I'm going to re-wire my Home Network with 6 Computers and am thinking about making my own RJ45 Cables. I read the How-To on PC911 and am just confused about two things.

1) Stranded is best for my project right?

2) What type of CAT5 do I use. Home Depot sells Category 5, Category 5e, and Category 5e Plenum. Which do I choose? And what is the difference between all of them?

Thanx

Karim

Cat5e ..the e stands for enhanced, thicker insulation, less pigment in the insulation for individual pairs (there is possible conductivity in pigment). Cat5 plenem is for air plenum ceilings found in office buildings. The plenum building codes specify less toxic emissions if the wire burns, as in a FIRE. I have a ton of the "e" and it is harder to work with due to its stiffness and light color coding. Its for "young" eyes only. I just use Cat5 for my house.

Are the colors still the same? And do you group them in the same order as CAT 5?

Karim

Typically, CAT5 or CAT5E has a rating of 100 Metres in length (each run) with 100MB capability. For a normal home installation, you can use either. There are factors that will affect these parametres. I.e.; Radius of turns, Staples around the jacket of the cable, etc., and the type of terminations that you use. Keep the pairs twisted tight when making the terminations. The previous reply was correct about the type of cable (CAT5 or CAT5E and Plenum). The colours should remain the same. Also, you probably want to use the 568B scheme. A search should get you all of the information that you need.

Its been impossible to find some stranded cable though in bulk. Home Depot only has Solid but yet it seys "Created for the Internet" and "Gigahertz transfer rates"

Any ideas on where to buy the stranded?

Karim

I only got a hundred ft spool but Radio Shack had it (CAT5)

If you are rewiring the whole home network, then you may want to hold out for the new CAT6 cable.

That's right, Category 6, which is the new standard coming out in the near future. I recall that it's suppossed to be able to support up to 500mbps transmission rates, but hasn't been officially adopted yet.

JP

been out for a few months now premade anyway saw them at my non favorite store.Worst buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/ComputersPeripherals/ModemsNetworking/Cables.asp?m=488&cat=540&scat=1578




more on cat 6 here
http://search.dogpile.com/texis/search?q=cat+6+cable&geo=no&fs=web

Vitalt

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