Difference between CAT5 cables

[LuckyTaxi]

I'm looking to buy a 500ft roll of cat5 cables. I see UTP and UTP Stranded. I forget, whats the difference?

 

[vegetation]

Stranded wires are suitable for making patch cables, where the cable will be subjected to being twisted or handled around on a semi-frequent basis. Solid core wires don't make great patch cables since they can literally break if you twist them around too much, but if it's going into a wall then that doesn't matter.

 

[chiwawa626]

There are also different rj45 heads made specifically for stranded and solid core so be sure to get the right ones.

 

[JackMDS]

While Stranded are recommended for Patch cables you can no use a long stranded CAT5e since Stranded would start to degrade the signal.

You have to use Solid Core CAT5e for long runs and terminate them into Keystones jacks.

Then you use Patch from the Keystone to Hardware RJ-45 Ports.

More here: http://www.ezlan.net/CAT5.html

:sun:

 

[chiwawa626]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
While Stranded are recommended for Patch cables you can no use a long stranded CAT5e since Stranded would start to degrade the signal.

You have to use Solid Core CAT5e for long runs and terminate them into Keystones jacks.

Then you use Patch from the Keystone to Hardware RJ-45 Ports.

More here: http://www.ezlan.net/CAT5.html

:sun:

Why is it that oth sides are terminated with Keystone Jacks? I can imagine the side of the wire going to the "backend network room" wouldn't really ever be plugged/unplugged much - why not just put a rj45 head on it and plug it directly into a switch/router? (instead of terminating it in a keystone jack and using a patch cable to the switch/router?)

 

[skyking]

At the "backend network room, the cable runs are terminated in patch panels, and stranded jumpers are used to make the connection to the switch. Crimping is not as reliable as punching down, not by a long shot. Let machines crimp cables, you can get them for less than a buck in bulk.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: skyking
At the "backend network room, the cable runs are terminated in patch panels, and stranded jumpers are used to make the connection to the switch. Crimping is not as reliable as punching down, not by a long shot. Let machines crimp cables, you can get them for less than a buck in bulk.

exactly