I need to plug an ethernet cable in behind a bookshelf... need a 90 degree bend

[evilspoons]

Hi everyone,

I have what is (hopefully) a simple problem to solve.

My condo came pre-wired with ethernet jacks. My TV stand has a gigabit ethernet switch in it with my PS3, 360, HPTC, and IP cable box all plugged in to it. Unfortunately, the wall jack that this switch is connected to (to bring it back to my central distribution panel) is behind a bookshelf, and as a result, I can't fit a standard cat 6 cable in the socket - they need to stick out from the wall an inch or so, and I have slightly less space than that.

My current solution is to use one of those terrible retractable ethernet cables because it has nice thin wires that are all laid out flat (instead of in twisted pairs). The connector is shorter and the bend radius is much smaller. This only results in a 100 mbit connection, though.

Is there an adapter I can buy to "bend" the ethernet socket 90 degrees up/down/left/right? Is there a cat 6 cable with much smaller bending radius than a standard one that I can buy somewhere?

Thanks!

 

[ScottMac]

Hi everyone,

I have what is (hopefully) a simple problem to solve.

My condo came pre-wired with ethernet jacks. My TV stand has a gigabit ethernet switch in it with my PS3, 360, HPTC, and IP cable box all plugged in to it. Unfortunately, the wall jack that this switch is connected to (to bring it back to my central distribution panel) is behind a bookshelf, and as a result, I can't fit a standard cat 6 cable in the socket - they need to stick out from the wall an inch or so, and I have slightly less space than that.

My current solution is to use one of those terrible retractable ethernet cables because it has nice thin wires that are all laid out flat (instead of in twisted pairs). The connector is shorter and the bend radius is much smaller. This only results in a 100 mbit connection, though.

Is there an adapter I can buy to "bend" the ethernet socket 90 degrees up/down/left/right? Is there a cat 6 cable with much smaller bending radius than a standard one that I can buy somewhere?

Thanks!

Use a hole saw to cut a large opening in the back of the bookcase. Minimum Bend Radius for Cat5, 5e,6, 6a is 4x cable diameter, i.e., 1" radius (2" diameter). Anything less than this removes / disqualifies the cabling system (from end-to-end - from the jumper, through the wall, through the jumper to the switch) for any "Category" rating - same as coat hangers and barbwire.

I'm not saying it won't work, but expect a likely performance hit in addition to laughter and ridicule from more hard-core networking types.

 

[evilspoons]

Unfortunately the hole saw approach doesn't work because the bookshelf is in a strange position relative to the TV. I'd end up with a cable awkwardly exiting the front of the bookshelf and then wrapping back...

I was hoping that maybe someone came up with something like this:

Only with a male connector on one end and a 90 degree bend in the center.

 

[theevilsharpie]

You should be able to take off the faceplate and remove the jack from it, which should give you the angle you need.

 

[Qrilock]

Replace the existing wall plate with an angled wall plate. This will leave the Ethernet jacks pointed at a downward angle.
Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-R02-40...2196787&sr=8-3

 

[rsutoratosu]

they have 90 degree eithernet cables and you can get a short one and use the dongle to extend to your or get one thats the length of your run

 

[bruceb]

You can find what you need here:

http://www.vpi.us/cat5e-right-angle.html

They have it with angles on one end or on both, as you may desire.
Lengths of up to 15 feet .. other stores may also carry these.

 

[mooseracing]

Blackbox has those as well as 45 degree ones that might protrude less.

 

[evilspoons]

Thanks everyone. I think the angled cable is my best solution. Too bad Monoprice doesn't sell them, I need to buy a bunch of stuff from them!

Maybe I'll buy a bunch of 6" angled ones and some couplers...

As for the other solutions... unfortunately the installer in my condo used cheapo wall plates for the ethernet that don't have the removable jacks, they're one big piece... so if I wanted to do anything with them I'd have to re-terminate the in-wall wiring.

 

[imagoon]

Did they use one of the wallplates with screws on the back

 

[Ichinisan]

You should be able to take off the faceplate and remove the jack from it, which should give you the angle you need.

Came to say this.

[edit]

Thanks everyone. I think the angled cable is my best solution. Too bad Monoprice doesn't sell them, I need to buy a bunch of stuff from them!

Maybe I'll buy a bunch of 6" angled ones and some couplers...

As for the other solutions... unfortunately the installer in my condo used cheapo wall plates for the ethernet that don't have the removable jacks, they're one big piece... so if I wanted to do anything with them I'd have to re-terminate the in-wall wiring.

Aw...that sucks. Maybe there's enough slack behind the plate...?

 

[Wangstang]

Use a hole saw to cut a large opening in the back of the bookcase. Minimum Bend Radius for Cat5, 5e,6, 6a is 4x cable diameter, i.e., 1" radius (2" diameter). Anything less than this removes / disqualifies the cabling system (from end-to-end - from the jumper, through the wall, through the jumper to the switch) for any "Category" rating - same as coat hangers and barbwire.

I'm not saying it won't work, but expect a likely performance hit in addition to laughter and ridicule from more hard-core networking types.

You can find what you need here:

http://www.vpi.us/cat5e-right-angle.html

They have it with angles on one end or on both, as you may desire.
Lengths of up to 15 feet .. other stores may also carry these.

Since the 90 is built into the design of the terminal end of the above linked cable, will it still maintain the Cat5e performance and standards or is it likely to have performance issues?

Thanks
Wes

 

[Cabletek]

Hi everyone,

I have what is (hopefully) a simple problem to solve.

My condo came pre-wired with ethernet jacks. My TV stand has a gigabit ethernet switch in it with my PS3, 360, HPTC, and IP cable box all plugged in to it. Unfortunately, the wall jack that this switch is connected to (to bring it back to my central distribution panel) is behind a bookshelf, and as a result, I can't fit a standard cat 6 cable in the socket - they need to stick out from the wall an inch or so, and I have slightly less space than that.

My current solution is to use one of those terrible retractable ethernet cables because it has nice thin wires that are all laid out flat (instead of in twisted pairs). The connector is shorter and the bend radius is much smaller. This only results in a 100 mbit connection, though.

Is there an adapter I can buy to "bend" the ethernet socket 90 degrees up/down/left/right? Is there a cat 6 cable with much smaller bending radius than a standard one that I can buy somewhere?

Thanks!

They make all sorts of things but the more pieces you introduce to a connection the more potential for failure you introduce. the same is true for cat5 as it is for coax, each connection introduces a mismatch of some sort and a potential for lost signal, packet loss, or other abnormalities. Do what you want but know that there is a yin and a yang, and know what you are willing to accept the bad with the good. I'd personally move the book shelf somewhere else or use a wireless 5G router off another connection point. But that said...

I'd go with this
http://www.vpi.us/cat5e-right-angle.html

over a 90 degree dongle and normal cable.

 

[bearxor]

I've don this a couple of times. What I will do is strip enough of the shield on the end so that what comes out of the back of the connector is just the 4 pair wires (not in the shield) are hanging out of the end of the connector. This way, when you plug it in, it will bend very easily to whichever angle you want. I've never had performance issues with this, or wear and tear.

Otherwise replacing the jack with an angled one would be your best bet.