Finishing Media Room

[Lt.Smash]

Hello

Im slowly finishing my basement and now its time to run the Cat5

I want to install a flush mount network outlet in the wall.

I ran a 100ft patch cable since I do not know how to make the ends.

I have about 1-2 spare feet so I good on distance, I really prefer not to have to make my own end(s) if possible. So does anyone know of a wall mounted female to female adapter plate?

Basically, like a inline Cat5e wall mounted connector.

 

[sivart]

You want a keystone inline coupler like this.

 

[dfuze]

I was nervous when I ran my network cables into the den wall, but it was easy to do (much easier than crimping ends on for regular cable runs). Not sure if you've seen it, but all you have to do is strip the sheathing off the wire and use a pushing tool (came with the keystone) to push the wires into the slots.

Here is a simple video on YouTube of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHy8mtW9eak

 

[vi edit]

Hit up Lowes or Home Depot and grab a pack of Levitron keystone jacks, wall plates, and a punch down tool. If you can do a paint by color book with your kids, you can punch down a keystone jack.

I've used the ones from Monoprice, while they are cheap, and they do work, they are no where the build quality or as easy to use as the Levitron ones you can pick up at the big box stores.

 

[Lt.Smash]

Great info...

BeforeI seal up my walls, does the quality of cable matter? I bought some Cat5 100 runs off of Ebay for like $10 or so.

I see other places sell it for 50$, is there a big difference in quality and signal strenth between the $10 vs 50$. The cable is going to run in the celing where there is a bunch of electrical wires, but no other data cables.

Thanks

 

[Lt.Smash]

That video makes it look like a breeze. Im sure I can handle that..

One question...he mention that they have to be certified..what tool and where can I get it

Thanks

 

[sivart]

When you say cat5, you mean cat5e, right? I wouldn't install any cat5 at this point. It would take forever to transfer large files across cat5. Cat5e (or Cat6) will let you use a gigabit switch in the future.

 

[Rio Rebel]

That keystone coupler in the original response is also available at Fry's, if you are close to one. They are $5.99

I was looking at one last night.

 

[CubanlB]

"vi edit

Hit up Lowes or Home Depot and grab a pack of Levitron keystone jacks, wall plates, and a punch down tool. If you can do a paint by color book with your kids, you can punch down a keystone jack.

I've used the ones from Monoprice, while they are cheap, and they do work, they are no where the build quality or as easy to use as the Levitron ones you can pick up at the big box stores. "

This.

Just make sure you let the punch down tool do its job, just push down and use the little blade to trim that cat5.

are you just doing the one wallplate? Because after about 15 you will have it totally down and can roll through more.

Terminating all the phone, cat5e, and coax in a house is always a blast...

 

[Booty]

I just started doing the same thing in my new house - we had a couple spare boxes of CAT6 at work, so I lucked out and just had to buy the jacks and plates from Home Depot. If you decide to do your own cables, you should be able to get a 1000' box of CAT5E/6 for $125 or so. It really isn't difficult to make your own cables - after the first couple you'll have it down. Get yourself some basic cable testing tools while you're at it, whether you make your own cables or not. It's worth having them around.

Personally, I'm bringing everything into a patch panel in our basement and then patching into the network gear from there - if you go that route, again, after you punch down a couple cables you'll see it's pretty easy to do and really makes the final product cleaner.

The other bonus of getting a box of cable and making your own is you'll be able to leave yourself a little more slack than the 1-2' you mentioned - always nice to have a few extra feet in case you need to change the location slightly down the road...

 

[Aharami]

I was nervous when I ran my network cables into the den wall, but it was easy to do (much easier than crimping ends on for regular cable runs). Not sure if you've seen it, but all you have to do is strip the sheathing off the wire and use a pushing tool (came with the keystone) to push the wires into the slots.

Here is a simple video on YouTube of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHy8mtW9eak

wish i had this video when I did my house with cat6. Not having done it before, I was apprehensive about terminating the cat6 cables correctly. So I just got a bunch of 25' and 50' patch cables and used the keystone inline coupler sivart linked earlier. My patch cables work just as well, but not having exact length, i have extra patch cables in some areas

But I've never tested mine. I should get a cheap tester to make sure all the connections are rated at cat6 levels