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I have spent over an hour trying to crimp an RJ45 cable

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Originally posted by: KLin
stranded bulk cable

Stranded is used because the connectors inside the end can penetrate the stranded copper and make a better connection than against a solid copper cable. Plus stranded cable is more flexible.

spidey07 mentioned the difference between factory made and home made cables. Factory made are category certified at the factory.
Click to expand...
OK, so if I get some stranded bulk cable, which is apparently what they use, and put my own ends on, it shouldn't be any different. 😕

I do understand being certified to work, but fundamentally.. there is no difference. If that is their method of quality control, that is fine.
Originally posted by: spidey07
Eli - stranded is used in patch cables because they were made to be moved, bent etc. Solid core cabling like you see on a roll is called horizontal cable and is meant to be run horizontally in a floor or ceiling with a minimum bend radius (3 inches I think) and punched down into jacks.

The electrical characteristics of stranded/solid are different as well. Stranded can't go very far, solid good to 90 meters allowing 5 meters on each end for a patch cable giving 100 meters total distance. Most all "patch cables" made by novices will fail category specification if you scan them with a cable certifier. Even pros mess them up frequently because you have to keep the twist of the twisted pair right up and into the connector to maintain performance.

You don't see stranded cable for sale often because it's virtually impossible to "make" a patch cable with it that doesn't suck, the connectors are different for use with stranded as well, that's what the machines do.
Click to expand...

Thanks. That makes sense.

I could still make one that passes specifications or whatever. 😉

Are you positive that machines put the ends on? It seems that generally with work like this, a machine will mess up too much. It's certainly possible though.

 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: Eli
All you people saying a "home made cable" can't compare to a "factory made cable" are being stupid.

They're the same thing. It just depends on the quality of your work.

These things are not made by a machine. Someone is crimping the connectors on by hand in these factories.
Click to expand...

LOL!

They are most certainly not the same thing. Patch cables are stranded and category certified at the factory. Homemade is solid core, prone to breaking/stress, almost never certified or scanned, typically don't meet category specifications, etc.

Oh, and they are made by machine.
Click to expand...
Hmm.. I guess I thought the bulk cable you buy with no ends would be the same as whatever cable they use in the factories. Why would it be different?

I have never seen stranded ethernet cable. 😕

Originally posted by: sdifox

whut? You are kidding right?
Click to expand...
Nope.

I guess I could be wrong, but when it comes to this type of work, it is generally manual.



Originally posted by: vi edit

Show me a homemade cable with a flexible jacket like this:

http://www.cjpenterprises.co.z...tworking/cat5cable.jpg
Click to expand...

Find me an end like it that hasn't been crimped on yet, and I will. 😉

You guys obviously know more about this than me, so I will admit I may be wrong about it, but what is the difference? There should be no difference in a cable made in a factory and one that I make. 😕
Click to expand...

Solid is used for in wall runs to a socket or patch panel, stranded for patch cables. All cables you buy that are pre-terminated are machine terminated. Unless you go into a store and order a very odd length (like 7ft), it would always be machine terminated.


Factory terminated tend to be better built and actually spec tested. If nothing else, the machine can cramp in the jacket right into the plug, protecting the termination by providing stress relief.

I can't remember any time in history where RJ patch cables are not machine made.

There is a far greater chance you haven't seen solid core network cable than stranded.
 
Originally posted by: Eli

Thanks. That makes sense.

I could still make one that passes specifications or whatever. 😉

Are you positive that machines put the ends on? It seems that generally with work like this, a machine will mess up too much. It's certainly possible though.
Click to expand...

Dude, there is no way you can crimp cables better than machines.
 
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Eli

Thanks. That makes sense.

I could still make one that passes specifications or whatever. 😉

Are you positive that machines put the ends on? It seems that generally with work like this, a machine will mess up too much. It's certainly possible though.
Click to expand...

Dude, there is no way you can crimp cables better than machines.
Click to expand...

That Matrix has you!!! 😉
 
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Eli

Thanks. That makes sense.

I could still make one that passes specifications or whatever. 😉

Are you positive that machines put the ends on? It seems that generally with work like this, a machine will mess up too much. It's certainly possible though.
Click to expand...

Dude, there is no way you can crimp cables better than machines.
Click to expand...
You would think that eh.

