What is the difference between Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a?

Cat5e supports Gigabit (1 Gbps) speeds. Cat6 supports 10 Gbps on runs up to 55m and is the standard for new home installations. Cat6a supports 10 Gbps on runs up to 100m and is recommended for home offices, media rooms and future-proofing. We recommend Cat6 for most domestic installations.

How much disruption will data cabling cause?

We route cables through loft spaces and under floors wherever possible. In most homes, cable runs require only minor decoration — typically making good around a single wall plate in each room. We discuss the route and any redecoration implications before starting.

Can you install data points alongside TV aerial points?

Yes, and we frequently do. Both cable types run the same routes through loft space. Combining aerial and data cabling in a single visit saves time, reduces disruption and takes advantage of the same cable paths.

Do I need a network switch or just a router?

A standard home router typically has 4 Ethernet ports. If you are installing more than 4 wired points, you need a network switch — an unmanaged Gigabit switch from £20, or a managed switch for more control. We advise on the correct switch specification during the planning stage.

Cat6 Data Cabling & Structured Network Installation

Name: Everest Aerials & Satellites
Address: GB
Telephone: 0800 046 7879
Price range: ££
Rating: 4.8

Data Cabling & Structured Networks — Everest Aerials & Satellites

A wired Ethernet connection delivers consistently lower latency, higher speed and more reliable performance than any WiFi solution. For home working, 4K streaming to multiple rooms, online gaming and network storage, structured data cabling is the most effective long-term infrastructure investment you can make in your home.

✔ Same-day service available | ✔ Up to 5-year guarantee | ✔ 4.8/5 from 1,200+ reviews | ✔ No call-out fee

All work is carried out by fully qualified, DBS-checked engineers. Backed by up to a 5-year workmanship guarantee. Call 0800 046 7879 for a free quote.

What Is Included in Your Data Cabling & Structured Networks

Network design and cable route planning through loft, walls and floors
Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6a cable installation to required rooms
Flush wall plate installation with RJ45 sockets matching your existing decor
Central patch panel installation where required
Network switch specification and installation
Continuity and speed verification using a cable tester on every run
Labelled patch panel and wall plates for clear identification

How It Works — Cat6 Data Cabling & Structured Network Installation

Network Design & Cable Route Planning
Our network engineer designs your structured cabling infrastructure — planning Cat6 routes to every data point, sizing the patch panel, confirming the star topology layout, and agreeing the full plan with you before any installation begins.
Cat6 Cable Installation
Cat6 or Cat6A cable is pulled from the central patch panel to every data point — through loft spaces, wall cavities, and floor voids wherever possible for a clean finish with minimal surface-mounted cable runs.
Patch Panel Termination & Port Labelling
All cables are terminated on the patch panel and at data points using industry-standard keystone jacks. Every port is clearly labelled at both ends, and the patch panel is neatly dressed and secured in a suitable enclosure.
Full Testing, Certification & Handover Report
Every data port is tested for continuity, correct pinout, and link speed using a professional cable tester. A full certification report is issued alongside a 5-year guarantee on all cabling, terminations, and patch panel work.

Common Problems We Solve — Data Cabling & Structured Networks

Working from home but video calls keep dropping over WiFi: Cat6 ethernet run to the home office — stable wired connection that does not drop or fluctuate
Office relocation with no network infrastructure in the new space: Full structured cabling design and installation — every workstation wired and tested from day one
Previous DIY ethernet runs failing speed tests or causing intermittent faults: Professional Cat6 installation with correct terminations — tested and certified before handover
IP cameras or wireless access points needing PoE cabling: PoE-capable Cat6 to every camera and access point — a single cable delivers both power and data
Network points in the wrong locations or not enough of them: New data points installed exactly where needed — surface or concealed routing to suit the space
Unlabelled network infrastructure from a previous installer: Full network audit, labelling, and testing — every port documented and certified

UK Transmitter Coverage — How Signal Conditions Affect Data Cabling & Structured Networks

