An addition/correction to my prior posting. Ted is right, add end cover boots:
On Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 02:57:46PM -0800, American Citizen wrote: ... > Here's the problem, after about 200 plugs/unplugs into the coupler, > the plastic tab wears out, the cable no longer stays in the coupler > and I am forced to buy another brand new ethernet cable. > > Has anyone found a better coupler that doesn't wear out the ethernet > cable RJ45 plug? The clips on RJ45 plugs break eventually, even when plugging into an end device instead of a coupler. Sadly, the coupler isn't the problem, but inherent in the standardized mis-design of RJ-45 clips. ----- One quick (but slightly spendy, how much is your time worth?) way to deal with this is to repair the cable with an add-on RJClip: https://amazon.com/RJCLIP-Connector-Solution-Assorted-Colours/dp/B0793GWR77 (I've purchased these assortments twice, use them often) Or perhaps: https://www.amazon.com/Construct-Pro-RJ-45-Repair-Cat5e/dp/B072J8RC6N (I haven't tried these, they look even more brittle than the original failure-prone RJ-45 plugs) ----- The "tidy" way to repair a plug is to cut off the plastic cable end and crimp on a replacement "wire pass through" plug. I'm fond of the Klein Tools VDV226-110 Modular data cable crimper: https://www.amazon.com/Pass-Thru-Reliable-Klein-Tools-VDV226-110/dp/B076MGPQZQ Amazon also sells many less expensive knockoffs, but the Klein does a quality job. If someone else buys a knockoff tool for half the price, I imagine others on this list will be interested in how it works ... even if you connect to non-Linux systems with it :-) For clumsy me, the TRICK is to strip an extra inch of wire, then straighten the wires by drawing them repeatedly through two fingers, then arranging the wires in parallel using either the T568B or T568A wire order illustrated on the side of the tool. Which order? I don't remember; look at the clipless plug that you just cut off. ---------------- ADDED NOTE ------------------ Note, before you do the next step, I agree with Ted Mittelstaedt that the clip will last longer if there is a boot over it. I usually build cables that way, and rebuild them with a boot over both plugs, even if they were "naked" before. THAT SAID, the only way I know to add boots to a cable is over bare cable end, without a plug on it. So, thread the boots BEFORE crimping on a new plug. Also, don't be inattentive when you add the boots - there is only one way to do it right (large end outwards) and three incorrect permutations of big end inwards. A klutzy mistake that I've NEVER EVER EVER made ... the check is in the mail, and I will respect you in the morning. :-) ------------- END ADDED NOTE ----------------------- After lining up the 8 wires, you slide them THROUGH a new PASS-THROUGH data plug (Klein Tools VDV826-703) so they stick out an inch or two from the "business end" of the RJ45 plug. The wires are trimmed and the connector crimped with the same tool motion. Arranged correctly, you will minimize the space between the back of the plug and the "twirls" of the wire pairs (and the plastic spacer between them). Probably not important until you try to push 40 Gbps Cat8 through your cable. You can't do that with inline couplers. If I repaired plugs often, professionally, I expect I could learn to fix 50 to 100 plugs per hour with the Klein tool and passthrough plugs. In "real" life, I am a klutz, so it takes me about 5 minutes to find the materials and tools, replace a plug, replace it again because I goofed up the wire order, then shelve the kit where I can find them next time. Or find the kit so I can write about tools on the PLUG list. ----- The Klein tool also crimps 6 wire RJ11 plugs, which are often used for telephones. Since those are used for analog voice, we should discuss THOSE on PLUG-TALK. Heh. :-) Keith L. -- Keith Lofstrom [email protected] -- Keith Lofstrom [email protected]
