Best place online to buy cat5e & fittings?

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JohnnyScience

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Ok I want to order a box of some cat5e and fittings for both phone jacks & also ethernet so I can easily run both. (I'd probably order a box of cat3 for the phone wire, but I'm going to focus mostly on Wifi installs right now)

Where have you guys found the best place online for pricing of these particular materials? Is ebay a good option for stuff like this?

Should I be looking for cat5e with a specific jacketing, additional insulation or shielding?

What is a "good" price to pay per foot of cat5e?
 
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Ok I want to order a box of some cat5e... Should I be looking for cat5e with a specific jacketing, additional insulation or shielding?

You sound like a DIYr to me...

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
Ok I want to order a box of some cat5e... Should I be looking for cat5e with a specific jacketing, additional insulation or shielding?

You sound like a DIYr to me...

-Hal
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Why because I'm asking questions? Apparently you didnt read my intro thread.

I'm not a DIY'er, I'm just someone who hasnt been in the field for a couple of years and am a little rusty on some things.

I've also never looked at buying my own material to be an independent contractor, so I dont know the right places to look to find the best deals.

But boy I wish someone would tell me and help out.

And when I was running cat5, the company I was working for was using cheap stuff with no insulation or shielding and I always thought that it was maybe because they were cheap.

So instead of calling me a DIYer, why dont you explain to me whether shielding/insulation is actually needed for cat5e on networks or Wifi?
 
JohnnyScience said:
.
And when I was running cat5, the company I was working for was using cheap stuff with no insulation
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I'm quite certain I've never seen cat5 w/o insulation



JohnnyScience said:
.or shielding and I always thought that it was maybe because they were cheap.
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Which is why its called UTP.

Shielded cat5 is available but rarely used. I've never had a job that spec'd it.



As to the original question; I've yet to find a place online that sells these products cheaper than my supply house.

You can find "no-name" modular jacks, but I wouldn't use those, especially if this network needs to be qualified.


What's the purpose of running network cables if you're going to be focusing on wifi? Is this some type of multi-WAP installation?

jacket types and shielding depend on your installation parameters.
 
brantmacga said:
I'm quite certain I've never seen cat5 w/o insulation

Which is why its called UTP.

Shielded cat5 is available but rarely used. I've never had a job that spec'd it.

As to the original question; I've yet to find a place online that sells these products cheaper than my supply house.

You can find "no-name" modular jacks, but I wouldn't use those, especially if this network needs to be qualified.


What's the purpose of running network cables if you're going to be focusing on wifi? Is this some type of multi-WAP installation?

jacket types and shielding depend on your installation parameters.
Click to expand...

Sorry I was confusing insultation with shielding - I'm rusty!

When is shielded cat5 really needed?

And I've done installs of a wifi antenna that goes in the ceiling and needs a hardline to allow it to give off the wireless signal. That was the kind of setup I was thinking of.

Like I said, I realize that making friends with the local supplies is a great move, I really do. But I've also got to be worried about myself first and right now every dollar counts as I have a lot of start up costs over the next few months between setting up LLC's, buying the rest of the tools I need and getting enough material to get started.

This economy is no joke and its only going to get worse. I've got to be as economical as I can right now to even get my feet off the ground and start turning some income to be able to live on and hopefully build a business.

$44 is the price shipped...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-Ft-CAT5-CAT...efaultDomain_0

Here's some grey from sewell for $44 shipped:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-ft-Grey-Cat...efaultDomain_0

here's some more stuff by sewell that they said is new & improved with a heavier jacket for the same price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bulk-Cat5e-Cable...efaultDomain_0

I called graybar today to check on their prices but they were closed. I'll give them a call on monday.

On another note, I need to pick up a new RJ11/RJ45 crimper, can anyone suggest a high quality one for a reasonable price that does 11 & 45?

Thanks.
 
