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Questions tagged [cat5]

33 questions
40
votes
2 answers

Why do cat5 cables sometimes have the fluffy fiber bit in them?

Why do cat5 cables sometimes have the fluffy fiber bit in them?
t123
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34
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5 answers

What is the actual difference between Cat-5 and Cat-5e?

From the title, this sounds a whole lot like a repeat of this question, but it isn't, I promise. Because he wanted to know whether you could tell from looking at a cable whether it was Cat-5 or Cat-5e, based on a few pictures and some really shoddy…
Matt Simmons
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4 answers

Tracing a network cable that is already connected to the network

Some remodeling was done while I was away from work, and I'm left with several unlabeled cat5 cables that are terminated with RJ45 keystone modules. On the other end, all of the cables are terminated at the patch panels in the server room. Some of…
Sherlock Bytes
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14
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6 answers

How to test cat5/cat6 cable runs, using software-only, or simple tools?

Are there any utilities or simple tools or techniques to easily test a CAT5 cable, to see how well was it installed? Cat5 is often installed by amateurs, but has been installed and "working" for years. Proper cable testers and certifiers like a…
user135698
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11
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9 answers

Physical difference between Cat 5 and Cat 5e cabling?

(This isn't really server-related, but it seems more appropriate here than SO or SU.) When we had this house built, we had network cabling run inside the house, or so I'm lead to believe. It's currently hooked up to the phone line. Unfortunately,…
Ryan McCue
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11
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2 answers

Why both T568A and T568B standards?

I've always wondered why there are the two different wiring standards for Cat5 UTP cabling. The only technical difference between the two is the green and orange pair are swapped, which accomplishes the exact same thing as far as wiring goes (as…
user62491
9
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3 answers

How to test/debug bad network wiring?

I recently bought a place already wired with Cat 5E (8 ports, leading to a central closet). However attempting to get link, nothing works. On closer examination, it was obvious that the ends in the closet were wired backwards (brown on pin 1, etc).…
Jack Lloyd
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8
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8 answers

Stripping cat5 cable which doesn't have a ripcord

I need to patch a couple of cables. Normally I'd work with cat5 cable which contains a ripcord. The ripcord is used to pull outer insulation off without accidentally cutting the individual strands of cable. The cables I have to patch cannot be…
LadyLuck
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5 answers

Looking for a software alternatives to a Fluke Meter

I have cat5 ports through out the office that seem to not work 100%. I wanted to know if there is a software alternative to the $1000 Fluke Meters, that I can do the same thing with. Maybe something I can load it on a small netbook??
NeerPatel
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3 answers

Effect of reversing a pair, in cat5 cabling (e.g. swapping stripe and solid)

Is there any practical effect of reversing solid and stripe, when wiring cat5 cables? But if I've got a cable where each pair is a pair but one end is flipped, will this make any practical difference for 100BASE-TX? For 1000BASE-T? For POE…
Bryce
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5 answers

How to wire a patch panel with incomplete labels

I have an used lucent 1100CAT5 PS patch panel that I'm intending to use at my church. Yes I know, I should probably get a CAT5e version, but this one will do fine. It's only for light browsing of the internet. The budget is very tight due to a…
hookenz
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3 answers

Sanity Check: Is my CAT5e cable probably bad, or do I just need different connectors?

I'm working with a small company, and since I'm the only one with even a half-ounce of network infrastructure experience I've got the job of wiring up our network. So please forgive my newbie-ness. Needed to run some CAT5e cable up the outside wall…
DanM
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4
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1 answer

STP or UTP in older facility?

We have a smaller datacenter that is located in an older facility. (This building was built back in the 40's or 50's) Does it matter if I run UTP or STP through my racks? It may not matter but the cable for backbone running from my isp to my network…
pickledtink
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3 answers

Is there a standard for running audio/video over CAT5/CAT5e UTP?

I want to use CAT5e UTP cabling to carry audio and video over distances of maybe 150 feet or so. I plan to use the CAT5e cable as follows: one wire pair for a composite video signal one wire pair for the left audio channel one wire pair for the…
eleven81
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3
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1 answer

Using Stranded vs. Solid CAT5 in a cable tray

I'm going to be installing a switch and 40 workstations/printers in a building. All the rooms have raised floors with cable trays running in various grids and there are cable trays going between the rooms accessible from the basement. Most of the…
murisonc
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