Cat 6 Spec.


I am upgrading my system and need to run ethernet cabling to my Reciever, TV and Blu Ray player.
Figure I'd run Cat 6 based on latest technology.
Do I run, shielded or non, stranded or solid, etc, etc. ??
To many options, I want best for now and future.
this will run in wall.
Please advise as to what spec to buy, 
Longest run will be 50'
bsimon
Are you planing on installing the cabling and terminating the jacks yourself?

In most cases UTP , unshielded twisted pair is used.
Conductors are solid core.
* Avoid installing 4 pair cabling parallel within 24" to AC power cabling or light fixtures.
* Avoid sharp bends in the the data cable.
* Avoid sharp kinks in the data cable. Even straightening out a kinked data cable will not repair the damage done to the geometry lay of the 4 twisted pairs of the cable.
* Avoid walking on the cabling during the installation of the data cable. Same reason as above.
* Avoid small diameter coiling of excess data cable at either end of the finish installed terminated product.
* When terminating the 4 pairs on a jack or plug maintain the twist of the pairs.

If you use Cat 6, 4 pair UTP data cable then the ends must also be cat 6. If you install Cat 6 cable and terminate on Cat 5 ends you end up with Cat 5. Same with patch cords used. All must be Cat 6 from end to end. Patch cord > jack > horizontal cabling > Jack/patch panel > patch cord to router or switch.

* You will want to wire the ends using the 568b wiring standard.
https://www.utm.edu/staff/leeb/568/568.htm

* Not all data cable manufactures are created equal. Same goes for the data jacks.

Testing the finished product? About the only test you can perform is a wire map test continuity test. And then check if the cable works satisfactorily or it doesn’t.

If you are only needing three data cables and don’t care if you have a wall jack/plate or not, you might want to consider buying made to order data cables with plugs installed on each end from Blue Jeans cable company.
https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/data-cables/

If you choose this type of cabling, care needs to be taken to protect the plug ends during installation from being damaged.

Jim
For the length: Shielded.

For permanent installation: Solid.

For semi-permanent: Stranded.

Usually what you want to do is run 1 long single run to a nearby switch, or wall outlet.

From the nearby switch you hook up  your multiple short runs with short jumpers (1-10') which are usually unshielded, and stranded.

Ethernet uses balanced, high CMR rejection, ground isolated receivers and transmitters, so unshielded is the normal short-hop cable.