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I just wouldn't buy online. In the rare event you get a reel w/ an overlap, which has happened to me, I need to know I can trust the supplier to help me w/ having the manufacturer cover the costs of replacing cable.

I use a crimping tool made by ideal; it'll run you about $70.
 
brantmacga said:
I just wouldn't buy online. In the rare event you get a reel w/ an overlap, which has happened to me, I need to know I can trust the supplier to help me w/ having the manufacturer cover the costs of replacing cable.

I use a crimping tool made by ideal; it'll run you about $70.
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Yeah others have suggested Ideal as well. I'm going to get the Ideal Rachet Telemaster & found it online for $25 new.
 
I have a Paladin crimper and an Ideal crimper. I prefer the Ideal over the Paladin version. The Paladin crimper is a little tight when removing connectors from the crimper.
 
nhfire77 said:
Hands down the best crimper. Maybe Ideal changed their design since I last looked but this model allows the conductors to be pulled through the front of the plug making it EASY.

http://www.platinumtools.com/products/100054.php?cat=4
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Hmm. How much better is this one than the ideal? It's about 3x more expensive than the Ideal one.

I've found the Ideal for $25 shipped, where this one is $80 shipped.

Can anyone else atest to the Platinum crimper being worth the extra cash?
 
I think the cheaper Ideal tool doesn't compress all eight pins as evenly as the Paladin or AMP tools. The Paladin tool has a nice jacket stripper. Still love my old AMP tool if I have a hundred or so to crimp, although my AMP dies only work with AMP connectors.
 
grich said:
I think the cheaper Ideal tool doesn't compress all eight pins as evenly as the Paladin or AMP tools. The Paladin tool has a nice jacket stripper. Still love my old AMP tool if I have a hundred or so to crimp, although my AMP dies only work with AMP connectors.
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When you say "cheaper Ideal tool" are you putting them all in the same basket as being cheap?

And I was comparing the Ideal to a Platinum Tools Crimper that NHfire77 linked to.

I think the Paladins are cheaper than the Platinums on ebay...

What model Paladin is the "better" choice? I'd like the racheting feature.

If I were to get one I was going to get the Ideal Rachet Telemaster, it isnt the cheapest model by any means, I was just able to find it off of ebay fairly cheap. It also normally retails for $70+ but ebay has it for $25.

I defintally want a universal crimper, so the AMP option would be out.
 
JohnnyScience said:
When you say "cheaper Ideal tool" are you putting them all in the same basket as being cheap?

And I was comparing the Ideal to a Platinum Tools Crimper that NHfire77 linked to.

I think the Paladins are cheaper than the Platinums on ebay...

What model Paladin is the "better" choice? I'd like the racheting feature.

If I were to get one I was going to get the Ideal Rachet Telemaster, it isnt the cheapest model by any means, I was just able to find it off of ebay fairly cheap. It also normally retails for $70+ but ebay has it for $25.

I defintally want a universal crimper, so the AMP option would be out.
Click to expand...

this might be a dumb question, so dont get mad. How much experience do you have in making patch cables and do you how much of a PITA it is?

I find the platinum tool saves time which is very important when working for your self.
 
i dont like the platinum tool, the ends are expensive and (no offence to anyone who uses this) if you need this to terminate cables in a timely fashion then you really, really need to learn how to strip cat5 and crimp connectors better. I can do one in well under a minute with all conductors perfectly aligned and the jacket past the end of the plastic strain relief.

as far as buying the material online, you need to develop a relationship with a supply house. When you discover you need a bunch of stuff on a friday so you can finish the job youre doing and get paid the online vendor isnt going to be there for you, the supply house should.

no one should be making patch cables... should be buying factory made ones. Theyre cheap enough that you can invest a couple hundred bucks and have a good inventory of them. Only time I crimp on an RJ45 plug is when its on a run that is installed and doesnt move (line to an AP, line ran into an access control cabinet that has a RJ45 jack on the pcb, run to an IP camera, T1 smartjacks, things like that.

