Reddit reviews Eagle Tool EA56254 Flex Shank Installer Drill Bit, Auger Style,9/16-Inch by 54-Inch, Made in the USA

Get an installer bit that's 54 in or 72 in, you'll make way fewer holes. https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Tool-EA56254-Installer-16-Inch/dp/B00DNEEYFW/

Also a boroscope is great to make sure you don't hit any electrical wiring.

https://www.amazon.com/ANWA-Professional-Inspection-Megapixels-Smartphone/dp/B075FGMW6T/

I’m like you, just a guy doing his own cabling at home. So not professional advice, just my experience.

Like others have said the fibreglass push rods are amazing. Could also look at the magnetic pullers; one magnet goes on cable inside wall, dragged down by magnet on outside. If firechecks turn to an issue this may help.

You don’t need a $100 punchdown tool, but if you have the money it’s up to you. I just got a $30ish (AUD) one, so not the $10 Asian one but a step up. Super cheap ones more often then not will do shit punches. I’d recommend going one with a 110 blade rather then krone, but that’s up to you.

For crimps I’m super suuuuuper happy I swapped to using one that worked with pass-thru style jacks.

I’d highly recommend getting a fairly decent stripper though, just makes life so much easier when it comes to not nicking conductors.

A nice trick for multiple runs, run something like clothes line first. Then tape your cable along side the line letting the line and drag through. Once that cables done, tape off to that same end and pull back the opposite way. Means you only have to fish the wall once and the line is being dragged back and forth not the cable.

Last but not least, always test your cables when you’re done.

usually a hole in the headers, drilled with a long drill bit

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Tool-EA56254-Installer-16-Inch/dp/B00DNEEYFW

or, if you have access to the attic, drill down and fish the wire with a fish tape

Close.

Cut the hole in the wall and use a long flex bit to drill through the bottom of the wall from the top down.

Then just clip the wire to the end (these bits have holes in) and pull it up. This is called an 'installation' drill bit, it's exactly what the pros would use for this.

I would use this.

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https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Tool-EA56254-Installer-16-Inch/dp/B00DNEEYFW/ref=sr_1_4?crid=J5EGT9THD1RC&keywords=klein+drill+bit+extension&qid=1563999563&s=gateway&sprefix=klein+drill+%2Caps%2C462&sr=8-4#customerReviews

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Then not have to mess with any drywall.

>Should I call an electrician to install an ethernet port?

Why not do it yourself and save hundreds of dollars?

Is there a basement or attic? Use that for horizontal runs.

For the walls, if you have a typical twigs and plywood house, getting between floors will be a bit tricky, but not super hard. Cut a small hole at the floor and ceiling along the wall in the 1st floor, using a long, flexible drill bit drill down into the basement from the hole near the floor. Drill up to the second floor the same way. Try to keep the bit centered on the sole plate/top plate.

If you have to use the attic to run from one side of the house to the other, you'll need to repeat the above process on the second floor to get to the attic, then once you're in the attic above the bedroom, drill up from a hole near the ceiling to get into the attic from the bedroom, then cut a hole where you want your wall plate.

Then you'll have a few small holes to patch and paint.

My house was all Cat 3 6 home runs to the exterior. I replaced it all with solid core Cat 6 and added two runs for wireless access points in the ceiling. It was a PITA. I home ran the new stuff to a network enclosure box I added.

Cat 3 is junk I've seen it send 100Mb or more inside a house but if you ever have to troubleshoot issues your wires will always be the unknown.

As others have said you can never plan on just pulling new cat 6 behind the cat 3 it works like 10% of the time thanks to staples. So if you accept that you are cutting drywall and learning to fix those numerous holes then it's a much more realistic job. Basically everytime I got a snag I got the drywall saw out. Transitioning floors can be tricky but not impossible again cut the drywall.

Here are the best tools for the job. Flexibile long drill bit was a major cheat once I started using it. Fishing tape is a waste of the time except for conduit in my opinion use the fiberglass sticks I linked below.

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Tool-EA56254-Installer-16-Inch/dp/B00DNEEYFW/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=drill+extension+wire&qid=1564611470&s=gateway&sr=8-7

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LW4CFG/ref=psdc_6396129011_t3_B07F2LWVDV

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-15-556-Jab-Cushion-Grip/dp/B00002X21W/ref=sr_1_4?crid=12ICHMNHKXEGF&keywords=drywall+saw&qid=1564611505&s=gateway&sprefix=drywall+saw%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-4