Joining cat5 cable

Midway through my ongoing project of putting large quantities of cat5
into my old victorian house I've realised that I've managed to put in
one bit in such a way that it won't reach the patch panel (in the
loft). I would just re-run that length of cable, but the other end is
in conduit which is concreted under the kitchen floor. Anyway, I don't
think that piece will be used for anything other than telephones, so
it's performance is not very crucial.

Now I know I could join another length of cat5 to it to extend it by
crimping RJ45 plugs onto each length and using a coupler, but then I'd
have to buy a crimping tool (and I believe crimping onto solid core
cat5 is not recommended anyway?). What I'd rather use is some sort of
IDC junction box into which I could connect both lengths of cable with
a punchdown tool. Anyone know if such a thing exists, and if so where
I could buy it?

Many thanks,

Martin

"Martin Pentreath" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> Now I know I could join another length of cat5 to it to extend it by
> crimping RJ45 plugs onto each length and using a coupler, but then I'd
> have to buy a crimping tool (and I believe crimping onto solid core
> cat5 is not recommended anyway?). What I'd rather use is some sort of
> IDC junction box into which I could connect both lengths of cable with
> a punchdown tool. Anyone know if such a thing exists, and if so where
> I could buy it?

An RJ45 through coupler is what you need, probably available in all good
stores.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)> , "Martin
Pentreath" (E-Mail Removed) says...
> Midway through my ongoing project of putting large quantities of cat5
> into my old victorian house I've realised that I've managed to put in
> one bit in such a way that it won't reach the patch panel (in the
> loft). I would just re-run that length of cable, but the other end is
> in conduit which is concreted under the kitchen floor. Anyway, I don't
> think that piece will be used for anything other than telephones, so
> it's performance is not very crucial.
>
> Now I know I could join another length of cat5 to it to extend it by
> crimping RJ45 plugs onto each length and using a coupler, but then I'd
> have to buy a crimping tool (and I believe crimping onto solid core
> cat5 is not recommended anyway?).

Works fine with the right connectors - they are different for single and
multi-strand. I think the main issue with this is lack of flexibility,
which I presume wouldn't be a problem in this case.

> What I'd rather use is some sort of
> IDC junction box into which I could connect both lengths of cable with
> a punchdown tool. Anyone know if such a thing exists, and if so where
> I could buy it?
>
Here's one http://www.datalinkcabling.co.uk/cat..._products.html

Personally I'd just solder it - stagger the joints to reduce risk of
shorts, maintain the twist of the cable and fit some sort of strain
relief (e.g. another bit of Cat5 firmly attached by a couple of cable
ties each side of the splice). For insulation heatshrink would be good,
but PVC tape should be adequate.
But then I'm a bodge artist :-)

MA wrote:
> "Martin Pentreath" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> Now I know I could join another length of cat5 to it to extend it by
>> crimping RJ45 plugs onto each length and using a coupler, but then
>> I'd have to buy a crimping tool (and I believe crimping onto solid
>> core cat5 is not recommended anyway?). What I'd rather use is some
>> sort of IDC junction box into which I could connect both lengths of
>> cable with a punchdown tool. Anyone know if such a thing exists, and
>> if so where I could buy it?
>
> An RJ45 through coupler is what you need, probably available in all
> good stores.

As far as I can see I think the OP can't do that - unless he fits RJ45
plugs to each end of the cables at the point the extension is to start,
plus at the termination of the extension....?

What are the exisiting cables terminated with? Did you buy them made up?

I installed our network using Cat5 and a crimping tool which came with a
"Maplins Network Install kit", 50 metres cable, 10 RJ45 plugs, crimp
tool, total cost £24.99. And a very solid crimp tool it is, too.

However, I would bet RJ45s could be crimped by improvising a tool to
squeeze the thing together - that's all the crimping tool does, though
it holds it all in place nicely too. Can't see a problem crimping solid
core, should be easier to get all eight fiddly little wires up the plug.
Suppose there's a slight risk of fracture as the core is bent in the
plug.

Obviously, a telephone connector block with 8 or more IDC slots might
work - but whether reliably who knows. Worth a try, leaving some spare
cable in case you have to re-make with RJ45s?

Good luck,

CJ

In article <(E-Mail Removed)> , Martin
Pentreath <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Midway through my ongoing project of putting large quantities of cat5
>into my old victorian house I've realised that I've managed to put in
>one bit in such a way that it won't reach the patch panel (in the
>loft). I would just re-run that length of cable, but the other end is
>in conduit which is concreted under the kitchen floor.

Can you pull a new length of cable through the conduit, using the old
bit?

--
Frank Erskine

"Rob Morley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)> , "Martin
> Pentreath" (E-Mail Removed) says...
> > Midway through my ongoing project of putting large quantities of cat5
> > into my old victorian house I've realised that I've managed to put in
> > one bit in such a way that it won't reach the patch panel (in the
> > loft). I would just re-run that length of cable, but the other end is
> > in conduit which is concreted under the kitchen floor. Anyway, I don't
> > think that piece will be used for anything other than telephones, so
> > it's performance is not very crucial.
> >
> > Now I know I could join another length of cat5 to it to extend it by
> > crimping RJ45 plugs onto each length and using a coupler, but then I'd
> > have to buy a crimping tool (and I believe crimping onto solid core
> > cat5 is not recommended anyway?).
>
> Works fine with the right connectors - they are different for single and
> multi-strand. I think the main issue with this is lack of flexibility,
> which I presume wouldn't be a problem in this case.
>
> > What I'd rather use is some sort of
> > IDC junction box into which I could connect both lengths of cable with
> > a punchdown tool. Anyone know if such a thing exists, and if so where
> > I could buy it?
> >
> Here's one http://www.datalinkcabling.co.uk/cat..._products.html
>
> Personally I'd just solder it - stagger the joints to reduce risk of
> shorts, maintain the twist of the cable and fit some sort of strain
> relief (e.g. another bit of Cat5 firmly attached by a couple of cable
> ties each side of the splice). For insulation heatshrink would be good,
> but PVC tape should be adequate.
> But then I'm a bodge artist :-)

I agree with Robs last post. It may be 100% unprofessional but your cable
will work fine. I should know I've been doing this kind of bodge for years!

