CAT5e tools/materials

bolst3r · 26 Jan 2010

So I have bought a cable tester and 100 RJ45 plugs/clips from ebay and every cable I make up seems to test ok but fails to be recognised by my computer. I have triple checked the order of the wires and re-tested them and they just don't seem to be making a decent connection once plugged into a PC, although testing perfectly.

So i've bought cheap parts which is a false economy but I was wondering where the difference is:

Are there different RJ45 plugs available and are some makes better than others as I assumed they would all be the same? I wonder if the ones i'm using are a little smaller than normal so when they're plugged into a pc they're not making a decent connection.

Also what difference is there in tools used to create the cables?

Could someone point me in the direction of a company that sells the parts I need at a reasonable price as I only have about 30 cables to make

thanks

drgl · 27 Jan 2010

Tools & plugs vary in quality-you didn't honestly think they were all the same?!! There are also plugs for stranded cable & solid core. What leads are you making up(length)?

bolst3r · 27 Jan 2010

I thought the tools would be of different quality so I was expecting to have to fiddle about a little but not this much. With regards to the pugs, I did think they were pretty much the same, maybe that was a little naive.

So I have solid stand cat5e going to my router (gigabit switch at some stage) which is terminated with RJ45 plugs, at the other end (30m away) I have connected the cable to a wall socket. This seems to work fine when I plug in an off-the-shelf patch lead but when I create my own there are issues. The cable i'm using for the patch leads is the same solid core that I used for the main run from the router. The length of the patch leads vary from 1m to about 5m. The longer ones are only temp until I re-arrange the room around the network points.

I hope this is enough info for some guidance.

Thanks.

drgl · 27 Jan 2010

Solid core for patch leads is not a good idea, why not just buy ready made patch leads? They are cheap as chips anyway. All i can think of is you are either wiring them wrong or the tool is cheap & nasty & not crimping them correctly. What wiring standard are you adhering to?

bolst3r · 27 Jan 2010

I assumed (perhaps wrongly) solid would be ok for both, when I created the patch lead the tester said the connection was fine and gave the same results as ready made patch leads but when I pluged it into a PC it didn't register the cable and all I can think is the plug is a slightly different size or the terminals are to far recessed. I have checked so many times and the cable is wired up in the correct order and the same as off-the-shelf leads.

w/o
o
w/g
bl
w/bl
g
o/b
b

If it's a bad idea to use solid core for patch leads what about terminating the long run cable at the router end? This has to be done using the plug and tools I have and it seems to work ok, it's just the patch leads aren't registering in computers (i've tried a few) so my main thought is the plugs are slightly different and maybe the wrong size.

drgl · 27 Jan 2010

I've come across this before, it was an issue between the plug and the socket. Your wiring config is fine, that is with the latch facing down yes? Really the structured part should be terminated to a panel at one end & a socket at the other(with off the shelf patch leads at boths ends), however there is no issue terminating to plugs at both ends.

bolst3r · 27 Jan 2010

>that is with the latch facing down yes?

yes it's down and facing away from me.

>Really the structured part should be terminated to a panel at one end & a >socket at the other

oh, so rather than terminating to a plug at the router end I should hardwire (like the socket) to a panel then from this to the switch/hub. Are the panels expensive, i'll need one to take about 24 cables? I'm happy to do it this way if it's a better system and more reliable as long as it's not a load of money. I'm also happy to buy patch leads and send this tool and connectors back if they're causing the issue.

I guess this then answers my question of:

"why is it ok to terminate at router end with a plug and not to make up patch leads"

With

"It's not really, you should terminate to a panel and not make up leads yourself"

Thanks.

drgl · 27 Jan 2010

The way you are doing it ***should*** work but it doesn't so i'd do the job how you should. A 24 port panel will cost around £45 depending on make, note that the cable, socket & panel should really be all one make. You will also need a patch frame or cabinet to mount the panel in. Howver, if terminating to a plug at the router/switch end is working then i'd just buy off the shelf patch leads. What make sockets are you using? By memory it was Excel when i came across this last time.

bolst3r · 27 Jan 2010

> The way you are doing it ***should*** work but it doesn't

Yeah, that's what I though and although it's not the best way, it should still work if a little untidy.

Starting this again I would approach this differently but as it stands I bought the kit at different times from different suppliers.

It's starting to sound a little more expensive when I have to look at a patch panel, frame and cabinet and whilst I know it probably can be done at a reasonable price I need to watch my spend.

So what you're saying is if I can guarantee the integrity of the plug termination at the switch/hub end then make sure I buy a decent wall socket and use off-the-shelf patch leads?

This to me seems a good compromise, i'm not sure of the wall socket make but it's a b&q special so you can bet your bottom dollar it's below standard, however it's working fine with bought patch leads.

Just out of interest, do you ever make you own patch leads or would you always buy them?

drgl · 27 Jan 2010

I've made my own in some circumstances but they are so cheap to buy now.........

bolst3r · 27 Jan 2010

so I guess the next thing to avoid is cheap patch leads that might cause a further issue. Can you suggest a reasonable place to buy them from or what I should be looking for?

drgl · 27 Jan 2010

I've always got my kit from here, they have more stuff than they show online so drop them an email.

http://www.bttorj45.com/index.php

I know you can get cheaper but i've been using their kit for years without issue.

rizred · 27 Jan 2010

sorry if this sounds dumb, but have you tried testing your tester with a know working patch lead.........

bolst3r · 27 Jan 2010

drgl - thanks for the link, I'm starting to see now that it's quality over savings.

rizred - that's the first thing I did, I also made up a cable wring just to make sure and the results were as expected.

TonyW2 · 27 Jan 2010

If you are making the cables up as through cables, it may be worth trying making one up as a cross-over cable. ( Wires in one RJ45 "sort of the opposite way round") But it is not quite a mirror image, so look at this link.
Then try it in your system connections.

http://www.incentre.net/content/view/75/2/

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CAT5e tools/materials

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