Some of Criggie's comments are redundant for the latest available RJ45 plugs and crimp tools.
The new type come with a little insert which easily allows each of the 8 conductors to be inserted separately then pulled through tightly. This "insert" with all conductors in the correct order is then easily inserted into the body of the plug and crimped. I am not sure if it means that you need a special crimp tool or not but I have used my son's crimp tool with the new type of plug and wished it was invented years ago. Rob On 7 March 2016 at 13:23, Criggie <[email protected]> wrote: > > I was once detailed to make ethernet cables. They worked, initially. > >Later they failed. > >There was some sadness, cause failure mode was intermittent failure. . > > My suggestion is that you take Hadley's approach:: > > > Having done cable monkey stuff for a long time, there are some flaws and > some things should be clarified. > > > Making your own cables is perfectly okay, as long as you do it right. > This means using a crimping tool, not a screwdriver. > > It also means using the right plugs for the style of cable you use. > For patch cables that means stranded cable and stranded-compatible plugs > > Don't ever use solid core ethernet cable for patch leads, not ever. They > work for a bit but degrade over time due to movement. Solid core is fine > for in-wall installations where it will not move ever, and its a little > cheaper. Don't kid yourself that your "patch leads rarely change" This > is a false economy. > > Do get a tester too - they show pair-flips and when a link is > disconnected. Very handy, expecially the near and remote units so you can > test a cable where the ends are not close together. > > Get a proper stripping tool too - these cost under $10 and save so much > hassle. > > Expect to bugger up a bunch of plugs getting the trim lengths correct. > Yes they're magic and the wires move in the plug between insertion and > crimping. Check them before crimping. > > If doing the shortening thing then consider that some cables are wired > with different colour schemes. They are compatible if you use the same > colour coding on both ends. > > Get yourself a colour cheat card too - and reference it. Is easy to go > wrong and noone likes redoing work. > > > The cost of all the tools means its probably not financially feasinible > for ones or twos, but tools are for life and I personally don't regret > dropping several hundred dollars on the gear over 10 years ago. > > > Finally - Don't overload the RJ45 connector. I understand you're not > putting ethernet over this - but what happens if someone connects their > computer, or worse plugs one of these leads into a switch? Definitely > label them clearly, and if you can afford to look at colour-coded wall > jacks and plugs. > > ** I have seen a "Power Over Cat5 spare pairs" bodge connected to a > switch. Amazingly it kinda worked, but fried a couple weeks later. > > > > -- > Criggie > > http://criggie.org.nz/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > Linux-users mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.canterbury.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/linux-users > -- Robert Fisher
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