Crimping tool - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nForce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 05:03:47 pm
content: Hello,I am looking for the crimping tool, which I am not to attend to use professionally. Maybe 2 times per year.I have found this cheap which has also a tester:https://www.ebay.com/itm/Network-Ethernet-LAN-Kit-RJ45-Cat5e-Cat6-Cable-Tester-Crimper-Crimping-Tool/143094124786?hash=item21511310f2:g:-RUAAOSwb15cQGauMy question is, can I crimp with this same tool also CAT7 and CAT8 cables and can I test them with this same tester? Because in the description is only provided for "CAT5E" and "CAT6".Thanks.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 06:50:13 pm
content: I wouldn't use the plugs which come with the listing. Always buy good RJ45 plugs from an A-brand and make sure they are suitable for the type of wire. There are 3 types of plugs: for stranded wire, for solid wire and for both stranded and solid. It goes without saying the RJ45 plugs for both solid and stranded wire are the most versatile.The cable tester will only test for continuity.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 07:06:15 pm
content: I highly recommend getting pass-through connectors like these (random example just for illustrating the concept):https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073ZN1CRZThey're WAY easier to install than the conventional type, especially if you're not doing them frequently enough to get good at it. Even so, I've seen professional installers using the pass-through plugs, so I don't feel at all bad about using them myself.I'm not sure about Cat7 or 8, though. Are you actually attempting to run 10G Ethernet?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2019, 01:16:10 am
content: Quote from: ajb on March 26, 2019, 07:06:15 pmI don't do a lot of ethernet crimping, but I manage to get the ends level enough to crimp reliably - eventually. However this pass-through idea would speed up things remarkably. It's a great idea!But seeing I have sufficient stock to keep me supplied for several years, that I am able to get things right and that I don't do many, I'll just keep soldiering on with the traditional approach.

author: nForce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2019, 02:50:11 pm
content: No, I am not going to run 10Gbit ethernet, right now. But I am also not going to get new cables in the future.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2019, 06:51:11 pm
content: Quote from: nForce on March 26, 2019, 05:03:47 pmYes, insofar as it’ll test for continuity. The CAT rating of the cable only describes the characteristics of the cable (bandwidth, etc). It’s up to you to wire the plugs correctly, and that is ALL that tester will check: continuity.If you need to test the signal integrity and performance of your assembled cable, you’d need a proper network analyzer, which will set you back thousands of dollars.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2019, 07:18:42 pm
content: Quote from: nForce on March 27, 2019, 02:50:11 pmIn that case, if you really want to have Cat7 or Cat8 cable just in case of future need, then I would probably just use regular Cat5 terminations but leave enough extra cable to reterminate later on once you have some equipment capable of at least doing a functional test on a 10Gb+ link. Or you could install Cat7 or Cat8 keystone jacks, there appear to be toolless versions of those available. Actually, looks like you can also get toolless plugs as well:https://www.amazon.com/LINKUP-Shielded-Die-Cast-Termination-Connector/dp/B07C8L7S9L/Side note, I was under the impression that Cat7 and Cat8 required individually shielded pairs, but so far the connector products I've seen don't show this.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2019, 08:32:37 pm
content: For 1Gb ethernet you'll need at least CAT5e. CAT5 won't work.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2019, 09:00:25 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 27, 2019, 08:32:37 pmTo my knowledge the original requirement was merely CAT5.On top of that, I'd be shocked if you could obtain CAT5 today. Equally shocked if anyone here bothers to verify they meet the specification.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2019, 10:24:14 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 27, 2019, 08:32:37 pmNot true. CAT 5 or better is specified.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2019, 12:51:00 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on March 28, 2019, 10:24:14 amBut in practice CAT5 doesn't work (at least it never has for me even on cables which are only a few meters long).

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2019, 01:59:36 pm
content: Whatever the cause, it wasn’t because of being CAT 5. Gigabit has the same bandwidth requirements as 100Base-TX. (Which is why gigabit needs all 4 pairs.)It’s possible that you just had a batch of really bad CAT 5 cables that didn’t meet spec.