Cable Forum - UTP Cable Wiring Nightmare

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumelk (Post 35539526)

This is what I needed to know, as opposed to some sarcastic know it alls which are addament that cat 5 definately does gig ethernet!

GigE was designed to work on Cat5 from the outset, so if you read the standard you would know cat 5 definitely does gig ethernet, and does so up to the maximum length of 100m.

---------- Post added at 19:41 ---------- Previous post was at 19:38 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis (Post 35539520)

Cat 5 *could* do Gig, but generally on short lengths
Cat 5e will do Gig, as the twists on the pairs are tighter, and the specification of 5e dictates this.

No and no.

A proper cat 5 cable will do gigE up to the maximum length permitted by ethernet itself.

Proper Cat 5e will do the same, but plenty of cables sold as Cat 5e cannot do gigabit ethernet.

Often you will find both cat 5 and cat 5e cable that does not do GigE, which is usually because the cable is of crap quality. Most of the time you will also find it is either old/corroded or bought off ebay and if tested with a proper cable tester will *not* pass actual spec.

Quote:

As far as using Cat 5e (or 6) and the ports negotiating to 100M, this is usually indicative of the cable run being too long, a crimping error, a 100M only NIC, or bad negotiation on the switch.

Or the cabling being wired for only 4 pins instead of 8. Plenty of "Cat5e"+ cables are sold with only half the contacts connected. Structured cabling and the like often use extra pins for power or telephone.

Quote:

Please also note that the cheap testers will only really test the fact that you have crimped the cables correctly, the more expensive testers will actually test the entire cable for compliance to the relevant standards (Fluke, etc).

Exactly.

---------- Post added at 19:42 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJPS (Post 35539562)

Being one of the millions of home networkers I believe I am safe in saying, we could not possible buy a five grand cable tester. I wish I could though.

No, I just take my cables into work.

---------- Post added at 19:46 ---------- Previous post was at 19:42 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumelk (Post 35541265)

Ok i think this is going in the wrong directions, we've started discussing cement mixers...lol

there are some valid points in your comments. I dont understand why you would buy pre-made 20m cables and then chop them up, wouldn't it be easier to buy the cable from the roll or even by the metre?

As well as this need to also make a series of smaller cables and was thinking that off the roll just seems easier.....

The implication is you buy the correct length of lead and do not chop anything up.

If you buy proper quality pre-terminated cable then you wouldn't have to worry about all these standards, certification, or testing, because the manufacturer has done all that for you.