Graham wrote:
> "Rob Morley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
>> In article <(E-Mail Removed)> , "Martin
>> Pentreath" (E-Mail Removed) says...
>>> Midway through my ongoing project of putting large quantities of
>>> cat5 into my old victorian house I've realised that I've managed to
>>> put in one bit in such a way that it won't reach the patch panel
>>> (in the loft). I would just re-run that length of cable, but the
>>> other end is in conduit which is concreted under the kitchen floor.
>>> Anyway, I don't think that piece will be used for anything other
>>> than telephones, so it's performance is not very crucial.
>>>
>>> Now I know I could join another length of cat5 to it to extend it by
>>> crimping RJ45 plugs onto each length and using a coupler, but then
>>> I'd have to buy a crimping tool (and I believe crimping onto solid
>>> core cat5 is not recommended anyway?).
>>
>> Works fine with the right connectors - they are different for single
>> and multi-strand. I think the main issue with this is lack of
>> flexibility, which I presume wouldn't be a problem in this case.
>>
>>> What I'd rather use is some sort of
>>> IDC junction box into which I could connect both lengths of cable
>>> with a punchdown tool. Anyone know if such a thing exists, and if
>>> so where I could buy it?
>>>
>> Here's one
>> http://www.datalinkcabling.co.uk/cat..._products.html
>>
>> Personally I'd just solder it - stagger the joints to reduce risk of
>> shorts, maintain the twist of the cable and fit some sort of strain
>> relief (e.g. another bit of Cat5 firmly attached by a couple of cable
>> ties each side of the splice). For insulation heatshrink would be
>> good, but PVC tape should be adequate.
>> But then I'm a bodge artist :-)
>
> I agree with Robs last post. It may be 100% unprofessional but your
> cable will work fine. I should know I've been doing this kind of
> bodge for years!

And in spite of what I wrote, I agree - so have I!

"CJ" <chrislovett@(removetoreply)f2s.com> wrote in message
news:c61a9h$tp6$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Graham wrote:
> > "Rob Morley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> >> In article <(E-Mail Removed)> , "Martin
> >> Pentreath" (E-Mail Removed) says...
> >>> Midway through my ongoing project of putting large quantities of
> >>> cat5 into my old victorian house I've realised that I've managed to
> >>> put in one bit in such a way that it won't reach the patch panel
> >>> (in the loft). I would just re-run that length of cable, but the
> >>> other end is in conduit which is concreted under the kitchen floor.
> >>> Anyway, I don't think that piece will be used for anything other
> >>> than telephones, so it's performance is not very crucial.
> >>>
> >>> Now I know I could join another length of cat5 to it to extend it by
> >>> crimping RJ45 plugs onto each length and using a coupler, but then
> >>> I'd have to buy a crimping tool (and I believe crimping onto solid
> >>> core cat5 is not recommended anyway?).
> >>
> >> Works fine with the right connectors - they are different for single
> >> and multi-strand. I think the main issue with this is lack of
> >> flexibility, which I presume wouldn't be a problem in this case.
> >>
> >>> What I'd rather use is some sort of
> >>> IDC junction box into which I could connect both lengths of cable
> >>> with a punchdown tool. Anyone know if such a thing exists, and if
> >>> so where I could buy it?
> >>>
> >> Here's one
> >> http://www.datalinkcabling.co.uk/cat..._products.html
> >>
> >> Personally I'd just solder it - stagger the joints to reduce risk of
> >> shorts, maintain the twist of the cable and fit some sort of strain
> >> relief (e.g. another bit of Cat5 firmly attached by a couple of cable
> >> ties each side of the splice). For insulation heatshrink would be
> >> good, but PVC tape should be adequate.
> >> But then I'm a bodge artist :-)
> >
> > I agree with Robs last post. It may be 100% unprofessional but your
> > cable will work fine. I should know I've been doing this kind of
> > bodge for years!
>
> And in spite of what I wrote, I agree - so have I!
>
>

I too have done field repairs on GigaBit ethernet carrying Cat5e. I stripped
back enough to solder together. Place a wooden or plastic splint along the
length and use heatshrink. No problems at all. even with gigabit links.

Martin Pentreath wrote:

> Anyway, I don't
> think that piece will be used for anything other than telephones, so
> it's performance is not very crucial.

Out of interest Martin, what are you up to here?

I'd be very interested in routing calls over a home network, do you have
any links to software or hardware you're using in this project?

TIA.

In article <4084f363$0$25243$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Bobby
Boulder" (E-Mail Removed) says...
> Martin Pentreath wrote:
>
> > Anyway, I don't
> > think that piece will be used for anything other than telephones, so
> > it's performance is not very crucial.
>
> Out of interest Martin, what are you up to here?
>
> I'd be very interested in routing calls over a home network, do you have
> any links to software or hardware you're using in this project?
>
With structured cabling you just run Cat5e everywhere (twice!), then
either patch it to ethernet or POTS depending on your needs, using
adapters to plug phones into the RJ45 sockets - it's not a voice-over-IP
thing.