[kwlug-disc] Recommendations on ethernet cable tool sets, kits?

[Cedric Puddy]

Hi Folks!

Copule quick points:

1) Byte Brothers (I got mine from PrimeSpec) makes a cable certifier that
sits in between basic continuity testing and totally far-gone cable
certifiers -- it's about $500.  It's about 95% of a classy, $6k unit.  The
trade-offs are more in the line of terrible user interface and slow, fussy
workflow, but that's no big deal if you aren't doing high numbers of
drops.  (You do a single cable, you have to run back and forth connecting a
terminal block on the far end, then pushing buttons the near end, etc.  But
it definitely gives you a very good read-back on whether the cable you
punched down was done right.

2) IF YOU ARE CRIMPING MALE RJ45 ENDS ON A CABLE, YOU ARE DOING IT WONG AND
SHOULD JUST STOP.  INSTALL KEYSTONE JACKS AT ALL TIMES.  OK, so that's a
bit strong, but seriously, I deal with lots of cables, and I haven't
crimped a male RJ45 end on a cable since about 2003.   I gave away my RJ45
crimp tools, don't carry one, and neither do my techs.  The reason:  you
cannot manually make a patch cable to nearly the same spec as machines, and
it is FAR more reliable to attach a keystone jack; moreover the
manufactured cables are cheap and plentiful.

Keystone jacks are a lot more forgiving, faster, and easy to inspect/fix if
there's a problem.  And a shout out to Primespec -- I buy all this kind of
stuff there; cabling is  only cost effective if you have a proper vendor
who serves the professional cabling market.  Home Despot marks this stuff
up "a hair too much", in my experience.

We usually sub-contract cabling, but sometimes "internal resources" have to
chip in.  When that happens, we usually do continuity testing when we
install a keystone jack, and only occasionally use the Byte Brothers
certifier.  For continuity, my absolutely favourite tool is the Ideal
LinkMaster Pro, with a bunch of remotes.  The awesome thing about this unit
is that if you plug it into a cable with a remote on the end, it will
instantly power on, test the cable, tell you if it's good within 2 seconds,
and then go back to sleep when you unplug the cable.  I've used my for
years and changed the battery once, and it's just so damn fast.  It does a
variety of things, but the "UX experience" can't be beat.  No idea who
sells them these days, or how much.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=ideal+supply+cable+tester&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiI99KDsv3YAhVs_IMKHb7qA3AQ_AUICygC&biw=1270&bih=2043#imgrc=kKnl2wz6FDhssM
:

Anyhoo, my 0.02!  Make it a great one!

  -Cedric


On 29 January 2018 at 09:04, nafdef <nafdef at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks Bob. -FF
>
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>  Roger Federer Fanatic Extraordinaire :-)
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