Cat 5. Best tools, hint and tips if you'd be so kind.

[electromonkey]

Hello all,

I have a couple of re wires which I will be needing to second fix soon. In both, I have run quite a few networking cables. I'm noticing an increase for this service with customers so I'm looking for a few pointers on what you guys consider to be the best tools and materials to work with to allow for quick and easy installations. Any advice is welcome as this is something in which my experience is very limited.

Thanks in advance.

 

[telectrix]

for domestic and small commercial network cabling , cheap testers on ebay around £7.99, confirms correct terminations. the one i bought does CCtv cable as well. keep networking cables away from mains as best as possible.

 

[Cyberprog]

I use a fluke 620 (iirc) to test my cables, and only use Hellerman Tyton Alpha Snap faceplates & modules and Right Angled Patch Panels. The 620 allows me to test out each socket with 4 plug in modules (can do upto 8, but it was discontinued before I could buy 5-8!) which the unit will identify for me. It'll tell me if a miswire has occurred, and also if there is a break in a cable, and roughly how far down that break is.

 

[topquark]

When terminating the Cat 5 don't be tempted to unwind the pairs too much at the accessory (the more you unwind the more prone to interference it will be).

 

[Electro-tech]

I have the Deluxe Network cable tester lan cable tester : Maplin Electronics

 

[Cyberprog]

I used to use one of those, I wouldn't describe it as Deluxe though!
The fluke will also alert me if there's a computer or switch plugged into the cable, or active phone port, which the cheaper units will not do.

 

[electromonkey]

I have the Deluxe Network cable tester lan cable tester : Maplin Electronics

It's so good, you posted it twice!

Thanks folks, most appreciated. I'll look in to them later this eve.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Hope electromonkey (apologies mate) won't mind me hi-jacking this, but back in Blighty are not installs calling for cat 6 and gigabite capability now??

 

[Cyberprog]

Very few customers see any real benefit with Cat6 and gigabit capacity, all of mine have looked at the options and opted to stick with cat5 for the forseeable future!

 

[electromonkey]

Hope electromonkey (apologies mate) won't mind me hi-jacking this, but back in Blighty are not installs calling for cat 6 and gigabite capability now??

If you're writing this from Saudi, I don't think it's advisable to mention hi-jacking. There's probably a laser guided missile courtesy of the CIA on its way to you now!

 

[malcolmsanford]

^^^^^^ is that what that strange whistling noi.................................

 

[Phil]

^^^^^^ is that what that strange whistling noi.................................

just before it came down did you see a guy holding a little laser in the air around the area

 

[Phil]

I love installing cat 5. laid miles of the stuff, use the alphatek meter as suggested in an earlier don`t untwist too much and jobs a good one

 

[johnski]

The type of tester depends on whether you want to 'certify' the installation as Cat 5 or 6 compliant. For that you will need the more expensive testers that produce a printout across the frequency range the cables need to carry to meet their spec, a wire map tool is just that - baiscally a fancy continuity tester which will work for most use - but hi-end use needs better testing - wiremap doesnt tell customer if cables have been installed correctly - i.e. avoiding sharp twists, really tight bends, inteference, poor termination techniques poor quality cable (theres a lot out there!). The top end testers are the likes of 'Fluke' - but costly if a one off job.

 

[Cyberprog]

The type of tester depends on whether you want to 'certify' the installation as Cat 5 or 6 compliant. For that you will need the more expensive testers that produce a printout across the frequency range the cables need to carry to meet their spec, a wire map tool is just that - baiscally a fancy continuity tester which will work for most use - but hi-end use needs better testing - wiremap doesnt tell customer if cables have been installed correctly - i.e. avoiding sharp twists, really tight bends, inteference, poor termination techniques poor quality cable (theres a lot out there!). The top end testers are the likes of 'Fluke' - but costly if a one off job.

Holy thread resurrection batman!

 

[johnski]

Holy thread resurrection batman!

ha ha, hasnt everyone got a tardis? ......seemed like yesterday! (Only just noted the date!)

