Wireless access point recommendations?

Synergy Photoworks said

Luckily it's a new build house in process of construction and we have a spare duct (half inch plastic pipe) we can use to run ethernet cable from ground to first floor. Better run the cables and install ethernet sockets before rendering and plastering all the walls though I guess. I'll start planning. Thanks everyone for all the advice and suggestions.

Now that is fortunate.

If I may make another suggestion. Invest a few quid in a ball of reasonably decent string and thread one or even several lengths of it through whatever ducting you can find. Leave a metre or two each end and tied around a piece of  batten or a brick or something so it doesn't accidentally get pulled out. Do similar for any conduit or buried trunking the builder may leave for you. You'll definitely thank yourself later.

Also you don't need to install the Ethernet sockets before plastering. Merely the metal backing boxes, and if the wall trunking is too slim, the Ethernet cable coiled up in the box wrapped in a plastic bag, so the plasterers don't mess it up. Ever seen what plasterers can do to an Ethernet socket? It's horrific... lol :-)

Totally O/T, but I'm cursed with an enquiring mind. is this something you are having built specially? It certainly seems a somewhat better-than-normal standard of constriction.

Synergy Photoworks said

Luckily it's a new build house in process of construction and we have a spare duct (half inch plastic pipe) we can use to run ethernet cable from ground to first floor. Better run the cables and install ethernet sockets before rendering and plastering all the walls though I guess. I'll start planning. Thanks everyone for all the advice and suggestions.

I'd be inclined to get conduit/trunking fitted so you pass cables and do 2nd fix later.

indemnity said

Synergy Photoworks said

Luckily it's a new build house in process of construction and we have a spare duct (half inch plastic pipe) we can use to run ethernet cable from ground to first floor. Better run the cables and install ethernet sockets before rendering and plastering all the walls though I guess. I'll start planning. Thanks everyone for all the advice and suggestions.

I'd be inclined to get conduit/trunking fitted so you pass cables and do 2nd fix later.

+1

Synergy Photoworks

Another wee thought: considering this is a new build, you might consider installing this stuff?

• https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Trunking_Pvc_Index/Dado_Trunking/index.html

Almost fitted some when I refurbed my studio during lockdown. Chickened out because it would mean crowbarring off the old skirting and probably pulling off lumps of plaster with it. My (re)plastering is shit and there was almost zero chance of hiring a pro, because it was lockdown. So I settled for dual channel 38x25 trunking along the top of the skirting instead. But if I were starting afresh, I'd definitely go for skirting/dado trunking. It's very clever versatile stuff. :-)

Jonathan C said

Something that's not been mentioned yet, but may be a simpler solution for you, is Powerline Ethernet.

This uses your existing mains cables rather than having to run new Ethernet cables - it will be slower than genuine Cat 6 Ethernet and switches, but (and this depends on the quality and design of your main cabling) may be 'good enough' - and is a lot simpler - you just plug the devices in, and they then provide WiFi and/or Ethernet ports in the various rooms.

... and provide radio interference to all and sundry in the neighbourhood, especially if your mains arrives on overhead wires.  :-(

Gothic Image

Via overhead wires in our case 8D

Lots of sound advice - thank you!

I've been doing a bit of research myself and it does seem that running ethernet cable through the same conduit as electrical wiring is an absolute no-no due to electromagnetic interference and (critically, from a safety point of view) a possible overheating effect and fire risk? So I'm thinking to run separate conduit for the ethernet cables. But there seem to be widely varying standards and recommendation on how far the ethernet conduit (if running parallel to conduit carrying the electrical wiring) should be separated from the electrical conduit - anything from two inches to two feet. Apparently crossing over at right angles is not a problem. Any thoughts and advice please? The conduit carrying the electrical wiring in the roof space looks like spaghetti junction so difficult to avoid!

Synergy Photoworks said

Lots of sound advice - thank you!

I've been doing a bit of research myself and it does seem that running ethernet cable through the same conduit as electrical wiring is an absolute no-no due to electromagnetic interference and (critically, from a safety point of view) a possible overheating effect and fire risk? So I'm thinking to run separate conduit for the ethernet cables. But there seem to be widely varying standards and recommendation on how far the ethernet conduit (if running parallel to conduit carrying the electrical wiring) should be separated from the electrical conduit - anything from two inches to two feet. Apparently crossing over at right angles is not a problem. Any thoughts and advice please? The conduit carrying the electrical wiring in the roof space looks like spaghetti junction so difficult to avoid!

