network cabling supplies?

[eagl]

I need to run about 100 ft of network cable through the attic.  I'll be putting a plate near my router, running the wire up that wall, through the attic, and down the wall in my wife's office on the far side of the house.  What I think I need is:

Cable (100 ft or so)
2 wall plates and sockets
RJ-45 plugs, preferrably with anti-snag boots

I don't have any cabling tools, so if I buy a spool of cable I'll probably need tools unless I just run wire from plate to plate, and use the little crimping clip that comes with the plug...

Any idea?  A 500ft kit at tigerdirect that includes 500' of stranded cat5e, a crimper, some plugs, and a cable tester, is about $115 plus shipping.  I can get a pre-made 100' cat5e cable for $12ish plus shipping at newegg.  Radio shack has modular plates for $5 each, plus keystone connectors that accept plugs on both sides, for another $6 each.  Or I can get regular keystone plugs for the wall plate, so maybe I wouldn't need a crimper tool?  So if a 100' pre-made cable is long enough, then I can do the project for roughly $40.  If 100' won't do the trick, then I'm going to have to buy a spool and either add ends to it, or just run it to the plate.

Any suggestions on how I can get this done without spending over $100?  The tigerdirect kit looks decent but I'll still need wall plates, plus many of the wall plates say they accept solid conductor cables so I'm not sure stranded wires will work.  I haven't seen any modular plugs that specify stranded wires...

I need advice on stranded vs. solid wire.  Some people claim solid wire gives better signal strength and it looks like many of the wall plates specify solid conductor, but some people also say that the solid conductor is a total pain in the butt when crimping on plugs.  So, which should I use?  I don't think the run is more than 100' including up and back down the walls, but I haven't measured it yet.

Also, any thoughts on going with cat6?  Is the twisted pair separator core worth the extra cost and the hassle of the additional wire stiffness?

Thx in advance...

[Auger]

Solid vs. stranded is usually only an argument when making patch cables.  Solid is a pain in the butt with patch cables due to the stiffness.  Seeing as you're only running it once and it will probably be there forever, solid is the way to go.  Plus it is usually cheaper.  Just make sure you get plenum rated cable if you're running it in or near an air duct.  That way you won't have to tear it out when you want to sell the place.

As this is fixed cabling with both ends terminating in wall plates, you don't need a crimper.  The keystone plug presses the wires into the wall socket, so there isn't anything to crimp.  You only need crimpers if you're putting male ends on the cables.

Cat6 is really only necessary if you plan on running gigabit ethernet.  For 100 Mbps, Cat5 will be fine.  Newegg.com has a 250' spool for about $40, so that and wall plates should be well under $100. You could even throw in a couple of pre-made patch cables with snagless ends and stay in budget.

[eagl]

Thanks Auger.

I'd like to get gigabit speeds across the cable since I have a few gigabit ethernet switches that everything hangs off of.  Yea it's only 10mbps to the internet, but around my lan everything goes through the gigabit switches (or through wireless).  So it sounds like it might be worth going cat 6 with solid conductors for this one, especially since it's a longish run...

[RTHolmes]

use solid UTP cable for runs like this, you cant use stranded in the punchdown connector on the back of the RJ45 plates. CAT5e is good for gigabit, CAT6 better.

metal punchdown tools are cheap ($10?), dont bother with the plastic disposable ones, and make sure its the correct type for the punchdown connector you're using (theres a couple of different types all slightly different.)

and whatever you do get the best quality RJ45 plate/module/jacks you can find, cheaper ones look ok but either the plastics too soft or theyre badly cast so they develop play over time, plus the contacts align badly or lose their spring, just avoid.

[eagl]

Thanks.  The plates I found at tigerdirect cost about the same as the ones at radio shack (if shipping is included) so I think I'll get the ones from the shack.  For wiring, I think I want cat6 but I haven't found it sold in lengths under 1000'...  I found a 250' spool of cat5e for $35 and that's still more than I need, but if I can find under 500' of cat6 for a decent price I'll probably get that.

I will be measuring the run soon...  If it is under 100', then I can get a 100' pre-made cat6 cable for $15ish at newegg and just cut the ends off.

[RTHolmes]

just make sure the premade cable is solid not stranded

[SIK1]

eagl check out www.monoprice.com for cabling supplies. Their product is top notch, and their prices and service is hard to beat. The only caveat to that right now is according to their home page they are moving their warehouse and that is delaying some orders.

[TilDeath]

If your terminating at both ends to a female plug you will only need a punch down tool and can use either solid or stranded cable cat5e or cat6.  If you decide to use RJ45 plugs on either end you need stranded cable.  Solid cable is rated to 33 ft when using RJ45 plug where stranded is rated to just over 100 ft with plugs.  If your punching down the rating is 295 ft max.

TD

[eagl]

Ugh, unsatisfactory shopping search on intarweb...

I can't find cat 6 spools less than 1000'.  I can get cat5e in lengths of 250 and 500', but cat6 is minimum 1000' wherever I find it, which means the spool costs around $100 even at monoprice.

Newegg has some 100' ft cat6 cables, but doesn't say whether they use stranded or solid conductors.  Since my plan is to wire it directly to the jacks, this matters.

Since I use gigabit switches, I think I really do want cat 6.  So...  Anyone have about 200' of solid conductor cat 6 cable they could sell me?  I figure around a buck per 10 ft is "market" price for this stuff and of course I'd pay shipping...

[RTHolmes]

5e should be fine for gigabit over ~100' (the spec is for ~330')

[stroker71]

You could talk to WMSol (in game), Sol75 (on the BBS).  He owns an IT company and I think he tinkers in cabling smaller jobs.  He may have some laying around he would sell you....just a thought.

DuHasst

[lowZX14]

eagl

Let me talk to the cabling guys here at work.  Yes some times it pays to work at a data center.  I have one of the guys getting me some anyway to finally hook up my PS3 and DirecTV, now I'm just deciding if I want to install jacks or just run it under my floor where the cable comes through anyway to where it comes through in the office.

Let me go find one of the guys and see what they have or if they know where to get it on the cheap.

[Dragon]

eagl, check with some of the new house construction electricians in your area, heck, if you drive to the job site and offer them cash, most of them will sell you what you need.  They might just have cheap cat5 though, but it's worth trying.

[eagl]

eagl, check with some of the new house construction electricians in your area, heck, if you drive to the job site and offer them cash, most of them will sell you what you need.  They might just have cheap cat5 though, but it's worth trying.

Good idea.  I'll check around.