Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil

Yes it is possible.

I did it with throughout my house.

You need to buy a crimper tool to compress the copper terminals in the RJ45 plug against the eight copper cables in the Cat 5 cable.

Some practice will make you do it with perfection.

The most important thing is to cut the eight twisted cables perfectly square, so that when pushed into the plug they all get to the end.

It is also critical to align the cables in the right order. You will find that order by searching the web. If I find the website later I will post it.

here it is: http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.asp

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100, "thescullster"
scrawled:

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?

Yes, although technically not and some people say it's abig no-no but
I have never had a problem with some of my temporary connections that
have been in for a while and temporary leads that are thrown around.
Up to you really.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?

You need to get a RJ45 crimping tool and some RJ45 plugs. CEF do them
and usually have them on the shelf, although online may be cheaper.
CPC may be a better option. You also need to know what you're doing.
--
Stuart @ SJW Electrical

Please Reply to group

In message , Lurch
writes
On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100, "thescullster"
scrawled:

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?

Yes, although technically not and some people say it's abig no-no but
I have never had a problem with some of my temporary connections that
have been in for a while and temporary leads that are thrown around.
Up to you really.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?

You need to get a RJ45 crimping tool and some RJ45 plugs.


!0 for a quid in Maplins last time I looked

CEF do them
and usually have them on the shelf, although online may be cheaper.
CPC may be a better option.

£18 when I bought mine

You also need to know what you're doing.

Plenty of places on the internet telling you the connections

Quite easy really


--
geoff

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 20:43:41 GMT, raden scrawled:

Plenty of places on the internet telling you the connections

I know that, I meant the technical aspect of it as I have seen plenty
of abismally made plugs.

Quite easy really

ITYM easy when you know how.
--
Stuart @ SJW Electrical

Please Reply to group

In message , Lurch
writes
On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 20:43:41 GMT, raden scrawled:

Plenty of places on the internet telling you the connections

I know that, I meant the technical aspect of it as I have seen plenty
of abismally made plugs.

Quite easy really

ITYM easy when you know how.

Know how what ?

I bought a crimp tool
it cuts the outer, trims the inners and crimps
What more black magic is there to know ?



--
geoff

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:05:59 GMT, raden scrawled:

I bought a crimp tool
it cuts the outer, trims the inners and crimps
What more black magic is there to know ?

Have it your way, piece of ****, anyone can do it.

Makes me wonder even more why I come across such appalingly made RJ45
terminations if it's so easy......
--
Stuart @ SJW Electrical

Please Reply to group

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:05:59 UTC, raden wrote:

In message , Lurch
writes
On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 20:43:41 GMT, raden scrawled:

Plenty of places on the internet telling you the connections

I know that, I meant the technical aspect of it as I have seen plenty
of abismally made plugs.

Quite easy really

ITYM easy when you know how.

Know how what ?

I bought a crimp tool
it cuts the outer, trims the inners and crimps
What more black magic is there to know ?

The right kind of cable.

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

"thescullster" wrote in message
...
Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil



Phil,
it's a relatively easy thing to de with the correct crimper. You will
need to make sure that you use the correct sequence of colours though.

Email me off line and I'll explain it further.


John.



(remove deletethis)

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100,it is alleged that "thescullster"
spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?

As Lurch has pointed out, some people claim this as a big no-no, I
haven't had a problem however doing the same.

The plugs (at least from TLC electrical) come in packs of 10 or 20
with a diagram on the bag of what length of cable to strip etc.

http://www.chipmunk.cwc.net/misc/modplugs.gif (EIA/TIA 568B is the
colour coding most often used for 100baseTX and 10baseT ethernet)

The big no-no issue comes from terminating solid core wire to the plug
designed for stranded cable, it requires a higher force to be
reliable.

It seems to work quite well short-term.

HTH

--
There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.
- Ken Olson, President of DEC, 1977

thescullster wrote:

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?

Yup, done it loads of times.

You need a cript tool and some plugs. A few boots to go with the plugs
is a good idear as well (remeber to fit them before crimping the plug on).

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?

www.cpc.co.uk or www.solwise.co.uk for the bits, and

http://www.blackdown.org/hwb/cable/n...aightthru.html

for how to wire it.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"thescullster" wrote in message
...
Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil

Cheapest solution if you have only 8 to do is to buy 4 ready made 1m patch
cables (about 60p each,) cut them in half and remake on to the end of the
leads using solder/heatshrink or insulating tape joints to make good. Works
absolutely fine.