Signal strength and quality varies significantly across the UK depending on your distance from the local Freeview transmitter, local terrain, and property type. Our engineers understand the transmitter landscape for your specific location — and specify equipment accordingly rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Region	Primary transmitter	Typical signal	Local detail
London & South East	Crystal Palace	good to strong	Strong signal across Greater London; Hannington serves Berkshire/Surrey; Oxford transmitter covers Oxfordshire.
South West	Mendip	good to strong	Mendip serves Bristol, Bath and Somerset; Stockland Hill covers Devon; Caradon Hill serves Plymouth and Cornwall.
East of England	Sandy Heath	good to strong	Sandy Heath serves Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex; Tacolneston covers Norfolk and much of Suffolk.
East Midlands	Waltham	strong	Waltham transmitter delivers strong signal across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire; Belmont covers Lincolnshire.
West Midlands	Sutton Coldfield	excellent	Sutton Coldfield is one of the UK's most powerful transmitters — outstanding signal across the entire region; Ridge Hill supplements Herefordshire.
North West	Winter Hill	strong	Winter Hill on the West Pennine Moors delivers one of the UK's strongest Freeview signals across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
Yorkshire & The Humber	Emley Moor	strong	Emley Moor's 330m mast gives outstanding coverage across virtually all of Yorkshire; Belmont serves the Humber and East Yorkshire areas.
North East	Pontop Pike	good to strong	Pontop Pike covers Tyne & Wear and County Durham; Bilsdale serves Teesside, North Yorkshire and the Moors.
Wales	Wenvoe	good	Wenvoe serves South Wales; Moel-y-Parc covers North Wales; relay stations supplement coverage in mountainous mid-Wales.
Scotland	Black Hill	good to strong	Black Hill covers Glasgow; Craigkelly serves Edinburgh; Durris covers Aberdeen; Angus transmitter serves Dundee and Tayside.

Our engineers carry signal metres to every job and measure actual signal strength and quality at your specific property before recommending any equipment. Find your local area page for transmitter-specific detail for your town.

Clean, Tested Cat6 Cabling That Performs for Decades

DIY Ethernet runs fail certification, cause intermittent faults, and look unprofessional. Our engineers run proper Cat6 cabling through walls, floors and ceiling voids, terminate every run on a labelled patch panel, and test every point with a professional cable tester before handover. You get a structured network installation that performs to specification and is ready to be documented for future reference.

Cat6 cabling tested with cable certifier
Patch panel and switch installation included
Neat cable management as standard
Every point labelled and documented
Priced per data point — fully transparent

How We Work — Data Cabling & Structured Networks

Step 1: We plan the most practical cable routes through your loft space and internal walls, minimising visible surface runs and decoration required
Step 2: Cable is pulled and terminated to T568B standard at both ends — correct termination is critical for achieving rated speeds
Step 3: Wall plates are installed flush with existing socket boxes where possible, or new back boxes fitted in the most convenient position
Step 4: Every cable run is tested with a professional cable tester for continuity, wiring faults and speed classification before handover

Data Cabling & Structured Networks Cost

Data cabling from £80 per point for a standard loft-run installation to a first-floor room. Ground-floor or basement runs, or those requiring under-floor routing, from £100–£150 per point. Central patch panel from £120. Full home Ethernet network (5+ points) quoted as a project from £400.

Frequently Asked Questions — Data Cabling & Structured Networks

What is the difference between Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a?: Cat5e supports Gigabit (1 Gbps) speeds. Cat6 supports 10 Gbps on runs up to 55m and is the standard for new home installations. Cat6a supports 10 Gbps on runs up to 100m and is recommended for home offices, media rooms and future-proofing. We recommend Cat6 for most domestic installations.
How much disruption will data cabling cause?: We route cables through loft spaces and under floors wherever possible. In most homes, cable runs require only minor decoration — typically making good around a single wall plate in each room. We discuss the route and any redecoration implications before starting.
Can you install data points alongside TV aerial points?: Yes, and we frequently do. Both cable types run the same routes through loft space. Combining aerial and data cabling in a single visit saves time, reduces disruption and takes advantage of the same cable paths.
Do I need a network switch or just a router?: A standard home router typically has 4 Ethernet ports. If you are installing more than 4 wired points, you need a network switch — an unmanaged Gigabit switch from £20, or a managed switch for more control. We advise on the correct switch specification during the planning stage.

Qualifications & Accreditations

CAI Approved Contractor — Confederation of Aerial Industries certified engineers
Which? Trusted Trader — independently assessed and approved
Checkatrade Verified Member — background-checked with monitored customer ratings
NICEIC Approved — all electrical installation work completed to BS 7671 wiring regulations
DBS Checked Engineers — every engineer is fully DBS-cleared before entering your home
Up to 5-Year Workmanship Guarantee — one of the longest guarantees in the industry
£5m Public Liability Insurance — fully insured on every domestic and commercial job
Established 1998 — over 25 years trading as a reputable, family-run business

What Our Customers Say

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from over 1,200 verified reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Checkatrade.

★★★★★ Paul F.

"Got a quote from three companies — Everest were mid-range on price but by far the most professional. The installation quality is excellent. Would definitely use again."

