dwillie Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I am in need of a 100' length of cat6 cable for some home networking. Never bought that much length before and don't really know where to start. I noticed mono price has some to offer, and under $15.00. Seems almost too inexpensive (?). Any one know where I should start, or have any advice? Thanks, dwillie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 To be called Cat6 the cable needs to meet up to the Cat6 standards. I can't guarantee that, but that is my understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Microcenter has 100 feet runs with connectors on the ends. Or did you just want the wire and work with the ends yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwillie Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 (edited) I did want the connectors on each end for the convenience. Just kind of surprised that any 100 foot cable with connectors would be less than $15.00. Thanks for the advice. Edited March 22, 2016 by dwillie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 You can look around Microcenter yourself of course 100 feet of CAT6 is $75 but 100 feet of CAT5e is about $50. Brand names with connectors and your choice of colors. WMcD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I've never been disappointed with any Monoprice purchase even at too good to be true pricing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I've never been disappointed with any Monoprice purchase even at too good to be true pricing. Over 15 years of purchasing cables from them; one 50' HDMI failure at receipt, immediate replacement. Of course you might as well get a 500' roll, connectors and crimper while you're at it....you know, just to make sure. Wire all as straight thru "B" http://www.incentre.net/tech-support/other-support/ethernet-cable-color-coding-diagram/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsoncookie Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Please, would somebody show me an image of the ends he needs? If it's some fancy like flat ribbon connector, or even like a "simple" RJ45, "Crimping" takes experience, and / or at LEAST a gauged high end engineered and executed high $ crimper, that takes not all, but some, guesswork out of it. The $15 chinese crimpers are not reliable to ALWAYS give a good connection on all conductors, ESPECIALLY if you haven't made and tested at least a bunch. If you need like 1 or 2 cables, I would no question purchase them readymade. Lars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsoncookie Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 The whole issue is, if you have problems after you hookup yer stuff, you won't KNOW if it's your connections or something else. MY experience, I welcome other opinions. Lars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Ready made is good IF it's an open run. Fishing thru walls with ends is problematic. If the OP needs a nice crimper and cable tester to ensure correct termination I can loan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Please, would somebody show me an image of the ends he needs? If it's some fancy like flat ribbon connector, or even like a "simple" RJ45, "Crimping" takes experience, and / or at LEAST a gauged high end engineered and executed high $ crimper, that takes not all, but some, guesswork out of it. The $15 chinese crimpers are not reliable to ALWAYS give a good connection on all conductors, ESPECIALLY if you haven't made and tested at least a bunch. If you need like 1 or 2 cables, I would no question purchase them readymade. Lars i've been making ethernet cables (RJ-45 connector) since I was I was a careless 19 year old. It doesn't take that much experience, just the ability to get your color pairs in the right order and to squeeze really hard. A $30 crimper from Fry's will work just fine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsoncookie Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 My concern goes past the "correct order" assumption, but to the chinese crimper, compunded by the subjective hand pressure, has caused me inconsistency. And, ya, I have the gift of "feel" in my hands and fingertips, very well versed using hand tools. Just based on my experience. Lars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Of course you could buy a junction box for each end with female connectors in them. The wires attach with a little punch-down tool which is included. But as mentioned by others, ready made really avoids a lot of potential problems. WMcD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 If you feel the need to spend more money, Lowes or Home depot sells them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 The main difference for the different versions... Cat3, 5, 5e, 6, is the number of twists in the pairs. Of course, more twists means more copper, which means higher cost. But it isn't THAT much more copper. The connector on the ends drives up the price. I used scrap Cat 5e to make a couple runs under the new house, connecting two Apple Airport Extremes. I put boxes in the walls and punched down the cables. BTW, the cables that come with the male connectors (RJ45 plugs) are stranded cables, while the stuff you pull through the walls, run under the floors, etc., are solid conductor. I have rarely crimped the stranded cable. I always borrow a crimper from work... Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwillie Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Thanks for all the help and opinions. Thanks too for the loan offer on the crimper tool and cable tester, but I think I'll go with installed ends. It will be an easy run along the basement ceiling and up through the same opening as the TV cable. This is what I think I will try. http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=2329&gclid=CPKHns222MsCFQMQaQodJZ0DZA Not much to lose at that price. I have always heard good things about Monoprice on this site. Thanks again, dwillie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Buy the monoprice and hook it up, you're done.A cable is a cable unless you buy the very cheapest chinese junk. I recently started making my own cables. A complete kit was $8 or so on Amazon, 100 ends, crimpers, tester. The crimpers sucked and would not consistently create good connection. I bought a pair of Shark or something like that ($20) and every connection since has checked out. Its nice to make exact sizes if you have a large network, I have about 10 hard wired connections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.