Slurp

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:25:39 +0100, "Slurp" scrawled:

Cheapest solution if you have only 8 to do is to buy 4 ready made 1m patch
cables (about 60p each,) cut them in half and remake on to the end of the
leads using solder/heatshrink or insulating tape joints to make good. Works
absolutely fine.

Now that is rough.
--
Stuart @ SJW Electrical

Please Reply to group

Slurp wrote:
Cheapest solution if you have only 8 to do is to buy 4 ready made 1m patch
cables (about 60p each,) cut them in half and remake on to the end of the
leads using solder/heatshrink or insulating tape joints to make good. Works
absolutely fine.

No no no no no no no.... no no no! That is a very very bad idea! That is
a very nasty bodge, and you'll either not get good connections to begin
with, or the cables will fall apart. Do it properly and buy a box of
cable, some RJ45s and a half decent crimper (and crimp them properly too )

Alex

--
Alex Meaden
Technical Support Officer
Computing Service
University of Kent

In article , Alex
writes
Slurp wrote:
Cheapest solution if you have only 8 to do is to buy 4 ready made 1m patch
cables (about 60p each,) cut them in half and remake on to the end of the
leads using solder/heatshrink or insulating tape joints to make good. Works
absolutely fine.

No no no no no no no.... no no no! That is a very very bad idea! That is
a very nasty bodge, and you'll either not get good connections to begin
with, or the cables will fall apart. Do it properly and buy a box of
cable, some RJ45s and a half decent crimper (and crimp them properly too )

Alex


Actually does this affect the impedance of the line anymore than what
the use of a punchdown socket does if done carefully. Balanced line
operation is after all very robust)
--
Tony Sayer

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
In article , Alex
writes
Slurp wrote:
Cheapest solution if you have only 8 to do is to buy 4 ready made 1m
patch
cables (about 60p each,) cut them in half and remake on to the end of
the
leads using solder/heatshrink or insulating tape joints to make good.
Works
absolutely fine.

No no no no no no no.... no no no! That is a very very bad idea! That is
a very nasty bodge, and you'll either not get good connections to begin
with, or the cables will fall apart. Do it properly and buy a box of
cable, some RJ45s and a half decent crimper (and crimp them properly too
)

Alex


Actually does this affect the impedance of the line anymore than what
the use of a punchdown socket does if done carefully. Balanced line
operation is after all very robust)
--
Tony Sayer


The nominal line impedance is about 133R. As you say, if you make the joint
properly there is no measurable impedance mismatch at all, you would be
hard pushed spotting it even using a TDR.

The max useable frequency of cat5 over 10m is only 350MHz anyway.

Much bull$hit is spouted about cat5 termination.

Slurp

"Slurp" wrote in message
...

Much bull$hit is spouted about cat5 termination.

If you want a guarantee that it will work you do the job properly.
Otherwise you bodge it and see.

Slurp wrote on 16/10/2005 :
Cheapest solution if you have only 8 to do is to buy 4 ready made 1m patch
cables (about 60p each,) cut them in half and remake on to the end of the
leads using solder/heatshrink or insulating tape joints to make good. Works
absolutely fine.

Which is what I did long ago, using solid cored 4 pair phone wire in
the middle - taking care to match up the twisted pairs.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.org

"thescullster" wrote in message
...
Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil



=================
Screwfix probably do everything you need. I use this:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...84617&id=30318

Cic.

"thescullster" wrote in message
...
Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil

==================
p.s.

I can't find my diagram for the connections but this is pretty clear:
http://www.avontech.co.uk/advice/cat5.htm

Cic.

In article ,
ukdotcom says...
Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?

Yes - just make sure you use plugs designed for solid-core cable.

I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


A quick Google only found this
http://cavuk.com/product.php?productid=246
but there must be loads of places that sell them.
Ideally you'll want to get a proper crimping tool.
Connection details are he
http://www.infinitecables.com/pr_patch.html

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100, thescullster wrote:

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5
network cable?

You *might* be able to bodge it without the proper crimp tool but I
wouldn't like to rely on the reliabilty or not...

You can ceratinly buy the plugs and crimp tool but when you can get
ready made cables up to 25 or 30m long for few quid is it worth the
effort?

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:52:16 UTC, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100, thescullster wrote:

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5
network cable?

