Cable vs. WiFi: the real difference in everyday life
WiFi 6 reaches theoretical speeds of 9.6 Gbps, but in practice latency fluctuates between 2 and 10 ms depending on neighbouring networks, walls and channel congestion. Cat6 cable, by contrast, delivers latencies of 0.3 to 0.5 ms with sustained throughput and zero interference. For video calls, online gaming, 4K streaming or large file transfers, that difference is noticeable every day. You don't need to wire the whole house — three to five well-chosen points cover 90% of everyday needs.
Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A: which to choose in 2026
| Category | Max speed | Frequency | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat5e | 1 Gbps | 100 MHz | Only if already installed; do not install new |
| Cat6 | 1 Gbps / 10 Gbps (up to 55 m) | 250 MHz | The right standard for homes in 2026 |
| Cat6A | 10 Gbps (up to 100 m) | 500 MHz | Multi-user NAS, offices, future-proofing |
| Cat7 / Cat8 | 10–40 Gbps | 600–2000 MHz | Data centres; overkill for home use |
In a typical home, cable runs rarely exceed 30–40 m, so Cat6 effectively delivers 10 Gbps throughout. Cat6A only pays off if you run a multi-user NAS or want maximum future-proofing; its cable is thicker, stiffer and more expensive. Cat7 and Cat8 bring nothing useful to a home environment.
When it makes sense to install Cat6 cable
Cabled connections make sense wherever a device is fixed in place and where performance or reliability matters:
- Remote work and video calls: a stable connection eliminates dropouts and pixellation on Teams or Zoom calls. The lower latency of cable is especially noticeable when more than one person is working from home at the same time.
- Online gaming: the consistent latency of cable versus the variable latency of WiFi makes a real difference in competitive games. No jitter, no sudden ping spikes.
- TVs and 4K streaming: HDR streaming is bandwidth-hungry. With cable, buffering and interruptions disappear completely.
- WiFi access points (APs): mesh nodes perform at their best when connected to the router by cable. Wireless backhaul halves the bandwidth available to your devices.
- IP cameras and security systems: cable delivers continuous reliability and, with PoE, also powers the camera over the same wire — no nearby sockets, no batteries.
- Home NAS: backups and file transfers that take hours over WiFi are done in minutes over gigabit Ethernet.
How to install it without tearing up your walls
The main cost of network wiring is not the materials but the installation. A good installer knows how to find the cleanest route based on what each property already has:
Surface trunking along the skirting board
The most common option for installations without building work. Trunking is fixed with adhesive or screws along the skirting board or the lower part of the wall. The result looks neat and the cable stays protected. White or wood-effect trunking is barely noticeable.
Existing conduits and ducting
Many properties have telecommunications conduits already running from room to room, sometimes alongside the TV coaxial cable. Running Cat6 through those tubes requires no building work at all. Network cable should never share a conduit with 230V mains cables, but it can run alongside coaxial or other signal cables without any issues.
False ceilings or raised floors
In commercial premises, offices and some modern buildings with suspended ceilings, the installer can route cable horizontally without touching any wall. It is the cleanest and most cost-effective solution in terms of building work.
Wall penetrations and flush RJ45 wall plates
At the end of each run, a flush-mounted RJ45 wall plate leaves a network point as neat as a standard power socket. It requires a small hole to recess the back box, but the end result is far tidier than leaving the cable exposed with a loose connector.
If you have a renovation coming up: take the opportunity to run Cat6 before closing walls or ceilings. Material costs are low, and every extra network point you add now saves you building work in the future. Install more points than you think you need — the extras come in useful for cameras, printers or future WiFi APs.
PoE: one cable for data and power at the same time
PoE (Power over Ethernet) is the technology that allows electrical power and data to be sent over the same Cat6 cable. A PoE IP camera needs just one cable — no nearby socket, no power adaptor. The same applies to professional WiFi access points.
Current standards range from 15.4 W with basic PoE (IEEE 802.3af) to 30 W with PoE+ (802.3at) and 90 W with PoE++ (802.3bt), which is enough for PTZ cameras or small displays. An 8-port PoE switch can power eight cameras from a single point, with no need to run mains power to each one. For CCTV installations, PoE is the professional standard: cleaner, more reliable and with remote power management from the switch.
At Dartel we install CCTV systems with Cat6 PoE cabling from the outset. If you already have cameras running on individual power adaptors, migrating to PoE greatly simplifies the installation and improves reliability.
Outdoor cabling: which cable to use
For gardens, garages or cameras on exterior walls, you need Cat6 cable with a UV-resistant outdoor sheath (marked as "outdoor"). Indoor cable degrades within months when exposed to sun and moisture. On the Costa del Sol, where marine salinity is a factor, a shielded cable (FTP outdoor) is also recommended to protect the copper from long-term corrosion.
Do I need a rack or comms cabinet?
For a domestic installation with four to eight network points, a metal rack is not necessary. A desktop switch installed in a cupboard, utility space or technical recess is enough to centralise all connections neatly. A rack makes sense for larger installations — multiple switches, a NAS server, a full patch panel — where ventilation and cable management justify the cost and space.
Want a clean wired network at home or in your business?
At Dartel we design the cabling layout, find the cleanest route for your property and leave everything working. We install across the whole Costa del Sol. Free no-obligation quote within 24 hours.