You can install any number of outlets near your router. You can only attach to the number of ports available on the router. Possibly use Cat 5E instead of Cat 6. Specs are about the same and the 5 is much easier to handle. How about wireless? Much more convenient for any visitors.

Thank you for your answers. I can set up networks, both wired and wireless, but this is the first opportunity I've had to pre-wire for ethernet so wasn't 100% certain how it should work. Really appreciate your taking the time to respond.

We do have a 4 port router, so having 3 lines out will be no problem. However, it is interesting to me that you can run one cable from the router and split it into more than 1 port. That was one thing I wasn't sure about. Is there any degradation in signal if you do that?

Thank you for the information about CAT5E. I wasn't aware of that. We currently have a wireless network, with some laptops connecting via ethernet. That is what we want to do in our new build---I figure more options are better than just one---plus our first network was entirely hard-wired (before wireless routers became available), and I do think there are some advantages to the ethernet connections. We do make wireless available to guests via guest connections to our wireless.

I believe hard wired is faster than wireless, but insignificant unless you are video-streaming. Likewise with splitting a line, slower but I haven't noticed a difference.

JM$.02W

Cat 5 is obsolete, at least go with 5e, better is Cat 6. Capacity and speed for about $20 more per 1,000 ft.

However, your provider may be the choke point, i.e., your provider may not be able to "fill" Cat 5. But, maybe someday?

The difference between 5e and 6, specification wise, is small. Most residential applications will never see installation quality well enough to attain 6 speeds anyway -- The cable ends get crimped wrong, the wire gets bent too much, the pairs get untwisted too far, etc. You get the idea. 5e done well is great and saves you money.

Thanks for the added explanations. Sounds like 5e would be the best for our application.

With today's technology, you could use Cat 5 and be fine, but for $20 more, you could benefit from fiber optics. If your provider is using Cat5 then until your provider upgrades it doesn't matter.

Are you going to move any data around locally? I.e. are you planning on setting up a storage server of any sort? It's not just your WAN connection that matters - if you're going to set up any sort of media server or central backup location you can notice differences in moving a HD movie over 100Mbps vs 1Gbps (not streaming, that would probably need 4K to use up 100Mbps in most situations, but straight copying can be noticeably slower on 100Mbps). This may not be a common use though.

Jim, I'll have to check with the internet provider to find out. Thanks for the heads up.

9xvq, No won't be setting up a storage server in our new home, but appreciate the warning.

I'm currently building a new home and I plan on running Cat 5e to each bedroom, the study, the great room for the TV, and to each of several wireless access points throughout the house. I'm going to to use a PoE capable network switch and have everything located in a central location.

I think that's a good idea, for a number of reasons. The router in our home has worked extremely well, and we can get good connections anywhere in our three-floor home; but I still think it is a good idea to be able to plug in to a wired connection. I have worked out of my home for many years and almost always have my laptop plugged directly into the router via ethernet.

I wired my network in a way the pros say shouldn't work very well, but it does. One of the ports in my router (which is in the basement) has a cable (Cat5) about 50 feet long going through a plastic tube all the way to the third floor (attic), where it is connected to an 8-port switch (10/100/1000). At that location is my AV system, Apple TV, and other AV stuff. Another cable goes about 20 feet down to my computer room on the second floor, where it's connected to another 8-port switch, to which are connected my computer, printer, external hard disk, and Verizon cell phone enhancer. Everything works fine.