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Re: [RFI] Shielded CAT6 Ethernet cable

To: rfi@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] Shielded CAT6 Ethernet cable
From: KD7JYK DM09 <kd7jyk@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2021 21:43:05 -0700
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
Building your own Ethernet cable is not a simple matter, and requires a special crimper. Ethernet cable is four twisted pairs, each twisted at a different rate to minimize crosstalk. The pairs must be maintained end-to-end at specific pins, so that each of the four circuits is a twisted pair.

A few minutes work, once you buy the stuff at Home Depot, or Lowe's. I bought the following, to make my own, because I was tired of the poor quality consumer crap that's out there, and failure, after failure, after failure... I've chucked more pre-made cables than I can count in the past twenty+ years, and the ones I still have- I just haven't chucked yet.

I didn't go with shielded, but those parts are out there as well, just a little more in cost.

Cable, 1000':

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-1-000-ft-23-4-Solid-CU-CAT6-CMR-Riser-Data-Cable-in-Blue-56918949/202316391

Crimper, this one trims the wires!:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-FT-45-Feed-Thru-Modular-Plug-Data-Crimper/1000321537

For phone, as well:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-RJ45-RJ11-Modular-Data-Voice-Crimp-Tool-Kit/3928373

A stripper:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-PreoPro-Coax-Utp-Stripper/3701290

Feed-through connectors make ALL!!! the!!! difference!!!:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-CAT-6-Feed-Thru-RJ45-Mod-Plugs-50-pk/5001486193

Get a good cable cutter like this, don't rely on your old diagonal cutters!:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-Coax-Cutter/1000091977

I wanted to test more than just cables, so bought this:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-VDV-MultiMedia-Cable-Digital-Test-Meter/1000358227

I also have trouble identifying wires through floors, walls, and rooms, after a pull, so I snagged this, as well:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-Test-Tone-Trace-Kit-Digital-Test-Meter/1000138337

Then I bought all the related parts, and tools for telephone, and video once I learned ethernet.

Whipping out cables is absurdly easy with the right tools. If you haven't done it before, there IS a learning curve, but it's easy, and you should have excellent homebrew cables by the third, or fourth try!

I bought quad-shield video cable, I can't recommend that. I'm sure it's good stuff, but oddly, the connectors made by the same companies, are only for DUAL shield wire! The local thrift shop was excited for a kilo-foot roll of quad shielded cable. I hope whoever buys it finds the right connectors.

I bought all the stuff above, just starting out. Never even tried, went in blind, worked out very well, now I make what I need! I'm WAAAAAAAY ahead of the game. I could have saved two decades plus of money wasted, and grief, due to typical consumer quality garbage, had I just learned to make my own in the 90's.

Kurt
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