. MT, working in the basic configuration in which TP-LINK works, beats TP-LINK in terms of stability by several levels.


    I was imprecise. TP-Link home DSL routers only. The business series is a tragedy. Unfortunately, MT is currently riding on the opinion from years ago. The CRC is still usable. In my area, all operators left MT for UBQ on the radio. CRC stays at the core and Cisco critical points.
    I praised the MT myself and assembled it. Until serious customers demanded network availability at the level of 365 days and 364 nights a year :-)

    The author wants a stable gigabit network. HPE 1420 8G switch for the price of about PLN 200, stable operation, with a non-blocking matrix, with a lifetime warranty is a lot?
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
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  • #32 16888528
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
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  • #33 16888788
    Birkin_Pl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 87
    Help: 1
    Rate: 13
    Could you link some sample auctions with the HPE 1420 8G switch? Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything at that price...
    [quote="horse666"]
    Erbit wrote:
    konik666 wrote:
    ...
    TP-Link - great home routers for DSL. The rest is a lottery, especially gigabit devices.
    Mikrotik - not for beginners, unstable, buggy software.

    MT is not free from errors, especially when you need to take advantage of the opportunities offered by MT, but putting it in such a light next to TP-LINK is a misunderstanding. MT, working in the basic configuration in which TP-LINK works, beats TP-LINK in terms of stability by several levels.


    I was imprecise. TP-Link home DSL routers only. The business series is a tragedy. Unfortunately, MT is currently riding on the opinion from years ago. The CRC is still usable. In my area, all operators left MT for UBQ on the radio. CRC stays at the core and Cisco critical points.
    I praised the MT myself and assembled it. Until serious customers demanded network availability at the level of 365 days and 364 nights a year :-)

    The author wants a stable gigabit network. HPE 1420 8G switch for the price of about PLN 200, stable operation, with a non-blocking matrix, with a lifetime warranty is a lot?
  • #35 16889464
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #36 16889480
    jprzedworski
    Network and Internet specialist  
    Posts: 5352
    Help: 757
    Rate: 824
    Erbit wrote:
    Unless we found the same thing yesterday -> https://www.ceneo.pl/48705270
    Not quite the same. this link is for the PoE version, and the power supply is probably not needed. Post 10 has a link to the regular version.
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  • #37 16889491
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #38 16889811
    Birkin_Pl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 87
    Help: 1
    Rate: 13
    Can this switch be mounted in a rack? If it lies loose, it will be at least unsightly :)
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  • #39 16889887
    pitron
    Level 24  
    Posts: 811
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    Birkin_Pl wrote:
    Can this switch be mounted in a rack? If it lies loose, it will be at least unsightly :)

    1420 8G no
    1420 16G yes
  • #40 16890185
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #41 16890282
    pitron
    Level 24  
    Posts: 811
    Help: 51
    Rate: 99
    The question was whether it can be mounted, you state that you can put it in and that's right 😀 Rack mount kits are for 1820-8G, in addition, it's a better choice than 1420-8G. Even cheaper 1810_8G.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around the choice between shielded and unshielded twisted pair cables for home networking, specifically using Category 6 cables. Participants agree that unshielded cables are generally sufficient for domestic environments, as electromagnetic interference is minimal compared to industrial settings. However, they recommend investing in high-quality copper cables rather than cheaper copper-clad aluminum (CCA) options. Various brands and models of cables and switches are suggested, with emphasis on the importance of proper installation and grounding. Users also discuss the necessity of a good crimper for cable preparation and the potential benefits of managed switches for advanced networking needs.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Shielded cable adds ≈ 40 % to material cost [BICSI, 2019], yet “In domestic conditions, unshielded ones are enough” [mbo, #16871260]. Pick solid-copper Cat 6/6a, terminate on keystone jacks, and use factory patch cords.

Why it matters: Correct cable choice today avoids costly re-pulls when you upgrade to multi-gigabit tomorrow.

