Latency beats labels
A decent, correctly sized cable usually matters more than the biggest printed category number on the listing.
Measure the route
Leave slack for tidy routing but avoid long coils of unused cable. A simple, safe path is easier to maintain.
Buy for durability
Look for connectors that survive being moved and a jacket that fits the route through furniture or trunking.
Before you buy or book anything
- Record which rooms and devices are affected.
- Test with one known-good cable or one known-good location.
- Keep affiliate buying decisions separate from basic troubleshooting.