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Mark E · Oct 30, 2003, 04:59 PM

i've finally decided to enter the world of networking! i need to connect up my imac to an ISDN hub, and i've been told that all i need to do this is a standard ethernet cable.

this one here seems the most suitable..

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=16471

my question is - how easy is it to cut these cables up and splice them back together? the cable will probably be put thru holes in the wall etc (the ISDN hub is 3 rooms away from my computer, and i can't move the hub) and obviously you can't fit the end of the cabling through a tiny hole in the wall without cutting off the ethernet connector itself, and re-attaching it once the cable is all in place.

if this doesn't seem like a viable option.. any suggestions (and ideally UK - based retail website links) for one? as i say, i'm totally new to networking so i have very little knowledge of what cables etc. are available.

any advice would be appreciated!

-Mark

aaanorton · Oct 30, 2003, 05:30 PM

This and this. Possibly this, but only if you have a brand new Mac.

Mark E · Oct 30, 2003, 05:41 PM

thanks.. but i don't have much at all to spend on this so i need a cheap cabling solution.

once my area gets hooked up to broadband, then i'll splash out on some wireless kit.

-Mark

kampl · Oct 30, 2003, 06:43 PM

Cut your own Cat-5 cables with pretty pictures as well.

tooki · Oct 31, 2003, 08:07 AM

Don't cut and splice cables -- for data use, you must maintain the twisting (the "twisted" in "twisted pair cable" which is what's used for Ethernet) even through splices.

If you can't make larger holes, then I suggest you make your own cables -- but if you've never done it, I advise you to find someone who's experienced at it, since it takes a bit of practice to not undo the twisting, etc.

tooki

John Strung · Oct 31, 2003, 08:48 AM

The advice given above is excellent. An easier and cheaper solution than buying a crimping tool is to buy rolls of ethernet cable which you can cut to size and buy baseboard or wall sockets for ethernet. You won't need a crimping tool with these as the wires attach to screws on the back of these.

You can then buy prefinished 6 or 8 foot ethernet cables to run from the wall or baseboard jacks to the computers.

Just make sure you follow a proper wiring diagram like the one found here:

http://www.incentre.net/incentre/frame/ethernet.html

Also have a read through:

http://www.bluemax.net/techtips/netw...TXContents.htm

kampl · Nov 2, 2003, 04:38 PM

A $10(US) investment is a stumbling block in so far as aquiring a crimping tool to wire things up?

Anywho, I fail to see a problem with cable integrity by clipping off the RJ45 connector and crimping on a new one to the now shorter cable. I've never been able to untwist all the pairs contained in the jacket to eliminate any anti-crosstalk measures built in to the media (I've never tried of course either). Extending length on a Cat5 cable I would not recommend of course unless you plan on cutting a new length from a spool of Cat5 wire. Cut and crimp away I say.

Walljacks are a good idea as well. Good call John. You still need to know how things should be wired at the end point for the ports, but John has provided some good links to do this.

fergnetserv · Nov 3, 2003, 11:12 AM

There is no reason that you can not cut off the RJ-45 connector, thread the wire through the walls and then reattach a NEW RJ-45 connector. tring to reuse the old connector would be more trouble then it is worth.

You should be able to use a standard pliers to crimp the connector to the wire. One of the biggest problems you may have is placing the wires back in the right order other then that you should have no problems. Beaware that stranded wire, the kind you will most likely buy pre-configuared from a store, is a little more difficult to work with when running it through walls.

All the links are a good source
Good Luck

ghporter · Nov 3, 2003, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by fergnetserv:
You should be able to use a standard pliers to crimp the connector to the wire. One of the biggest problems you may have is placing the wires back in the right order other then that you should have no problems. Beaware that stranded wire, the kind you will most likely buy pre-configuared from a store, is a little more difficult to work with when running it through walls.

All the links are a good source
Good Luck

Actually, the crimper presses the little gold contacts INTO the wires, making the connection. Failure to use a good crimper winds you up with a poor (at best) cable. You're right that it's sometimes tough to get the wires in the right order in the connector, but once you've shoved them in all the way, they stay there by themselves. You carefully insert the connector, with wire, into the crimper and squeeze until it stops or clicks and voila! you have a good connection.

The easiest way to get the custom cables that the thread originator wants is to buy a spool of cable and a big bag of connectors, then cut the cable to whatever length is needed and put the connectors on each end.

fergnetserv · Nov 4, 2003, 08:29 AM

GHPorter is correct with the crimper. it not only presses the contacts into the plastic coating on the wires to make contact with the copper core it also sets the wire clamp that is set a little ways back on the body so that the wire can not be pulled out.

I have used a pliers, although not the approved way of doing things, to crimp all contacts and clamp with success and a little effort.

I offered this for the really bugget minded person.