How do you fix network cables?

[AncientPC]

I have a disturbing amount of faulty ethernet cables. I have 3 that work, 5 that don't. What makes it worse is 3 of the 5 that don't work are 50' cables.

Is there anything I can do to save these cat 5 cables? Should I cut / recrimp the cables? What would be a required, a wire crimper and some plastic phone jacks all available from Radio Shack? Is there anything I can use to run a line test on the wires to make sure they're fine and it's not the phone jacks problem?

On an unrelated matter, I have a generic 5-port switch where only the uplink / 1st port works, but none of the other ports do. Is there anything I can do to test / fix it?

 

[sswingle]

It is possible the wires are broken somewhere along their length. YOu could try putting new ends on, but it might not work.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

do you know anyone with a cable analyzer? they will tell you what and how far the problems are.

 

[cmetz]

AncientPC, definitely the first thing for you to do is to chop one end, re-terminate, and re-test. If that doesn't work, chop the other, repeat. Terminations are most often the problem. If problems continue, then the cables might be bad or damaged, and the best thing to do will be to tie a new cable to the old one (overlap, hook, duct-tape) and pull a new cable to replace it. Bad cables can't really be repaired, just replaced.

3 of 5 not working does strike me as an unusually high failure rate. I very rarely see bad cables. The terminations being the entire problem would not surprise me.

 

[JackMDS]

Link: Ethernet CAT5 Patch Cables.

 

[nordlaw]

Unless you already have the tools, or just want to play, or are starting to make a lot of custom cables for some reason, it's cheaper to just replace the cables - good link from JackMDS above this one.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

The cables most often fail at the connector, so if they're installed in a difficult to replace location, try replacing the connectors first. Obviously, for the few dollars that a replacement costs, I wouldn't waste much time on a cable that's not difficult to replace.

 

[JackMDS]

If the cable is hard to replace, and it is a good time to buy a surface Keystone box and terminate the cable into the box.

Keystone cost a little more than plastic plugs but it is a much better bet for an inexpierence crimper and will last "forever".

 

[Cheetah8799]

Usually the problems are the crimped ends. If you want to save as much of the cable as possible, then cut the ends off and re-crimp them.

Also, check if you rolled over the cables a few times too many with your office chair. Or maybe they were bent around the corner of a desk or something and got crushed. You could probably salvage the non-crushed piece of cable.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Yeah NewEgg sells 100ft of wire for like $14! That is enough to do plenty of runs. Hell, I ran wires from 2 of my 2nd story bedrooms into my basement and still had some left over. But keystone jacks are a lifesaver. Here is what I did:

1. Ran the wires (drilled a small hole from the inside wall to under the siding outside, tucked the wire under the siding, ran it to the corner of the house, tucked it down the trim piece going down the side, then drilled a hole under the siding, right above the basement concrete).

2. Went to Home Depot (or lowes or any hardware/home improvement store), and bought 4 of those "after-construction" junction boxes (I think thats what they are called, but they are the blue boxes that go behind the drywall). With the after contruction ones, you cut the hole in the drywall, then stick the box in, and turn the screws on the top and bottom until the little metal spring opens up, and squeezes the drywall between the spring thing and the blue lip. (The before-construction ones are secured right to the stud, but if there is drywall up then that isnt possible).

3. Ran the wire through the holes on the top of each box, then went to radio shack and bought 4 keystone-faceplates, along with 4 keystone ethernet jacks. It takes about a minute to wire these jacks, and no tools (except the little included plastic thing) is required.

4. Hooked up the jacks to my computer and router, and "networked" away!

This is the best way to do it, IMO. Provides for a clean looking install, that will last for a while. I have done a ton of these installs, along with speaker and other cable runs. So if you need help with doing any type of run, shoot me a email/PM!

-Josh

 

You know, your only supposed to have 90 ft of CAT 5 running through the walls... But guess if you dont use patch cables it doesn't really matter.

P.S. wouldn't you want solid core UTP for long runs? When would you need a 50' patch cable?