Also for those who dont know, there are a few different types of RJ45 crimp, one for stranded wire only, one for solid or stranded, and two for solid only. using the wrong crimp on solid wire can cause problems that are a nightmare to hunt down.
 
wireguru said:
i dont like the platinum tool, the ends are expensive and (no offence to anyone who uses this) if you need this to terminate cables in a timely fashion then you really, really need to learn how to strip cat5 and crimp connectors better.
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No....I just have to learn patience, that is what is lacking, not skill :grin:
 
JohnnyScience said:
When you say "cheaper Ideal tool" are you putting them all in the same basket as being cheap?

And I was comparing the Ideal to a Platinum Tools Crimper that NHfire77 linked to.

I think the Paladins are cheaper than the Platinums on ebay...

What model Paladin is the "better" choice? I'd like the racheting feature.

If I were to get one I was going to get the Ideal Rachet Telemaster, it isnt the cheapest model by any means, I was just able to find it off of ebay fairly cheap. It also normally retails for $70+ but ebay has it for $25.

I defintally want a universal crimper, so the AMP option would be out.
Click to expand...

By 'cheaper Ideal', I was thinking of the non-ratcheting Telemaster in my home toolbox. The Paladin 1556 is a ratcheting model, and is around $40 at IT supply places like CDW.

Agree with the comment on patch cords...just make sure you proof them...my last batch of factory-made cords had three that failed NEXT on our analyzer.
 
JohnnyScience said:
Ok I want to order a box of some cat5e and fittings for both phone jacks & also ethernet so I can easily run both. (I'd probably order a box of cat3 for the phone wire, but I'm going to focus mostly on Wifi installs right now)

Where have you guys found the best place online for pricing of these particular materials? Is ebay a good option for stuff like this?

Should I be looking for cat5e with a specific jacketing, additional insulation or shielding?

What is a "good" price to pay per foot of cat5e?
Click to expand...

Unless you are going to buy a bunch of them, you can probably get a better deal locally.

Most installs work fine with the cheapest stuff you can find.
 
grich said:
By 'cheaper Ideal', I was thinking of the non-ratcheting Telemaster in my home toolbox. The Paladin 1556 is a ratcheting model, and is around $40 at IT supply places like CDW.

Agree with the comment on patch cords...just make sure you proof them...my last batch of factory-made cords had three that failed NEXT on our analyzer.
Click to expand...

Ahh ok, if I was going to get an Ideal, it would be the Racheting Telemaster:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Ideal-30-69...rimp-Tool-/290409285630?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

It's half the price of the Paladin

But is the Paladin twice the quality of the Racheting Ideal, or is the Ideal Rachteting Telemaster a really good crimper?

Also, Wireguru mentioned that the "ends for Paladins are expensive" - does that mean that you have to use proprietary Paladin connectors?

I'm looking for more of a "universal" crimper...

So I may just lean towards the Ideal for sure that way.

I think the Ideal does both solid & stranded wire doesnt it?

Thanks.
 
wireguru said:
wireguru said:
no one should be making patch cables... should be buying factory made ones. Theyre cheap enough that you can invest a couple hundred bucks and have a good inventory of them. Only time I crimp on an RJ45 plug is when its on a run that is installed and doesnt move (line to an AP, line ran into an access control cabinet that has a RJ45 jack on the pcb, run to an IP camera, T1 smartjacks, things like that.
Click to expand...
I thought patch cables were always stranded for frequent use. Is this true? I think a solid cat5 patch cable would be subject to higher failure rate.
wireguru said:
Also for those who dont know, there are a few different types of RJ45 crimp, one for stranded wire only, one for solid or stranded, and two for solid only. using the wrong crimp on solid wire can cause problems that are a nightmare to hunt down.
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I was not aware of that. You have any additional information? Maybe a link to a site or something. I know cat5E and cat6 have different connectors but I did not know about connectors for stranded and solid cable.
Click to expand...
 
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