★★★★★ Karen B.

"My satellite dish was misaligned for months. The engineer fixed it in under an hour, tested every channel and even checked my aerial at the same time. Great service."

★★★★★ Thomas N.

"Used Everest for a full home CCTV installation. Four cameras, full app setup, all cables hidden neatly. Excellent job and the price was exactly as quoted."

Related Guides & Advice

Wired vs WiFi in 2026: The Honest Case for Data Cabling at Home
Why a wired Cat6 network still beats WiFi for speed, reliability and latency in 2026.
How to Improve Your Home WiFi Signal: A Complete UK Guide
Practical steps to improve your home WiFi — from router placement to mesh networks and wired connections.

Data Cabling & Structured Networks — Popular Areas

View all areas we cover →

Related Services

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A correctly installed digital aerial is the foundation of reliable Freeview reception. Our engineers carry Ofcom-approved wideband aerials, high-gain models and loft-mounting kits — and always test signal strength before and after installation to confirm full HD channel reception on every multiplex.
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Whether you want Sky Q, Freesat or foreign satellite channels, precise dish alignment is everything. A dish a single degree off true south loses half its signal in poor weather. Our engineers use professional-grade signal meters to align every dish to the exact azimuth and elevation for your satellite — never by eye.
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TV wall mounting is not simply bolting a bracket to the wall. Wall type, stud location, cable concealment, HDMI routing and viewing angle all need careful consideration. Our engineers handle every element — leaving a clean, professional result with no visible cables and the screen at the correct height for comfortable viewing.
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A CCTV system is only as effective as its camera placement. Cameras positioned for ease of installation rather than coverage provide an incomplete picture and limited deterrent value. Our engineers assess your property first — identifying entry points, blind spots and the optimal camera positions — before selecting any equipment.
Smart CCTV & Doorbell Cameras
Smart video doorbells and outdoor cameras from Ring, Google Nest, Eufy and similar brands are straightforward to buy but often poorly installed. Correct camera angle, a reliable WiFi connection at the installation point, and proper app configuration are all critical for the system to work as advertised.
Aerial & Satellite Repairs
Signal faults almost always have a specific, identifiable cause. Our engineers carry calibrated test meters and the most common replacement parts on every van — most faults are diagnosed and resolved in a single visit without the cost of a follow-up appointment.
Multi-Room TV Systems
A correctly designed multi-room TV system lets every TV in your home tune to a different Freeview channel simultaneously — without the interference or quality loss of cheap signal splitters. Our engineers specify the correct amplifier for your number of outlets and test signal level at every point before completion.
Starlink Installation
Starlink performance depends almost entirely on the dish having a clear, unobstructed view of the northern sky. A poorly sited dish with even partial obstruction can halve throughput and cause frequent outages. Our engineers use the Starlink obstruction app to survey multiple positions before any mounting work begins.
Wireless Alarm Installation
A wireless alarm that generates false activations quickly gets turned off and never used again. Correct PIR sensor placement, appropriate alarm grading and properly configured monitoring make the difference between a system that genuinely protects your property and one that becomes a source of frustration.
Commercial Installation Services
Commercial TV distribution, CCTV networks, data cabling and AV systems for hotels, offices, care homes and retail premises require system design, project management and careful scheduling around operational requirements — all of which our commercial team provides as standard.
Soundbar & Home Cinema Setup
Most soundbars underperform not because of their quality but because of how they are set up. HDMI ARC settings incorrectly configured, Dolby Atmos passthrough disabled on the TV, subwoofer positioned in a room corner for convenience rather than acoustics — all common, all easy to fix with the right knowledge.
WiFi Optimisation & Mesh Networks
WiFi dead spots almost never have anything to do with your broadband speed. The cause is almost always physical — walls, floors, the distance between your router and the devices that need it most. The solution is either a correctly placed access point or a mesh system with nodes positioned to eliminate the specific dead zone, not just placed wherever is convenient.
Smart Home Setup
Most smart home frustration comes from devices from different manufacturers that were never designed to work together, placed on the wrong platform, or set up without automations that make the technology genuinely useful. Our engineers untangle these integrations and set up the automations that make a smart home actually smart.
Gutter Cleaning & Repairs
Blocked gutters are one of the most common and most preventable causes of damp, foundation damage and fascia rot in UK homes. Most properties need gutter cleaning twice a year — once after autumn leaf fall and once in spring — to prevent the water ingress that causes expensive structural repairs.

Get a Free Quote

Call us free on 0800 046 7879 or use our online quote form. Same-day service available in most areas. No call-out fee — ever.