I'm looking to boost my home network to 10gb with Cat 6 cable. Right now, I have several runs of Cat 5e cable. I want to know how easy it is to swap out the existing Cat 5e without having to tear up walls. My plan is to attach the new Cat 6 cable to one end and pull it through while removing the Cat 5e from the other end. However, I noticed that the cables are bundled with zip ties along with some unused coax and phone lines, which complicates things. I've shared some photos to illustrate the setup. Is my plan feasible, or should I consider another approach?
4 Answers
Honestly, pulling out those cables might be trickier than you think. If they were installed properly, there's a good chance they won't come out cleanly. You might end up tangled or breaking the cables as you try to yank them out. Just a heads up!
Yeah, your plan sounds risky. Better to assess your current runs first than get stuck with damaged cables.
Honestly, unless you're running specific workloads that need 10gbe, you might not even need to bother with the upgrade. Cat 5e can handle a lot for typical home use!
Consider getting a cable tester to check the length and performance of your current Cat 5e. Depending on how it was installed, you might be able to push some decent speeds out of it. Under 45 meters, Cat 5e can still hold its ground! But if it bends or has obstacles, pulling it out could be a headache. If it goes directly to a crawl space, you might have better luck, but hills and turns? Forget it!
Good call! Plus, if you can peek behind the outlets and see if the cables have some slack, that might help before you commit to pulling.
Exactly! Even if it’s a bit janky, I've managed 3gbps on Cat 5e in my setup. Don’t rush the replacement just yet.
I agree! Plus, if you're aiming for 10gb, you might not even need to rush into replacing the Cat 5e. It works for many setups still.