Used Cat5e stranded cable when I should've used solid. Am I screwed?

[Nickaw]

This is my first attempt at doing any home networking. I got 100 feet of cat 5e cable to run through the attic from a new room to where the modem is. After getting it installed and attaching keystone jacks on both ends I found out that I used stranded cable instead of solid. The computer won't recognize the cable and I'm fairly certain it's because of the keystone jack connection. I've already remade the keystone jack connections by purchasing new cat5e keystone jacks and punching the wires down with a homemade punch (gift card with a sliver cut out). I've also gone through the attic and made sure I didn't knick the cable anywhere.

Are there keystone jacks that I can use with this cable or do I need to rerun solid cable? I'm really hoping I can just fix it at the jack but I'm starting to think the stranded isn't going to work.

 

[bigsnyder]

Changing out the keystones will be the easiest to try first. Just make sure they are compatible with stranded.

 

[Nickaw]

I'm trying to search for keystones compatible with stranded wire but nothing's coming up. Is there a specific name for stranded compatible ones or do I just need to keep looking?

 

[kevnich2]

Get a cable tester and test both ends. Also - never punch down cables into a keystone with anything but an actual 110 punch tool. Even the cheapest ones are like a buck or two. Otherwise you'll damage the metal contacts.

If it's only 100' though, I'd say lay new solid wire down instead of the stranded. The amount you'll spend on new wire, cable tester and a proper punch down tool will be nothing to how much time you'll put in troubleshooting it like it is right now.

 

[Nickaw]

Alright, I'll do that. Thanks for the advice. I'll go to home depot tomorrow and hopefully knock it all out in no time at all.

 

[ScottMac]

There are no keystones for stranded, because it's not meant to be run "in the wall" ... it's for jumpers only. Punching down stranded cable is a crap shoot, at best, because the strands don't seat well into the IDC (insulation displacement connecter).

Re-run the cable with solid conductor type to the keystones or terminate each end of the stranded with an RJ45 (make sure you get RJ45's meant for stranded, round, cable ...and they should be Cat-rated). Then use couplers at each end with jumpers into your equipment.

 

[Nickaw]

Reran solid cable and everything works. Thanks for all your advice!

 

[kevnich2]

Reran solid cable and everything works. Thanks for all your advice!

Awesome. Good to know.