any cat5 cable work?

[dito]

will ANY cat5 cable work or do i need outdoor cat5 cable?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10233

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10208

[-klb-]

I use either cut up long patch cables, or a spool of stranded UTP. As much as the cables get flexed being set up and stored each year, I think solid will fail faster from flex, than the typically indoor stranded will fail from outdoor use. Plus stranded will lie down flat better, so as to be less likely to trip you.

[dito]

like this, http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10233&cs_id=1023304&p_id=886&seq=1&format=2

[-klb-]

Pretty much exactly what I use. I've just never used that vendor. Others report good experience using them.

[Guest Don Gillespie]

-klb- wrote:

Pretty much exactly what I use. I've just never used that vendor. Others report good experience using them.

when you guys the bulk Cat5 do you need special tools to attach the connectors on the ends??

[geronc]

Best tool in the world! You don't have to cut the cables to the exact length to fit inside the plug. Just push them through them plug and it will cut off the excess. Worth the extra money IMO.



http://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Tools-EZ-RJPRO-HD-Crimp/dp/B002OFP55E/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b

[geronc]

It is called an EZ Crimp. Sorry, forgot to put that on there.

[Guest Don Gillespie]

geronc wrote:

It is called an EZ Crimp. Sorry, forgot to put that on there.

thats great now we can make our own Cat5 cables i not sure I would need a thousand feet though. LOL

[geronc]

It is certainly alot cheaper than buying premade patch cables. Yea, you spend a little bit more upfront with the connectors and tool, but in the long run, you can make your own custom length cables EASY! You would be suprised how fast you could run through 1000 FT of cable. Once you see how easy it is, you start running cable in your house, your friends house, another project, wire you a home network. The list goes on. Have fun!

[gizmomkr]

I would agree the stranded cable is better - but I have used solid (same cables) going on 4 years, no problems.
stranded does flex better ( although everything gets rigid when its frozen)

At work we buy from monoprice a lot, its decent cable.

You can do a lot with cat-5. I use it for ethernet of course, telephone, controller connections, rainbow floods, if you twist a couple conductors together, its OK ofr audio.
Its even ok for Video/ CCTV (although for long runs, I still like RG6) 1000 ft goes quick.

Outdoot rated cat-5 DOES have some features. UV coating on the outside, and depending on what oyu order (the one I like is called flooded core) it can be injected with silicone. It makes the cable a discusting gewy mess at the end, but it keeps the water out.

I would use flooded core cable if I was in a high traffic area, maybe a public display where I knew people might trample the cat5, but I have never felt the need for my front yard.