You *might* be able to bodge it without the proper crimp tool but I
wouldn't like to rely on the reliabilty or not...

You can ceratinly buy the plugs and crimp tool but when you can get
ready made cables up to 25 or 30m long for few quid is it worth the
effort?

I think you're missing the point. He wants to crimp the plugs onto the
end of *fixed* wiring - solid core.

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

Thanks to all respondents
The Lanshack site is excellent

Phil

On 16 Oct 2005 20:31:10 GMT, Bob Eager wrote:

You can ceratinly buy the plugs and crimp tool but when you can get
ready made cables up to 25 or 30m long for few quid is it worth the
effort?

I think you're missing the point. He wants to crimp the plugs onto
the end of *fixed* wiring - solid core.

But why bother getting fixed wiring beggering about putting plugs on
each end when you buy a ready made cable for less than the cost of
your time putting the ends on? Not to mention the cost of the crimper
and ends...

Why does fixed wiring *have* to be solid core. Patch leads are only
stranded so the cores don't break under repeated flexing but AFAIK the
spec is as near as damn it the same, certainly over the distances we
are talking about.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100, "thescullster"
wrote:

Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil


Thats exactly what I did. I used the solid core cable in the cable
runs in the walls, which is the correct stuff, but the plugs are
designed for the stranded cable. You can get them to work, but it may
take a few goes. I just purchased a manual crimp tool from Maplins.
The chances of doing this without the crimp tool are slim, and they
cost less than a tenner.

If your gonna be trying to run this at the top speeds (1G or more) you
are gonna need to take considerable care. for 100Meg its easy enough.

Rick

In article , news@pen-y-
geulan.com says...
On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100, "thescullster"
wrote:

Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil


Thats exactly what I did. I used the solid core cable in the cable
runs in the walls, which is the correct stuff, but the plugs are
designed for the stranded cable.

So why didn't you get the correct plugs?

On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 14:20:43 +0100, Rob Morley
wrote:

In article , news@pen-y-
geulan.com says...
On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:54 +0100, "thescullster"
wrote:

Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


TIA

Phil


Thats exactly what I did. I used the solid core cable in the cable
runs in the walls, which is the correct stuff, but the plugs are
designed for the stranded cable.

So why didn't you get the correct plugs?

I didn't know there were plugs for solid strands - you live & learn.

In message , Rick
writes

So why didn't you get the correct plugs?

I didn't know there were plugs for solid strands - you live & learn.

Rick can you email me please

my email addy is valid

--
geoff

"thescullster" wrote in message
...
Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?



Well, you don't need to go the whole modular wiring patch-panel-in-a-cabinet
hog - there is a middle way here - couple of face plates on surface or flush
mounting boxes (depending upon your situation up there).

You can then clip the cable runs out of harms way, all you need is a
krone-type IDC punchdown tool, and you don't need to worry about
solid/stranded cable 'cos the faceplates are generally designed for solid.
Hassle-wise I'd say couple of punchdown connections is an awful lot less
fiddly then crimping RJ45 plugs onto cable, and the faceplates are only a
couple of quid each tops. Patch cables are cheap as chips (for reasonable
lengths).


--

Richard Sampson

mail me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

"RichardS" wrote:



Well, you don't need to go the whole modular wiring
patch-panel-in-a-cabinet hog - there is a middle way here -

snip....



Thanks Richard - obvious really (but not) if you know what I mean.
A few RJ45 faceplates is the way to go!

Phil

On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 15:07:55 UTC, "TheScullster"
wrote:

Thanks Richard - obvious really (but not) if you know what I mean.
A few RJ45 faceplates is the way to go!

Two will suffice - you can get 'four outlet' faceplates...will keep it
neat.

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

thescullster wrote:
Hi all

Is it possible to DIY an RJ45 plug straight onto the end of Cat 5 network
cable?
I intend to install an 8 port switch in the loft, but don't feel that my
install warants a patch panel.
Wanted to stick RJ45 "ends" straight on the cable and plug this into
switch - bit of a bodge I know, but don't want to go to the hassle/expense
of patch panel, patch leads etc.

If these are available, can anyone point me to supplier and fitting method
please?


Yes. B&Q sell them AFAIR. But it's probably cheaper (i.e. no crimp tool)
if you just buy a single port face plate, single RJ45 socket & a krone
tool. Then a 1m patch cable for between the socket & the switch.

H