Network supplies and tooling

[lonnie]

Please post the network cabling tools and supplies that you use, specifically cat5 keystone jacks, punchdown tools, and any other supplies, tools and test equipment you use. Links to suggested suppliers will be a good thing.

[jeff]

Please post the network cabling tools and supplies that you use, specifically cat5 keystone jacks, punchdown tools, and any other supplies, tools and test equipment you use. Links to suggested suppliers will be a good thing.

Hopefully lots of people will look at this thread because there is one item I have never been able to find a source for. For one of our projects I have been trying to find a supplier for 8 position 110 punch downs that are either thru-hole or surface mount. I would like to be able to terminate cat 5 on a circuit board using 110. I see these in various products, but have never been able to find a source. If anyone knows of one please pm or post it here.

I also got a couple of rolls of outdoor cat5 off ebay last year that had an outer black jacket and an inner powder filled yellow jacket. The powder would gell when exposed to water. It was a very clean easy to use cable, but I don't know where to get more. Has anyoe else seen it?

Just so I am not off thread. After trying many we now stick with the AMP keystone jacks and solid conductor plugs. For Coax connectors and waterproofing supplies I would look at Fleeman Anderson and Bird which is www.fab-corp.com. For grounding kits and coax and cat5 surge arrest I would look at www.hyperlinktech.com. For enclosures and cat5 surge arrest www.demarctech.com. For pigtails, antennas, enclosures, and just about everything else definitely look at www.pacwireless.com

[gunther_01]

Basic lan trouble shooting (Ebay, various wholesalers)
http://test-um.com/product_detail.asp?itemno=NT750

Hand tools (Lowes, and stores of the like)
http://www.kleintools.com/

Punch down tools (purchased through my wholesaler)
I use a harris tool that is part of a small belt sized kit.

Keystone, RJ-45's, and wall plates (wholesale through petra, or DBL distributing)

Cat5 (ARC brand, outdoor, gel filled, shielded, Ebay for less then $100/1000')

[jeff]

Cat5 (ARC brand, outdoor, gel filled, shielded, Ebay for less then $100/1000')

If that is the cable on the little luan plywood reel watch out. Be very careful with the bend radius. Corners that do not bother other cable will cause the shield to cut into the conductors and kill the run. It also has the most agressively sticky gel I have ever used. It makes direct burial telco cable seem fun to work with. I was amazed the first time I dressed the end of the cable and noticed that the scissors had a perfectly smooth 8 conductor protrusion 90 degrees off the blade. Even shaking them did not dislodge it. The price is right, but it is a pain in the a** to work with.

[rafamous]

Cat5 (ARC brand, outdoor, gel filled, shielded, Ebay for less then $100/1000')[/QUOTE]

Lonnie gave a link to this at one time but that site has been on back order for awhile and now "I think" the price has jumped to over $150 per 1000'.

Yeah, it's a pain in butt, but this stuff will last forever. Not like what was installed in my network when I bought it. Indoor cheapy cheap ran across roofs and down gutters. When I put it in I want it to be the last time I mess with it.

Any links or numbers to get ahold of this cable?

[gunther_01]

I have always purchased off of ebay. I think the place is located in Maryland though. You will have to search for it unfortunatly. I don't have a copy of the reciept to get you firm answers.

[kbldawg]

I have Mircoscanner (now fluke) Cat5E Certifier that we have used for years (8 or 9) while installing and certifying LAN/WANs. Expensive but very good, if you are serious about a Cat5 certifier, I recommend Fluke. They are software upgradeable and you can purchase adapters to test Fiber, RG6 and other types of cable.

This looks like the new model... http://www.flukenetworks.com/fnet/en-us/products/DSP+CableAnalyzer+Series/Overview.htm?categorycode=CPTT&PID=50003

Jacks and Plates...a cheap reliable brand is Allen-Tel. I have used these for years as well, they work well, easy to terminate and are cheap. Our local Graybar keeps stock on these items. For bigger networks we use Leviton. Both are Keystone jacks.

[/URL]

Toner a must have one trying to identify stray cables...
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=55217-12704-33-864&lpage=none (http://catalog.graybar.com/servlet/BugsEye)

Installer Tools:

Crimpers:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=111023-12704-30-696&lpage=none

Punch down tool - Ideal http://www.idealindustries.com/ht/productline2.nsf

Klein Hand Tools:
Nut Driver set
[URL]http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=45412-75198-631&lpage=none

10-in-1 Screwdriver
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=102164-75198-32477SEN&lpage=none

Cable Knife & Snips (Cable Knife not shown)
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=102159-75198-2100-7&lpage=none

DeWalt Hammer Drill:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=240307-70-DC926KA&lpage=none

Tool Pouch: I use this...
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=46167-75198-5165-03&lpage=none

My techs don't like it, so they use a small black nylon pouch (also at Lowes, but I couldn't find a link to it) with a metal clip, that clips right onto their belt or harness. Pretty nice actually.

Other Tools:

Channel Lock Pliers
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=97372-922-426&lpage=none

adjustable wrenches.

"The Hook" for holding cordless drills - http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=142352-1492-1L-93333&lpage=none

Clamps for holding ladders to metal gutters. (think Windage)
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=220157-52800-XM-7&lpage=none

Those are the most common tools we use for installs.

Cat5 cable we get from a local supplier. I'm looking for a cheaper solution currently.

[tog]

Nice, want to stick that in a wiki article, too?

[kbldawg]

hehe, sure.

[kbldawg]

Cat5 (ARC brand, outdoor, gel filled, shielded, Ebay for less then $100/1000')

Lonnie gave a link to this at one time but that site has been on back order for awhile and now "I think" the price has jumped to over $150 per 1000'.

Yeah, it's a pain in butt, but this stuff will last forever. Not like what was installed in my network when I bought it. Indoor cheapy cheap ran across roofs and down gutters. When I put it in I want it to be the last time I mess with it.

Any links or numbers to get ahold of this cable?






Is this the stuff your looking for...

http://www.shireeninc.com/osc/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=97&osCsid=769ce3e8d2491b55c25a45c7ba1f5757

they also carry utp direct bury. It's a bit cheaper, would be good for customer installs.

http://www.shireeninc.com/osc/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=29&osCsid=769ce3e8d2491b55c25a45c7ba1f5757


I've used this stuff too, it seems reliable enough, but it sure is a pain.

We use a Direct Bury, UTP cable made by Hitachi Cable Manchester. It's very easy to work with, and we've never had any problems with it, but it's more expensive than what I like. $169/1000' reel.

http://www.hcm.hitachi.com/COPPER%207.31.03%20p42p43.pdf

My source...
http://www.bluffcityelectronics.com/index.html

[palmczak]

We just tried this cat 5e cable. Not jell filled but so far has held up well. It is easier to work with than other cables.

http://shop.electro-comm.com/ac/Product.aspx?Id=26282&view=29

Except for the occasional Home Depot or Lowes trip tools come from Graybar. They also supply Amp brand crimp rj45 heads. We use Ideal brand ratchet crimpers. We only use the ratchet type they create a much more consistant crimp.

I am tring a few asian, keystones from a company IC Intracom. They also supply patch cables and other bits. They used to carry a tooless keystone but had to stop selling it due to patent infringment... The normal punch type keystones work OK. They are the harbor freight of the network world, the stuff is cheap but works reasonably well. Many items have a lifetime warranty and they have never given any trouble when needing a replacement.

http://www.icintracom.com/index.php

We also have a Fluke cable scanner that is invaulable when troubleshooting a problem.