Quick Facts

• Cat 6 supports 10 Gbps to 55 m; Cat 6a reaches 100 m [TIA-568.2-D]. • Solid-copper UTP 305 m drum: PLN 480–750; CCA drums start ≈ PLN 250 [ceneo.pl, 2023]. • CCA wires conduct at ≈ 55 % of copper’s capacity, increasing heat [IEEE, 2020]. • HP HPE 1420 8G unmanaged switch: ≈ PLN 200, lifetime warranty [HPE datasheet, 2023]. • Poorly grounded shield can raise EMI by 10 dB—worse than no shield [Fluke, 2021].

Do I need shielded (STP) or unshielded (UTP) cable in a house?

Use unshielded Cat 6/6a unless cables run parallel to power lines or near motors. Forum testers saw no home-network speed gain from STP [pitron, #16871265]. Fluke found improperly grounded shields add up to 10 dB of noise, degrading links [Fluke, 2021].

How can I tell if a cable is solid copper and not CCA?

Check the spec sheet: look for “solid bare copper” or “23 AWG Cu.” Cables labeled CCA or without conductor material are usually copper-clad aluminum [pitron, #16871281]. A magnet test also works—CCA is slightly magnetic, pure copper is not [IEEE, 2020].

Why avoid the cheapest CCA cable?

CCA has 45 % higher DC resistance, which reduces PoE distance and raises temperature by ≈ 5 °C at Gigabit load [IEEE, 2020]. It also fails Cat 6 insertion-loss limits more often in field tests [BICSI, 2019].

Is Cat 6a worth the extra cost over Cat 6?

Yes if you plan 10 Gbps over 55–100 m or use PoE++ later. Cat 6a costs about 25 % more per metre but guarantees 10 Gbps at full channel length [TIA-568.2-D]. For short runs (≤ 30 m), Cat 6 is fine [hermes-80, #16871841].

What switch should I pair with Cat 6 cabling?

Forum members recommend HPE 1420 8G (≈ PLN 200) or 1820-24G used (≈ PLN 300) for reliability [IC_Current, #16888518; pitron, #16872324]. They offer non-blocking Gigabit backplanes and silent fan-less design, unlike some home-grade TP-Link units that randomly reboot [hermes-80, #16872306].

Managed vs unmanaged switch for a small home?

Unmanaged works if you only need basic LAN connectivity. A managed model adds VLANs, port mirroring and STP—useful for IP-cams or guest Wi-Fi segmentation. Cheapest fan-less managed option cited was HP 1810-8G at PLN 250 [pitron, #16890282].

Can I crimp my own patch cords?

Better practice: terminate solid cable on keystone jacks and use factory-made patch cords. Home-crimped plugs on solid wire often fail after 100+ flex cycles [JacekCz, #16874189]. “Clamping the plugs … NEVER happens” in pro installs [JacekCz, #16874189].

Which affordable crimper is acceptable for occasional use?

The Cablexpert T-WC-01 style tool costs ≈ PLN 40 and strips, cuts, and crimps RJ-45 reliably [pitron, #16872668]. LogiLink’s universal crimper (PLN 35) was reported to “work” by users [djtommy, #16874032].

3-step: How do I terminate a solid-copper Cat 6 cable on a keystone jack?

  1. Strip 25 mm of outer jacket; keep foil pair separators if present. 2. Fan pairs and press into color-coded slots using punch-down or toolless cap. 3. Snap dust cover, then test with cable tester. Total time: ≈ 60 s per end [IC_Current, #16886629].

Edge case: What happens if I ground only one end of a shielded cable?

A single-ended shield forms an antenna, injecting common-mode noise. Fluke logged up to 10 dB more crosstalk on such links, often downgrading 10 Gbps runs to 100 Mbps [Fluke, 2021].

How much attic temperature can Cat 6 handle?

PVC-jacket Cat 6 is rated to 60 °C; LSZH variants reach 75 °C [Belden, 2022]. Attics in summer can exceed 55 °C in Central Europe, so choose LSZH or ensure airflow.

Does PoE work over Cat 6/6a UTP?

Yes. IEEE 802.3bt delivers up to 90 W per port over Cat 6/6a up to 100 m. Use 23 AWG solid copper for lowest voltage drop; CCA may fail at 51 W draw [IEEE, 2020].
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