Structured Cabling Guide

Survey — Planning the Cabling

Before running any cable, plan the installation:

1. Identify the distribution point (patch panel location): Where will the cables terminate at the centre? This is typically a small cabinet or an enclosure in a cupboard, plant room, or comms room. It must be close to or at the broadband router location.

2. Identify all data point locations: Where does the customer want network points? Mark these on a floor plan if the property is large. For Wi-Fi access points, plan cable routes to the ceiling or high wall positions.

3. Plan cable routes: Cables run from each data point back to the central distribution point. Cable routes should:

   • Follow building lines — not cut diagonally across cavities
   • Avoid high-voltage cables (minimum 50mm separation; cross at 90° where necessary)
   • Avoid heat sources
   • Be as direct as possible to keep cable length under 90m (leaving headroom for patch leads at each end within the 100m maximum)

4. Note cavity access: Are walls stud or masonry? Is there a loft above? Cable routing through stud walls requires fire stopping where cables penetrate fire compartments.

Cable Specification

Standard for all new Wilsons installs: Cat6 U/UTP (unshielded twisted pair)

• 4 twisted pairs, 23 AWG copper conductors
• Meets ISO/IEC 11801 and TIA-568-B standards
• Supports 1Gbps at full 100m; supports 10Gbps up to 55m
• Buy from a reputable brand — cheap market cable often doesn't meet spec

When to use shielded (F/UTP or S/FTP): In industrial environments, near heavy electrical equipment, or where EMI interference is a concern. More expensive and harder to terminate — only use where needed.

Cable colours — Wilsons convention:

Running the Cable

Through Stud Walls

• Drill through the top plate (top of the wall frame) from the loft and fish the cable down
• Or drill through the stud from the cavity side using a right-angle drill
• Use a draw wire or cable pull where cables must run long distances

Through Masonry Walls

• Core drill a hole for a back box (for surface-mounted data points)
• Or drill through the wall for cables running into a cavity or from room to room
• Seal around cables that pass through fire compartment walls with intumescent fire sealant

Through Loft/Ceiling Voids

• Route cables across the loft floor, protected in conduit where they may be walked on
• Use cable clips at 300–500mm intervals
• Avoid routing directly under insulation without protection

Cable Protection and Containment

• Trunking: Use surface-mounted trunking where cables cannot be concealed — provides a professional finish and mechanical protection
• Conduit: For any cable run that will be buried in plaster, in concrete, or in a position where it may be disturbed
• Cable clips: Where cables run exposed in a loft or basement, clip neatly at regular intervals

Never run cables over ceiling tiles (in suspended ceilings) unless in conduit — they create a maintenance problem and are easily damaged.

Terminating at the Data Point (Keystone Jack)

Data points use keystone jacks — small connectors that click into standard wall plate face plates.

Tools needed

• Cable stripper
• Punch-down tool (110 punch tool with a 110-blade)
• Small side cutters

Procedure

1. Cut the cable leaving approximately 150mm beyond where the keystone will be
2. Strip 30–40mm of the outer sheath — do not nick the inner conductors
3. Untwist the pairs just enough to separate them for termination — keep the twist as close to the point of termination as possible (excess untwisting degrades performance)
4. Following the T568B colour code, press each conductor into the correct channel on the keystone
5. Use the punch-down tool to seat and trim each conductor
6. Clip the keystone into the face plate
7. Fix the face plate to the back box

Label the face plate with the cable number matching the patch panel.

Terminating at the Patch Panel

The patch panel brings all the cables from around the property to a single organised location.

1U patch panels (24-port or 48-port)

Cables terminate on the rear of the patch panel using the same punch-down method as the keystone jacks. The front has RJ45 sockets numbered for each cable.

Procedure

1. Allow 150–200mm of cable beyond the rear of the patch panel
2. Strip and terminate each cable to the corresponding port following T568B
3. Use the cable management tray/bar below the patch panel to route cables neatly
4. Label each port with the cable number and destination

A labelled, organised patch panel is the mark of a professional installation.

Labelling

Label both ends of every cable — at the data point (face plate) and at the patch panel port.

Labelling convention: Use a consistent format for every job. Example: D01 = Data Point 01, or use room names: LOUNGE-1, OFFICE-1. Record in the job notes in Simpro.

Testing

Every cable run must be tested before the installation is signed off. Use a cable tester:

Basic continuity tester: Confirms all 8 conductors are connected and wired to the correct pin at both ends. Catches open circuits, shorts, and miswiring.

Certification tester (Fluke DSP or similar): Provides full TIA-568-B performance testing — confirms the cable meets Cat6 specifications for attenuation, NEXT (Near-End Crosstalk), and return loss. Required for commercial/enterprise installs; good practice for residential.

Test results to check:

• All 8 conductors continuous (no opens)
• Correct pin mapping (T568B at both ends — no crossed pairs)
• No shorts between conductors
• Wire map correct

Record test results in the job notes.

Cabinet and Distribution Point

The distribution cabinet/enclosure at the central point should include:

• Patch panel — one row per run of cables
• Network switch — connects all patch panel ports together and provides LAN connectivity
• Patch leads — short RJ45 leads from patch panel to switch (use short, coloured leads to make connections clear)
• PoE switch (if powering access points or IP cameras via PoE)
• Cable management bars — to route patch leads neatly
• Power strip — for router, switch, and any powered equipment

Fix the cabinet to a solid wall at a practical working height (1.2–1.4m to the top of the cabinet is typical).

Common Issues

Related Documents

• Getting Started — Wi-Fi & Networking
• Wi-Fi Access Point Installation