Types of CAT5

[Imabigmac]

So i'm looking into wiring up speakers and Ethernet in my relatively new house, anyway when it was built my father asked for cable/TV/Ethernet cables to be ran throughout the house. Only problem is the electricians did not label the cables nor did they actually put the cables into a wall plate. So I have this bundle of blue and white CAT5 and bunch of coaxial. My question is a bit unrelated to this but is there a difference between a white and a blue cat5 cable?  Do they have a different purpose? Also some of the blue CAT5 is what the land line phone is hooked up to. 

 

Sorry if I should have put this a section. 

[LIGISTX]

The color doesn't mean anything as far as I am aware. I have made wires using both, with zero difference internally... I assume they ran different colors so you can tell where the runs start and terminate? Maybe? lol

[Atlantisman]

No, there is no difference, electricians do this all the time. They will put Ethernet wire throughout the house but leave it right behind the wall plates, or terminate it to RJ11 jacks (phone jacks).

 

In order to wire your house you will need a couple things:

 

First, you will need this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K4UKXG/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is a tool called a tone and probe set, basically you connect one end to the cable behind the wall plate and use the wand end to locate which wire in the bundle of wires is the opposing end of the wire in question. The wand will buzz or beep when its near the correct wire.

 

Second, you will need some of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-5EA20-S2W-QuickPlate-White/dp/B003O85B9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1387348500&sr=1-1&keywords=ethernet+wall+plate

You will be able to wire CAT5 and the Coax cable to this wall plate, so then you can plug your devices into it.

 

 

Third, you may need one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-RJ-45-RJ-12-RJ-11-TC-CT68/dp/B0000AZK4G/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1387348563&sr=1-6&keywords=ethernet+wall+plate

This is the tool used to put a male end on a CAT5/CAT6 cable.

 

Fourth, you will need these:

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-N031-050-Connector-Stranded/dp/B000067SC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1387348673&sr=8-3&keywords=cat5e+ends

These are the CAT5/CAT5e cable ends that the previous tool is able to attach to the wire.

 

 

Along with the tool and the ends you will need this guide:

http://www.frostie.co.uk/how-to-make-a-cat5-cat5e-patch-cable/

This will teach you how to properly put the ends on the cable.

 

Here is a video guide of the same thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFVSbcBJrxw

 

Here is a video guide to assist you with terminating a wire to a wall jack(like the one linked above): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gxNZoPcnP4

 

Here is a video guide showing you how to use the tone and probe tool, the woman uses it to locate a phone wire, but its the same concept. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyyuqdJ-twY

 

 

-Have fun

[Imabigmac]

Thank you @Atlantisman. I guess I have to go check all the wall plates that have phone and coaxial. Not a small house either, 3300 sq/f two stories finding wires and tracking is no fun. 

[Atlantisman]

Thank you @Atlantisman. I guess I have to go check all the wall plates that have phone and coaxial. Not a small house either, 3300 sq/f two stories finding wires and tracking is no fun. 

That tone and probe tool will save you many lifetimes of work(literally). I have the same one and it saves me time and money everyday.

[rufee]

Ive posted this in the Networking FAQ.

There are a few types of cat5 cable: STP(FTP) shielded, UTP unshielded. Also they come in 3 types: patch (flexible), installation (stiff), plenum (fire resistant ?).

[Atlantisman]

Ive posted this in the Networking FAQ.

There are a few types of cat5 cable: STP(FTP) shielded, UTP unshielded. Also they come in 3 types: patch (flexible), installation (stiff), plenum (fire resistant ?).

plenum (labeled as CMP on the wire itself) is fire resistant but also when the sheathing on the cable burns it doesn't release toxic fumes, unlike regular CAT5e cable. 

 

There is also Riser cable(labeled as CMR on the wire), meant for interconnects between the floors of buildings - this cable is flame resistant, as to not spread the flames to another floor potentially.

[CAKEwasTRUE]

usually its written on the cable like Patch or UTP