[mattwalker]

Hey experts....

I am about to start building a new house and would like to do some future proofing (yeah right) for down the track. I want to put a 8 port router switch in my garage and run the internet to several points inside the house. I figure that a gigabit network is the way to go (the whole 1000mbps speed issue thing) and my questions are these:

Do i need cat 6 cable for a gigabit network?

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I have a belkin wireless 4 port modem/router (the iinet one) and the phone line and this modem will be in the office. The router has 4 outputs (wired) on the back. I would like to have the office connected to all the other computers via a gigabit connection (file transferrring etc) The router will be in the garage about 10 meters away.

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I will be running my htpc in the theatre room and will also look at having an xbox360 / ps3 on the network too. I would also like to have a network point in each of the bedrooms up stairs (3) and the TV room upstairs. How many outputs will i need? Do i need:
2 2 for the theatre room
1 1 for the office
3 1 for each bedroom
1 1 for media server

7 total points???

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What is 1000mbps vs 2000mbps (is it just marketing for full duplex??)

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Is there anything else I am mising or should know?

Thanks guys

Matt