Vids on how to make Ethernet cables?

[JosephLeo]

Hey guys. I have a confession to make. I...I've never made an ethernet cable (or any cable for that matter) in my life and I'm coming to you for some help.

Does anyone know of any good videos that can teach me how to properly do this? I don't trust Youtube enough to go that route, and I'm having trouble finding a trustworthy source on the web as well. I know it seems a bit trivial to most of you, but to me this stuff is new and I would really love have this talent under my belt.

[Graystar]

Here is a good link to a site that gets detailed with out drowning you in technobabble.


Use Google video search as I did, "Terminating Ethernet cables"
here is a good tutorial,
There are lots of them that show differing technique.

Cheers
Jim

[NickCat11]

Originally Posted by Graystar

Here is a good link to a site that gets detailed with out drowning you in technobabble.


Use Google video search as I did, "Terminating Ethernet cables"
here is a good tutorial,
There are lots of them that show differing technique.

Cheers
Jim

+1 to Graystars videos. A lot of it comes down to practice and getting the "knack" for it. I've never seen that sleeve before though that he used to order the wires before he cut them evenly. Pretty sharp. What is that called and where can you get it? I did a quick search on Google with no luck.

[Cue]

I would try to learn this "cold turky", (without any extra tools to help you). You would be happy with that knowledge later when you need to do allot of patching.

The one thing I would like to add to that tutorial is when you cut the jacket to strip the wires be very careful not to make tiny cuts in the wires, those can be very bad even if they are tiny.

Also, use a CAT5 cable tester you never know when a cable is bad. You cannot see it.

[Blain]

Originally Posted by Cue

Also, use a CAT5 cable tester you never know when a cable is bad. You cannot see it.

Very true!
The testers are so cheap, there's no reason in not having one.

While you're ordering a cable tester, go ahead and buy an ATX PS tester also.
Google Shopping > search for "atx power supply tester lcd" > sort by price > eWiz has a nice tester for $10.45 + shipping of about $8

[Graystar]

Originally Posted by NickCat11

+1 to Graystars videos. A lot of it comes down to practice and getting the "knack" for it. I've never seen that sleeve before though that he used to order the wires before he cut them evenly. Pretty sharp. What is that called and where can you get it? I did a quick search on Google with no luck.

Here is a link to one online site I found.

I have never used the insert style connectors as they are more expensive and I don't see them many places.
I made my own flash card so to speak and when ever I am making a cable I always pull it out just to take the "thinking" out of it.
I did cable terminating in a power plant control room back in the day and the protocol there was to have these diagrams in front of you while terminating. I found it to be a good habit. Besides I don't make cables all that often but when I do I want to get them right the first time. It is another good habit to test every cable you make.

[msherman]

Originally Posted by Cue

I would try to learn this "cold turky", (without any extra tools to help you). You would be happy with that knowledge later when you need to do allot of patching.

The one thing I would like to add to that tutorial is when you cut the jacket to strip the wires be very careful not to make tiny cuts in the wires, those can be very bad even if they are tiny.

Also, use a CAT5 cable tester you never know when a cable is bad. You cannot see it.

+1 on the cable tester. They have saved me a good bit of time on jobs.

[stevenamills]

Originally Posted by Cue

Also, use a CAT5 cable tester you never know when a cable is bad. You cannot see it.

Excellent advise - personally I prefer the 8 light over the 4 light testers - even better an LCD read out, but probably not worth the money.

I've also found the 110 punch down type less prone to problems than the tool-less types.