Ethernet tools

[kittyducky06]

I am new to the world of not just buying pre cut and terminated Ethernet cables and I am looking to buy what I need to terminate patch cables. I need about 500ft cat5e, crimp tool, and the I’m blanking on the name but the male version of a plug. So far I have found all these on amazon but especially with the cord I find many mixed reviews were some say it’s grate and others say it’s hot garbage. I’m looking  for help and someone with person experience with the product. So far I have found a crimping tool with good consistent reviews and it is cheap enuf for my likings (Ratcheting Modular Crimper/Stripper/Cutter - (RJ45, RJ11/RJ12, ethernet, phone - cat5e / cat6 crimp tool) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDYRQXB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_E1YHCb6JE7EXK) and just to be clear I do not need super high quality as on a budget of about $80

 

edit:

this might belong on a different section but I couldn’t find a tool oriented one(sorry mods for making you work more)

Edited March 12, 2019 by kittyducky06

[W-L]

11 minutes ago, kittyducky06 said:

I am new to the world of not just buying pre cut and terminated Ethernet cables and I am looking to buy what I need to terminate patch cables. I need about 500ft cat5e, crimp tool, and the I’m blanking on the name but the male version of a plug. So far I have found all these on amazon but especially with the cord I find many mixed reviews were some say it’s grate and others say it’s hot garbage. I’m looking  for help and someone with person experience with the product. So far I have found a crimping tool with good consistent reviews and it is cheap enuf for my likings (Ratcheting Modular Crimper/Stripper/Cutter - (RJ45, RJ11/RJ12, ethernet, phone - cat5e / cat6 crimp tool) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDYRQXB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_E1YHCb6JE7EXK) and just to be clear I do not need super high quality as on a budget of about $80

 

edit:

this might belong on a different section but I couldn’t find a tool oriented one(sorry mods for making you work more)

I'm a fan of the EZ RJ45 system makes crimping quite a bit quicker and easier.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Crimping-Tool-GTZ-Crimp/dp/B07BWHB1NK/

https://www.amazon.com/Passthrough-Connectors-Plated-Micron-Performance/dp/B079K714TH/ref=sr_1_3

[keskparane]

It's important to note that if properly done the contacts in the plug are different depending on the type of cable you are using. Plugs for stranded cable are designed to pierce through the middle of the wire, while plugs for solid core are designed to straddle the wire.

 

TLDR; get the right plug for the wire be it stranded or solid core

[kittyducky06]

7 minutes ago, keskparane said:

It's important to note that if properly done the contacts in the plug are different depending on the type of cable you are using. Plugs for stranded cable are designed to pierce through the middle of the wire, while plugs for solid core are designed to straddle the wire.

 

TLDR; get the right plug for the wire be it stranded or solid core

 

10 minutes ago, W-L said:

I'm a fan of the EZ RJ45 system makes crimping quite a bit quicker and easier.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Crimping-Tool-GTZ-Crimp/dp/B07BWHB1NK/

https://www.amazon.com/Passthrough-Connectors-Plated-Micron-Performance/dp/B079K714TH/ref=sr_1_3

Thanks for the advise and surgestions do you have any solid cooper cable brand surgestions

 

[W-L]

Just now, kittyducky06 said:

Thanks for the advise and surgestions do you have any solid cooper cable brand surgestions

 I've used the Monoprice stuff before and it's quite good, if you can find it for a similar price I would recommend to go up to CAT 6 for the better insulation. Just make sure the stuff you get is solid copper and not copper clad aluminum (CCA)

 

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13674

[mariushm]

13 hours ago, kittyducky06 said:

I am new to the world of not just buying pre cut and terminated Ethernet cables and I am looking to buy what I need to terminate patch cables. I need about 500ft cat5e, crimp tool, and the I’m blanking on the name but the male version of a plug. So far I have found all these on amazon but especially with the cord I find many mixed reviews were some say it’s grate and others say it’s hot garbage. I’m looking  for help and someone with person experience with the product. So far I have found a crimping tool with good consistent reviews and it is cheap enuf for my likings (Ratcheting Modular Crimper/Stripper/Cutter - (RJ45, RJ11/RJ12, ethernet, phone - cat5e / cat6 crimp tool) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDYRQXB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_E1YHCb6JE7EXK) and just to be clear I do not need super high quality as on a budget of about $80

 

edit:

this might belong on a different section but I couldn’t find a tool oriented one(sorry mods for making you work more)

That style of crimping tool is not great, because it doesn't put equal pressure on all the pins in the connectors.

 

Also, that model is some OEM one rebranded to hell, for the price is OK.

 

Here's all kinds of RJ45 (ethernet) crimping tools, you'll see the cheapest are practically clone of the one you linked: https://www.digikey.com/short/p8jczt

 

A decent one that is designed to put even pressure on all pins would be this one:

Klein Tools, Inc. VDV226-107 :

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/klein-tools-inc/VDV226-107/1742-1160-ND/6597046
 

You can see it in the video below at around 1:25 :

 

 

 

The same website sells ethernet cable, in short lengths or big spools, but the prices may not be very cheap, because the site is mainly an electronic parts distributor, not a networking related stuff store.

Here's the link to cables anyway, filtered to show only cat5e cables or better, and I've set filter to show only spools of 100ft (30m) or bigger : https://www.digikey.com/short/p8jcbr

 

You can further filter by cat rating (cat6 may in some cases be cheaper than cat5e due to higher volume sold, bigger stocks etc), solid vs stranded, cca vs copper, insulation type (you may want plenum / no flame / low smoke etcif you plan to insert cables through air vents or  walls.)

Also the site has datasheets so you can look to more details for cable to see if it's CCA (copper clad aluminum). Avoid CCA cables, they should only be used for small cables, like 1-3 meters long.

Also, you may want to go with Cat6 or Cat6a even though it could probably be around 50$ more for a 500ft spool - cat6 can do 10gbps  for small distances, like less than 50 meters or something like that, so a few years from now you when you may upgrade the location to 10gbps, you may not have to change the cables.

 

[Acedia]

Just FYI: If you want to install it somewhere permanent don't crimp male connectors on it, use keystone jacks.