What does your home network look like? Is it a tangled mess of cables or well-organized and easy to access? If you’ve been trying to figure out how to get your Internet upstairs, we’ve got the perfect solution for you.
We know that running Ethernet cable upstairs can be an intimidating prospect, but don’t worry! We have all the tips and tricks you need. From making sure your cables are in good shape to figuring out how much cable you need, we’ll show you everything, you need to know about running cables upstairs.
Don’t spend another sleepless night worrying about your home network. Take these 5 steps and finally breathe easy knowing what lies ahead for your future digital life.
Why is it important to run cables upstairs?
You can’t buy a new PC without a network cable. And, likely, you don’t have a cable running from your router to every single room in your house. This is where running cables upstairs come in. There are many reasons it’s important to run cables upstairs, but the most popular one is to ensure you have reliable Internet access throughout your home.
Digital life is as much about convenience as it is about function. To be as efficient as possible with your time, you need an easy-to-access network throughout all of your rooms. Running cables upstairs will help do just that!
Running cables upstairs also saves you money and energy because you’ll never have to ask a friend or family member for help setting up a complicated WiFi connection again. You’ll be able to stream movies, upload photos, and games on your new gaming rig without any worries!
Prepare for the installation
The first step to installing your cables is preparing. Before running cables up the stairs, make sure that the outlet at the top of the stairs has power. You don’t want to work with live wires.
Also, make sure that you have enough cable on hand before starting your installation. Once you know how many cable lengths you need, it’s time to measure and cut them to size!
Next, prepare your tools. You’ll need a pair of wire cutters or scissors, a drill bit for drilling holes in walls (if necessary), staples for attaching cables to your wall, and an Ethernet jack plate if required.
What type of cable should I use?
There are many different types of cable for you to choose from. The most popular cable type is Cat-5e, which is also the easiest to work with. It’s 100% compatible with your standard wall outlet and can provide enough bandwidth for your home network.
The other popular choice is Cat-6, which offers higher bandwidth, but may not be necessary for most home networks. If you have the budget or need more bandwidth, this would be a great option!
How do I prepare my cables for installation?
Before you get started, make sure your cables are in good condition. If they’ve been exposed to extreme heat or cold, it’s time for a new set!
Next, make sure you know what type of cable and the length you need. To measure the length of cable that you need, follow these three easy steps:
-Use a measuring tape and measure from one end of the installation area (where the cable will be coming from) to your access point or router.
-Measure up 15 ft vertical distance between where your cable will be coming through the wall and where you would like to have Internet access
-If your router is mounted on top of a shelf, measure up another 6ft to account for the height difference
Once you have your measurements, buy about five feet extra to account for any mistakes in cutting the cable or adding in connectors. We suggest purchasing Ethernet cables in bulk so you can avoid running out in the middle of an install.
Cut the right length of cable
If you run an Ethernet cable up the stairs, you’ll need to make sure it’s cut to the correct length.
You can find a great tutorial on how to measure this length here. Once you have your cable cut, attach the connector to one end of the cable. You can find a tutorial on how to do this here.
Once all your cables are connected, now you’re ready to start running them!
Running your cables from the basement to the first floor
The first step in running your cables upstairs is to ensure that your cables are in good shape and ready for the journey. To do this, you need to:
1) Check for any worn, frayed, or broken spots on the cable. If you find any of these problems, either fix them or discard the cable and start with a new one.
2) Remove any dust from your cable by wiping it down with a dry cloth.
3) Straighten out the cable as much as possible and then measure the length needed to go from the port at the bottom of your stairs to where you want it installed at the top.
4) Mark this length on your cable using a marker and cut it off with a pair of scissors. Now all you have left to do is feed it through your walls and up your stairs!
Running your cables from the first floor to the second floor
The best way to ensure that your cables are in good shape is to inspect them. You want to make sure that they are not damaged, plugged into the correct ports, and plugged into the suitable plugs. To begin the inspection process, you need to start at your modem.
Check all of the connections coming out of the back of the modem for any visible signs of damage. If you notice any loose or broken connections, this is a sign that your cables may need replacing. Many people forget about inspecting their cables until it’s too late, leading to severe problems down the line. So don’t forget to take care of these cables now!
Next, you’ll want to check all of your network devices. Devices like routers and switches should be connected with CAT5e/6 cable terminated with RJ-45 connectors on both ends. Ensure that all devices are connected securely and have no visible damage before moving on to running wires through your home.
Conclusion
You’ve heard it time and time again: it’s essential to run cables upstairs. But, what does that mean and why is it important?
Running cables upstairs is essential because you want your home network to be as fast and reliable as possible. The longer the cables go from the basement to the top floor, the more signal degradation. This means your network will be slower and less reliable.
Before running cables upstairs, it’s important to ensure you have everything you need. You should make sure you have a whole roll of cable, a punch-down tool, and wire strippers. It would be best if you also had a ladder or a step stool so you could reach your desired area in your house.
The last thing you need to do before running cables upstairs is cut the appropriate cable length. Make sure that any cable going from the first floor to the second floor is long enough for this purpose.