 

[pirate]

I see this is an old thread, but old ones can be useful too.
I use a cheap continuity tester, can't justify the Fluke, but only do domestic stuff. Folks like a nice cat5 or 6 running everywhere, which is fine when the floor is up!
As for other tools, I use the Klein Tools VDV226-110

Ratcheting Cable Crimper / Stripper / Cutter, for Pass-Thru™

Klein Tools Coax Cable Crimper / Wire Stripper / Wire Cutter is a premium, long lasting tool for CAT3, CAT5e and CAT6/6A cable using RJ11/RJ12 standard and RJ45 Pass-Thru™ connectors. Pass-Thru™ technology significantly reduces prep work time; wiring diagram on the tool helps eliminate rework...

www.kleintools.com

with the pass-thru connectors, and it makes life easy.

 

[johnski]

I see this is an old thread, but old ones can be useful too.
I use a cheap continuity tester, can't justify the Fluke, but only do domestic stuff. Folks like a nice cat5 or 6 running everywhere, which is fine when the floor is up!
As for other tools, I use the Klein Tools VDV226-110

Ratcheting Cable Crimper / Stripper / Cutter, for Pass-Thru™

Klein Tools Coax Cable Crimper / Wire Stripper / Wire Cutter is a premium, long lasting tool for CAT3, CAT5e and CAT6/6A cable using RJ11/RJ12 standard and RJ45 Pass-Thru™ connectors. Pass-Thru™ technology significantly reduces prep work time; wiring diagram on the tool helps eliminate rework...

www.kleintools.com

with the pass-thru connectors, and it makes life easy.

Hi Pirate - really like the look of the Kleine pass thru tool and ends not used efore, I feel it may prompt a purchase soon! I would guess very useful and quick method especially with pass thru faceplates/patch panels.

Hope you dont mind this input: technically if an installation is not tested to perform or meet cat 5 (or 6) standard by a certified tester/method, the installation is basically an 8 wire low voltage connection - not a cat 5/6 which is an industry standard of proven tested performance. The full test invloves frequency scan/leak/cross talk, TDR (refelction), attenuation etc, and max length which is 296 ft for any single run (a bizarre imperial measurement!).

About 14 months back I found at the end of an office installation the good installation by the team was let down by a really poor /cheap qualiity cable suppied for the job - the connectivity element was fine but despite many efforts it could not pass cat 5 requirements/testing, so it could not be certified as such...

Thankfully the equpment worked over it so the client was content with a massive improvement and on basic H&S grounds but it could have been a lot worse, I dont work with cheap cable anymore!

In a direct electrical comparison, installation of a bunch of mains wiring that doesnt blow the RCD's or fuse, doesnt mean it meets BSi standards, but "cat 5" has no risk of life so less focus in the legal world - happy cabling!

 

[pirate]

Always happy to receive input, johnski!
I fully get what you mean about certification, but I also fully endorse that you must use high quality cable.
My amateur view is that if you can demonstrate continuity, use good cable, and the average domestic run is only a handful of metres long, you will get a satisfactory result...maybe not industry standard, of course...but it will perform satisfactorily and much better than a dodgy installation using the cheapest cable. I guess most folks are interested in a good download speed, and a good transfer speed, and no intermittent drop-outs.
I don't do many of these installations, but i have a few under my belt and no failures so far...however, that doesn't mean they are perfect! Sadly, I can't justify the cost of a Fluke or similar.
The Klein tool is very well made, very robust, and so easy to use with the Pass-thru system...you can untwist a good length, put the wires right through, easily check they are correctly aligned then pull the excess through so the twisted section sits hard against the "stop" before crimping. Frankly, my eyesight isn't that good, so having the excess "tails" poking through the terminal is a huge bonus.
Incidentally, I ordered the crimper through a well-known site, based in USA, and had to fill in a questionnaire as detailed as the immigration sheet you fill in when flying to America. They even phoned me, emailed me for more details of my intended use, and wanted to know exactly what I intended to use it for...i told them that I was going to use it for crimping terminals! (Tempted to say that the sole intention for my purchase was the overthrowing of the US Government, but sanity prevailed!)
The item arrived 2 days later, shipped form UK, but with a transcript of all e mails etc...and 2 separate sheets detailing the possible carcinogenic properties of the equipment...
Whatever, it's a great bit of kit.

 

[David Prosser]

Don't often install network cables but when I do it often for MCC communication and automation. Harting have never failed.

09458000520 | Harting Hand Ratcheting Crimp Tool for RJ Industrial Gigalink Connectors | RS

uk.rs-online.com

09456000651 | HARTING Cat7 Ethernet Cable, SF/FTP, Yellow Polyurethane Sheath, 100m, Flame Retardant, Halogen Free | RS

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