I have worked in an electromagnetic component factory, and everything was made by hand.

You would think that a machine would be better at wrapping turns of wire around a core, tinning leads, etc.. But apparently they're not. 😕
 
Don't listen to them. It took me a couple practice tries to crimp my first RJ45 connector and have it work. The type of ends you use can make it tricky too. We had some here at work that the wires could go all the way though and poke out the other side. I think it was supposed to make trimming them easier, but if you didn't pull them back so they weren't sticking out, you could not insert the cable in a socket. So between that and mixing up the color codes on each end of the cable it took me a couple tries. Once you get the knack its cake though.
 
Originally posted by: AMCRambler
Don't listen to them. It took me a couple practice tries to crimp my first RJ45 connector and have it work. The type of ends you use can make it tricky too. We had some here at work that the wires could go all the way though and poke out the other side. I think it was supposed to make trimming them easier, but if you didn't pull them back so they weren't sticking out, you could not insert the cable in a socket. So between that and mixing up the color codes on each end of the cable it took me a couple tries. Once you get the knack its cake though.
Click to expand...

and those ones with the set form inside them are a pain in the ass also.
 
With the clip facing AWAY from you,

white orange, orange, white green, blue, white blue, green, white brown, brown

color order does matter, because they're twisted in pairs.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Eli

Thanks. That makes sense.

I could still make one that passes specifications or whatever. 😉

Are you positive that machines put the ends on? It seems that generally with work like this, a machine will mess up too much. It's certainly possible though.
Click to expand...

Dude, there is no way you can crimp cables better than machines.
Click to expand...
You would think that eh.

I have worked in an electromagnetic component factory, and everything was made by hand.

You would think that a machine would be better at wrapping turns of wire around a core, tinning leads, etc.. But apparently they're not. 😕
Click to expand...

what year what that?

http://www.broomfieldusa.com/wirewinding/100/

http://www.broomfieldusa.com/wirewinding/generators/
 
Originally posted by: finite automaton
With the clip facing AWAY from you,

white orange, orange, white green, blue, white blue, green, white brown, brown

color order does matter, because they're twisted in pairs.
Click to expand...

Little late to the party, kid.
 
Originally posted by: Scouzer
Never done it before. Looked simple enough online. It's not.

I have the proper tool. Problem is the tool is a POS and can't strip the jacket on the inner wires. It has too big of a gap. So I'm trying to strip them with scissors, and it's not working.

Ideas? I have 7 hours to fix this cable or I'm in deep trouble.
Click to expand...

You dont strip the inner wires
 
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Eli

Thanks. That makes sense.

I could still make one that passes specifications or whatever. 😉

Are you positive that machines put the ends on? It seems that generally with work like this, a machine will mess up too much. It's certainly possible though.
Click to expand...

Dude, there is no way you can crimp cables better than machines.
Click to expand...
You would think that eh.

I have worked in an electromagnetic component factory, and everything was made by hand.

You would think that a machine would be better at wrapping turns of wire around a core, tinning leads, etc.. But apparently they're not. 😕
Click to expand...

what year what that?

http://www.broomfieldusa.com/wirewinding/100/

http://www.broomfieldusa.com/wirewinding/generators/
Click to expand...
It was in 2001 that I worked there.

There were machines that would do some of the work for you on certain components, but it still required a sitter.

Even potted parts were filled with epoxy by hand. Most of the transformers and stuff were wrapped, taped, tinned and varnished all by hand.

 
a network cable is machine made...it's not a complicated device. They do have failures and they are simply scrapped during QC by better companies.

 
Originally posted by: Imp
I spent 5 trying to crimp coaxial RG5. Now I have a $15 crimper I'll never use again. Too cheap to buy the snap-on crimpers.
Click to expand...

DIY crimping coax RG59/RG6 is bullshit. I got so fed up I ended up sticking the inner conductor into the splitter and wrapping the braid around the connector. Even those twist on/no crimping connectors are crap.
 
Originally posted by: PottedMeat
Originally posted by: Imp
I spent 5 trying to crimp coaxial RG5. Now I have a $15 crimper I'll never use again. Too cheap to buy the snap-on crimpers.
Click to expand...

DIY crimping coax RG59/RG6 is bullshit. I got so fed up I ended up sticking the inner conductor into the splitter and wrapping the braid around the connector. Even those twist on/no crimping connectors are crap.
Click to expand...