Seek advice on how to shield it or route on different path to ring main. This should not be too difficult, office blocks, data centres, stock exchange, banks, hospitals etc are riddled with cables.

Synergy Photoworks said

Lots of sound advice - thank you!

I've been doing a bit of research myself and it does seem that running ethernet cable through the same conduit as electrical wiring is an absolute no-no due to electromagnetic interference and (critically, from a safety point of view) a possible overheating effect and fire risk? So I'm thinking to run separate conduit for the ethernet cables. But there seem to be widely varying standards and recommendation on how far the ethernet conduit (if running parallel to conduit carrying the electrical wiring) should be separated from the electrical conduit - anything from two inches to two feet. Apparently crossing over at right angles is not a problem. Any thoughts and advice please? The conduit carrying the electrical wiring in the roof space looks like spaghetti junction so difficult to avoid!

Yes, signal cables should always be ducted separately from power cables.

FWIW when we refurbed my studio during lockdown, we used dual channel trunking over the top of the existing skirting. Ethernet, POE and 12VDC cables went in one channel and 230VAC mains cables in the other. We also took the trouble to ensure there was still adequate physical separation when cables had to cross over - internal bridges consisting pieces of trunking offcuts c/w blobs of uPVC cement to keep them in place. In your case in a new build, simply run some 20mm conduit or similar set in the walls. I sent you a link in a previous post to a company that specialises in cable systems. Its on-line catalogue is excellent and the branch staff are generally pretty helpful too.

We also took the trouble to mark the cables with small pieces of coloured polyolefin sleeve, c/w a list so in future we know what cables go where. You could alternatively use a Dymo in "flag mode" or similar. But if you intend to live in the property for any period of time, then knowing what each cable does is very useful info indeed.

indemnity

Good point!

waist.it

So I needn't worry too much about how far apart the ethernet and electric wiring are so long as they are in different conduits?

In reality, you're very unlikely to encounter interference issues unless you have a particularly noisy mains supply - heavy current motor drives, for example. Consider also that in the multi-section trunking used in offices and hospitals, the mains and signal cables are in long parallel runs only an inch or so apart, separated just by a thin piece of plastic. I wouldn't worry too much.  :-)

Synergy Photoworks I've only done domestic refurbs on my own properties, however, these have been good size houses min 5000 to 7000 sqft multi £M. I tend to route all central heating/water pipes in an easy to access manner away from electrical or other installations/aircon/extractors/heat exchangers etc. All underfloor feeds from manifold pipe in pipe, every piece of sanitaryware with isolator valves where possible, valves/pumps in easy to service change location etc Electricity with consumer board on each floor of house, protection plates for plumbing pipes behind tiling, likewise potential risk areas for cabling. This all makes good sense and the benefits rewarded when future work, additions, repairs are needed. It doesn't sound like a difficult task in your case to be fair, and in the grand scheme of things probably at a relatively small cost, essential to do.

It can be difficult and expensive to fix/alter certain items once granite/stone/tiles have been fixed.

Get a copy of the plan with all existing proposed installations and get someone competent and qualified to take a look at the issue. Providing this build is not a refurb of a Grade listed building you shouldn't be faced with too much of an issue. If it is have a chat with project manager responsible. You might need to seek approval (been there a few times).

If you leave it too late into the build the costs can spiral.

Big +1 to what indemnity says.

WRT cables and conduit, the basic principle is that mains and low voltage cables should never be in the same enclosure. And in situations where it is unavoidable, AC/DC power adaptors etc, there has to be adequate separation. This is not about interference. It is about avoiding making low voltage circuits live.

In your case you'll be using shielded cat 6 cables. So interference from nearby mains cables is unlikely to be an issue.

You keep the cables apart essentially to reduce the risk of damaged (or otherwise compromised) cables making contact with each other.

I lived in a similarly constructed concrete with metal reinforcement villa in Dubai and had to create an access point to get wifi upstairs.

I was able to use an old basic wifi router I already had sitting in a box and convert that to an access point - there's plenty of tutorials online to help. No real need to get a new or dedicated router. This took its signal from one of the outputs on the back of the main router.

There's also tutorials on how to tune the wavelength output of each channel to minimise interference. I'm going back a few years so don't remember the exact sites, but I'm pretty sure they all had 'geek' in the title somewhere.
It's not actually that complicated - and I say that as a very self confessed technophobe who has an intense dislike of computers and any tech that can't be fixed with a wrench or a hammer. It took me a few hours to get running and another day to fine tune it all.