All,
I'm looking to set up my LAN at my new place. Heck of a nuisance when the house is 2 stories+basement and walls don't all line up...
This was so much easier with a ranch/attic setup....
Anyway, enough griping.
I basically want to get a kit of crimping tool, cable, RJ45 connectors, and wire.
I've seen 'em go for about $100 from Tigerdirect or something, but I don't really need 500 to 1000 feet of cable (though I think theirs comes with a cable-tester, which seems nice)
Is that my best bet, economically, or can I get such a kit less expensive elsewhere? Tried CDW, but their categories and searches aren't all that fun, and it doesn't seem they have such a kit anyway.
Thanks in advance.
Networking tools and supplies, where to get cheap?
- His Royal Majesty King V
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Networking tools and supplies, where to get cheap?
FIC PA-2103 E-O036, K6-2+ 450 2.0V @ 500 1.9V
FIC PA-2013 E-O036, K6-III 450 2.2V @ 500
Acer quasi-proprietary Mid-tower, P-II 266
FIC PA-2013 E-O036, K6-III 450 2.2V @ 500
Acer quasi-proprietary Mid-tower, P-II 266
Personally I would buy the components seperately. The mark-up on such kits is in the region of 100%+.
You won't need a crimp tool, you can improvise
A cable tester won't be necessary as the connectors are see-thru and it's quite obvious if you have a dodgy connection.
I would suggest some suppliers, but I'm in the UK.
You won't need a crimp tool, you can improvise
A cable tester won't be necessary as the connectors are see-thru and it's quite obvious if you have a dodgy connection.
I would suggest some suppliers, but I'm in the UK.
I'm sure that your local big box hardware and building supply store will have cat5e in stock and will cut you any length and possibly any colour for about 12 cents per foot. They probably have RJ45 connectors as well.
I decided to buy a crimping tool from a nearby wholesaler for about $25 US. By the time you buy enough patch and/or crossover cables to hook up 2 or 3 computers, a printer and a hub or switch it will have paid for itself. It also allows you to make changes on the fly. The other advantage of having a crimping tool is you can simply crimp you RJ45 connector directly onto the solid core cat5 cable that sticks out of the wall and thus avoid buying a lot of expensive keystone sockets and patch cables that connect to them.
I also bought a plastic punchdown tool for $3.99 for making quiuck connects to wall plates, etc. The nice thing about this cheap little tool is it has a built in sheathing stripper that works real slick.
Cablestogo.com
To test my patch cords and connections I use a duplex surface mount outlet. I plug both ends of the cable into it and test across the terminals with a $10 voltmeter.
I decided to buy a crimping tool from a nearby wholesaler for about $25 US. By the time you buy enough patch and/or crossover cables to hook up 2 or 3 computers, a printer and a hub or switch it will have paid for itself. It also allows you to make changes on the fly. The other advantage of having a crimping tool is you can simply crimp you RJ45 connector directly onto the solid core cat5 cable that sticks out of the wall and thus avoid buying a lot of expensive keystone sockets and patch cables that connect to them.
I also bought a plastic punchdown tool for $3.99 for making quiuck connects to wall plates, etc. The nice thing about this cheap little tool is it has a built in sheathing stripper that works real slick.
Cablestogo.com
To test my patch cords and connections I use a duplex surface mount outlet. I plug both ends of the cable into it and test across the terminals with a $10 voltmeter.
I second the idea of getting your own supplies...
I went ahead and paid the 100% markup for my own tools at the local compUSA, also got a big spool of Cat 5E at the local Home Depot....easily worthit if your a tinkerer it WILL pay for itself in no time.
- His Royal Majesty King V
- Veteran K6'er
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2001 4:06 pm
- Location: New Jersey
My final decision....
Well, I went to yesmicro.com and got a fairly basic crimper (Belkin F4F198) as well as a pack of 50 RJ 45 plug ends.
In total, shipped came less to the tool alone from Home Depot. Granted, Home Depot had a different brand, and better versions, but even their "low-end" crimp tool was more than what I paid for the tool and the plugs plus shipping.
Used it already, as I have SOME cable of my own, maybe nearly 100 feet worth, and it's even marked as Cat 5e! Woohoo!
Now I just gotta get me a 10/100 hub or switch. This old 10Mbit repeater's a bit dated. Oh, and I guess I'll put those 3Com 10/100 PCI ethernet cards to use!
Thanks all for the pointers, advice, etc
In total, shipped came less to the tool alone from Home Depot. Granted, Home Depot had a different brand, and better versions, but even their "low-end" crimp tool was more than what I paid for the tool and the plugs plus shipping.
Used it already, as I have SOME cable of my own, maybe nearly 100 feet worth, and it's even marked as Cat 5e! Woohoo!
Now I just gotta get me a 10/100 hub or switch. This old 10Mbit repeater's a bit dated. Oh, and I guess I'll put those 3Com 10/100 PCI ethernet cards to use!
Thanks all for the pointers, advice, etc
FIC PA-2103 E-O036, K6-2+ 450 2.0V @ 500 1.9V
FIC PA-2013 E-O036, K6-III 450 2.2V @ 500
Acer quasi-proprietary Mid-tower, P-II 266
FIC PA-2013 E-O036, K6-III 450 2.2V @ 500
Acer quasi-proprietary Mid-tower, P-II 266
You can get a switch for the price of a hub these days. I just bought a 5 port switch refurbished from Belkin for $11.49 that works great. It sure beats the $50 retail price.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionV ... _Id=201520
The content of this page changes often so you never know what you're going to find.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionV ... _Id=201520
The content of this page changes often so you never know what you're going to find.
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