If you use the hex style crimpers/ends those are pretty much garbage. Crimping RG59/RG6 with compression connectors is incredibly easy and rather fast. If anyone wants a hex crimper and ends, let me know. Mine is taking up space.
 
Originally posted by: Kaervak
Originally posted by: PottedMeat
Originally posted by: Imp
I spent 5 trying to crimp coaxial RG5. Now I have a $15 crimper I'll never use again. Too cheap to buy the snap-on crimpers.
Click to expand...

DIY crimping coax RG59/RG6 is bullshit. I got so fed up I ended up sticking the inner conductor into the splitter and wrapping the braid around the connector. Even those twist on/no crimping connectors are crap.
Click to expand...

If you use the hex style crimpers/ends those are pretty much garbage. Crimping RG59/RG6 with compression connectors is incredibly easy and rather fast. If anyone wants a hex crimper and ends, let me know. Mine is taking up space.
Click to expand...

they existed a long time though.

A hex crimp can be perfect if you know what you are doing...if you do this a lot or want nice looking ends the compression type are so very nice.

If a cable/satellite dude is ever at your house you can get a ton of cable lengths made for cheap by just asking and handing over $5-20 bucks.
 
Originally posted by: alkemyst
they existed a long time though.

A hex crimp can be perfect if you know what you are doing...if you do this a lot or want nice looking ends the compression type are so very nice.

If a cable/satellite dude is ever at your house you can get a ton of cable lengths made for cheap by just asking and handing over $5-20 bucks.
Click to expand...

I switched over to compression ends a long time ago. I got a Zenith compression tool and 20 Thomas & Betts RG6-U Universal ends for about $20 shipped on eBay. I replaced all the hex crimp F-connectors on our CATV stuff a while back. 12 ends worth of compression connectors, so much easier and faster than the hex style. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: skyking
Wrong forum😛
In the network forum, all the gurus would ask why are you bothering to crimp at all. If you are terminating a long run use a keystone jack and premade patch cable. if it is a short cable, by it for a buck or two. Crimping is bad juju.
Click to expand...

This. Keystone jacks are a piece of cake to punch the wires into. Patch cables are almost as cheap as the connectors you would crimp to the end of your cable. I sucked at making cables for a long time before I got good at it. I haven't messed one up in a long time but almost always go with factory made cables now.
 
Originally posted by: Kaervak
Originally posted by: alkemyst
they existed a long time though.

A hex crimp can be perfect if you know what you are doing...if you do this a lot or want nice looking ends the compression type are so very nice.

If a cable/satellite dude is ever at your house you can get a ton of cable lengths made for cheap by just asking and handing over $5-20 bucks.
Click to expand...

I switched over to compression ends a long time ago. I got a Zenith compression tool and 20 Thomas & Betts RG6-U Universal ends for about $20 shipped on eBay. I replaced all the hex crimp F-connectors on our CATV stuff a while back. 12 ends worth of compression connectors, so much easier and faster than the hex style. 🙂
Click to expand...

holy shit...I didn't realize they sold this cheap on ebay.

I am going to order one if I can't get a premade RG6 the length I need (waiting for the weather to cool down to make an attic run 🙂)

not only are the compressions ends easier and faster, they freaking look nice.
 
Originally posted by: Penth
Originally posted by: skyking
Wrong forum😛
In the network forum, all the gurus would ask why are you bothering to crimp at all. If you are terminating a long run use a keystone jack and premade patch cable. if it is a short cable, by it for a buck or two. Crimping is bad juju.
Click to expand...

This. Keystone jacks are a piece of cake to punch the wires into. Patch cables are almost as cheap as the connectors you would crimp to the end of your cable. I sucked at making cables for a long time before I got good at it. I haven't messed one up in a long time but almost always go with factory made cables now.
Click to expand...

I don't get Skyking's post. First almost all 'long' runs are going to require someone to crimp an end on them...the keystones are great if you have that option...they don't supercede nor invalidate the benefit of crimping an end on.

ethernet cables are not rocket science, you just build it and test it. If it fails see where you screwed up.

That said, may do fuck these up do to being sloppy, retarded or simply not testing them either physically or in use.

When I install a cable whether it's pre-made or not I test that the link works like it should.
 
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