Ethernet Wiring

ARHG! 

Everyone needs to stop being an Audiophile with networks. Analog signal is far different over digital packets. The same rules do not apply! Noise is not part of ethernet, noise is not part of WiFi packet transfer. Yes, the radios are noise, but it is not part of the packet transfer, and in fact, it is air-gaped to the receiver. 

You will NOT get any degradation in packets in runs under 200ft. NONE! 

It is perfectly safe to run cat6 inside ducting. In-wall or outside cable would be "best" but not required. Use rubber grommets on the ducts, to run the cable through. 

"clocking" for ethernet? NOPE, not a thing, there are no high end clocks in any enterprise networking gear. It is NOT the same as from the streamer to the DAC. 

Having built in WiFi into your modem is not a bad thing, it will not put "noise" on your precious streamer packets. 

If you are so worried about WiFi noise on your stereo, put it in a  Faraday cage, even if you do not have WiFi in your home, it's still there, unless you live over a 1/2 mile to your closest neighbor. A microwave, puts out more radio noise over almost anything else in the house, as does your cel phone, and tablet. 

Wired ethernet is almost better, be it fiber or copper. Fiber is the only transmission method that doesn't care about any kind of interference, or distance.

Almost all home mesh networks are garbage, talk about noise, lost packets, jitter, bad handoff, etc.. Run cable to a couple base stations, so much faster, and more reliable. 

sns

... you have modem and router, so how do you provide wifi?

It's a separate wifi router for use around the house. 

@mswale Said:

It is perfectly safe to run cat6 inside ducting.

In your opinion...

It’s not NEC code compliant in HVAC supply air ducts. 

06-11-2025 at 07:11am

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I’m late to this discussion.  

Yeah, running Ethernet in a duct is probably not a great idea.  

My biggest issue is that when you have long runs of Ethernet they can inductively pick up a lightning surge.  I recommend the use of medical grade (UL 60-601) Ethernet isolators at the far end of the Ethernet.  The Everrstar is the cheapest I know of, followed by TripLite at over $200. 

Some of the best money I've ever spent on my system was to pay pros to install both ethernet cabling for streaming and before that coax for my FM antennas and cable TV. It's amazing what these guys can do and you're left with a neat, invisible install. There's no cabling in any of my duct work, although in places ethernet runs right next to it, affixed to the duct with little plastic clamps. 

For various reasons, I don't use any equipment provided by my cable co/ISP. I choose my own equipment and contractors. (The sole exception is the little decoder box needed to receive local TV.)

For my system, nothing has bettered this wired network. It's been absolutely stable. No hiccups. Sounds great. No heroic measures required.