What is ethernet and how does it improve your home network?

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets cannot usually be connected via Ethernet are well served with Wi-Fi anyway. Laptops are a mixed bag. Here, a wireless connection should meet the requirements of many applications. Though if you use the device for downloads, data transfers, video conferences or even for gaming, the use of Ethernet can definitely be worthwhile.

The LAN cable is really recommended for large and stationary devices that serve one or even more of the applications mentioned above. PCs, Smart TVs, game consoles, home servers and similar end devices most certainly provide an Ethernet port and should be allowed to use it to ensure uninterrupted entertainment, productivity and data security.

A classic case is the living room. In most households, this is where the entertainment center is located; here you stream and play content to your heart’s content. And because the router is often located in the nearby hallway or even right in the living room itself, an Ethernet cable is comparatively easy to lay in the direction of a smart TV or game console.

It can be more difficult in the hobby room, bedroom, study-and children's room though: Depending on the architectural structure of the house or apartment, you may have to lay LAN cables across the entire living space – sometimes even down to the basement or up to the attic. This is more complex, but with a few tools and a dose of craftmanship it can be done.

If you want to lay LAN cables as economically and space-savingly as possible, you can rely on various technical accessories. LAN couplings, for example, allow you to connect two Ethernet cables with each other. You can effectively extend a LAN cable and thus increase the effective range.

The use of LAN splitters or switches is also recommended. A Y-splitter splits the incoming cable into two outgoing cables – as the name suggests. A LAN switch that follows up an Ethernet input with four or more outputs is even more effective. This allows you to connect multiple devices to the home network without having to run each cable all the way to the router.

When wiring your living area, pay attention to the correct cable standard. Today, network cables of the categories CAT 5, CAT 6, CAT 7 and CAT 8 are relevant. These differ in various properties, including general transmission speed, effective distance and shielding.

CAT 5 network cables are often sufficient for home users. These work with data rates of up to 1 Gbps and offer a decent range of 100 meters. CAT 6 cables already reach up to 10 Gbps. On the other hand, they show a sharp drop in performance with increasing length and their range is limited to around 50 meters.

CAT 7 and CAT 8 LAN cables are even better shielded and all the more faster – CAT 8 even enables transmission speeds of up to 100 Gbps. But these cables are not recommended for amateurs and home users because they are disproportionately expensive, sometimes require special plugs and sockets and are therefore more aimed at companies and specialists.

The easiest way is a surface-mounted solution for subsequent cable laying. Plan the route of your LAN cables carefully and efficiently: On the one hand, you want to keep wall mounted cables as short as possible, because it is cheaper and involves less efficiency losses in data transfer. On the other hand, cables running along baseboards and door frames look less conspicuous, but they have to be longer.

So-called flat cables look more discreet but can have disadvantages in terms of shielding. Alternatively, you can also hide Ethernet cables behind baseboards or inside appropriately installed cable channels. This requires additional work, but is usually worth it.

If you do not spare any costs or effort at all (and are working towards a long-term solution in your own home, for example), you can of course also go the flush-mounted route. Then it is time to drill holes and lay cables out of sight – the most visually appealing, but unfortunately also the most complex solution.