Cables for less Experiance?

[Firefighter]

Hey Yall, from my research Cables For Less should be fine but seeing if anyone has experiance because of the cost.
I know many use true cable.

Thanks

 

[bp2008]

Cat5e is pretty much a commodity item and plenty of brands sell perfectly adequate cable.

The main thing to watch out for is the wire material. You want "Pure Copper" also known as "Bare Copper" wire. Avoid cables built with "Copper Clad Aluminum" (CCA) wire.

There are also options of:

• solid versus stranded wire (solid is generally less flexible, but easier to crimp on an RJ45 connector).
• wire gauge. 24 AWG is normal for Cat5e.
• jacket ratings. Read about Plenum rated cables if you aren't already aware of that. The gist of it is, Plenum rated cables let off less toxic gas when they burn, and it can be a legal requirement depending on where the cable is installed.

 

[Firefighter]

Yeah im going to run 23awg cat6 unshielded incase I change any of the cameras to ptz and want the extra headroom for power needed.
Cat5e is way more than whats needed for almost any case except a very power hungry ptz. However, with a $30 difference ill just stick with the cat6. Shielded seems useless for residential use from my research. I do have 30 wifi lights etc but doesnt seem it will help having stp.

 

[TonyR]

+1^^ to bp2008's reply and also:

In a pinch you can use a cable with the more expensive CMP (Plenum-rated) jacket where a CMR (Riser-rated) jacket is called for but NOT vice versa.

If you buy cable with 23AWG conductors insure you get RJ-45 connectors that are definitely made for 23AWG. If the connectors you buy are for staggered wiring (to place them closer together in the CAT-6 connector) I highly recommend the 2 piece type (insert + connector).

If you do go the 2-piece route, I suggest after straightening and arranging the colors in order, that you cut them in a 45° fashion so that you can place them in one-at-a-time into the insert which is a LOT easier than trying to put all 8 in at once. Then put that into the connector, check for corrrect order and depth and then crimp as I documented at the end of this post.

Many on IPCT will suggest the pass-thru type RJ-45's. I can't bad-mouth the pass-thru, just never needed them or used them, been doing the old way for so long I'm OK with the non-pass thru type.

Post in thread 'how to make good cat6 cables all the time'

Apr 10, 2018

A little something I posted a few days ago on another thread ==>> here. I've been using Monoprice's 2-piece (Insert with lip and RJ-45 male) for my CAT-6 lately. Like anything, the first couple are not easy, but then you get the hang of it.

I have even better luck by using the non-serrated, flat part of my needle nosed pliers to gently flatten the wires, one at a time, in one plane then rotate the pliers 90 degrees and flatten in another plane. They then lay closer to each other, go into the insert easier, and allow the insert to get closer to the outer jacket, all the way up...

• TonyR

• 

 

[Firefighter]

After shipping it costs what true cable costs so im just going with true cable.
I don't like pass through. I use to install low voltage and have done thousands of ends. Ill stick with the standard ends.
Im being impatient an md want to throw blue cable up but I'll be happier having seperate colors so ill wait for the box of purple for cctv to arrive.
Ill run regular data in blue and APs in something else like yellow. Just doing a very small home network setup.

 

[Firefighter]

I ended up finding new Trucable Cat6A for $125 per spool. Its yellow. I got one and kinda thinking i should go back for the 2nd at that price its more than half off. I wanted purple for cctv but it doesnt really matter.

 

[bp2008]

That is a great price for a 1000 foot spool of solid copper cable even if it was cat5e! (from a brand you can trust, anyway)

 

[Arjun]

Get Monoprice via Amazon

 

[Simas123456]

I've used TrueCable for probably around 7 years with zero issues. That being said, I've only used their outdoor/burial cables and not the standard indoor stuff.

 

[Holbs]

I ended up finding new Trucable Cat6A for $125 per spool. Its yellow. I got one and kinda thinking i should go back for the 2nd at that price its more than half off. I wanted purple for cctv but it doesnt really matter.

If your purchase this... please show pictures of the copper.
I am HIGHLY skeptical about any Cat6A 1000' cable box for $125. Cost alone would be near $200'ish.
I wonder if bait & switch. 1000 feet? Oh...typo... they meant 100' !
Or it's actually Cat6e, or regular Cat6.
Or...it's actually 900' of Cat3, with just 100' of yellow Cat6A wrapped ontop of the cat3 so you cant see it Wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Firefighter]

^^ Its 1,000ft of truecable cat6a through and through. Its not much more than half off. $289 full price. Not really that far fetched. See it all the time around here, luckily the county north of me is one of the wealthiest in the country so I pick stuff up cheap all the time. Lol
Id rather pay the extra difference on the next spool for a different color. The whole point would be mute if I had to start mixing uses for the same colors.
Right now I guess im doing
yellow cctv
Blue general data (tv, printer, computers)
Other color for APs
Idk well see.

 

[bp2008]

Heh if I was doing new permanent wiring I think I would not much care which color each cable is. Just label the sockets on the patch panel(s).

 

[TonyR]

Heh if I was doing new permanent wiring I think I would not much care which color each cable is. Just label the sockets on the patch panel(s).

Using the plentiful and generally cheaper gray or blue cable when I have more than one going down inside a wall or close together in a long attic run I use a Sharpie to ID each cable near the ends so I know "who's who".

Then I use my portable Brother laminated label printer to make a nice black-on-white printed label for each wall plate above the keystone.

 

[Firefighter]

I use to install low voltage, Its fine, you just id every wire. But if I can color code based on purpose why not have the luxury.

Still have to ID every wire for location and build a map.
Ie.
Y1 front left
Y2 front door
Y3 mailbox can
Y4 front right
B1 Living Room tv
B2 master tv
W1 master AP
W2 kids playroom AP
Etc etc

You number the wires and color of the jacket denotes the first letter.

 

[tigerwillow1]

I guess I'm a minority, I've used about 8 different colors and don't run any two of the same color in conduits that carry multiple cat6 lines. Makes it easy to ID the wires running in the crawlspace or in buried boxes outside.

 

[mat200]

I guess I'm a minority, I've used about 8 different colors and don't run any two of the same color in conduits that carry multiple cat6 lines. Makes it easy to ID the wires running in the crawlspace or in buried boxes outside.

I've done it various ways, different color cables for runs, same color with sharpie written ID info on the end of the cable, stickers to ID cables ..

though multiple colors at the back of the patch panel does make it look gay

for an individual hard to have a lot of different color spools of cable

 

[TonyR]

To all the above....I say do whatever cranks your tractor!

 

[Firefighter]

Ran about 900ft of the 1,000 with 17 runs.
Cat6a through and through. Ridiculous overkill but was a deal.

 

[Firefighter]

What about this brand? Hes selling 1,000ft boxes of cat6 for $60 each and has 10 boxes left. Id of course confirm solid copper when i pick up but from what I can research its good cable