cat6 cable problem

[Kaizen]

I'm running cat6 for IP cameras. I ran the worst of it this weekend probably 150 feet from 2nd story at one end of house to basement on other end. sucked but was happy it was done. I tested the 1st connector and it was fine after I crimped it down. Ran the whole run and in the basement i'm getting a dim light on several wires as it cycles. I used a low voltage stapler to do this however i'm guessing I shot one through the cable? I put on 4 different jacks and all had this result. is that the likely culprit with this reading on the tester?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I got a brand new CAT 5e cable that didn't work. Changed the ends. Still dead. They can come from the factory dead, but that is poor quality control.

 

[jkeyser14]

I know you said you tested the first connector, but did you try to replace it or re-crimp it just in case? I have had some poor crimps before that needed a second squeeze in the crimper to make a better connection.

 

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

As a rule, I've never stapled low voltage wire. I'll put a standard wire staple into a stud and then either zip-tie or Velcro the cabling to secure it in place. I've seen way too many cables damaged by a staple.

I'm betting you caught a part of the cable during install with your stapler.

 

[checkthisout]

I'm running cat6 for IP cameras. I ran the worst of it this weekend probably 150 feet from 2nd story at one end of house to basement on other end. sucked but was happy it was done. I tested the 1st connector and it was fine after I crimped it down. Ran the whole run and in the basement i'm getting a dim light on several wires as it cycles. I used a low voltage stapler to do this however i'm guessing I shot one through the cable? I put on 4 different jacks and all had this result. is that the likely culprit with this reading on the tester?

Yes, it's probably stapled.

Since it's such a ***** to run, maybe chop it halfway and terminate it then test it. If it's good, you can put an in-line connector on it and then move down another 50 feet or so and do the same thing.

I don't know your exact camera setup, but if it's POE and you're not using a DVR with built-in POE then you use another run that's close by and put like a 4 outlet POE switch and plug the camera into that. They are like $25.00 bucks on Amazon or Ebay.

 

[checkthisout]

As a rule, I've never stapled low voltage wire. I'll put a standard wire staple into a stud and then either zip-tie or Velcro the cabling to secure it in place. I've seen way too many cables damaged by a staple.

I'm betting you caught a part of the cable during install with your stapler.

I never see pros staple it either. Too much work and too much risk.

 

[Fallon]

According to the specs you really can't splice CAT5, much less CAT6 & still maintain the rating. I'd avoid splicing if you can at all. If you do splice, just like you are suppose to when terminating things, keep the proper twists in the pairs right up until the termination or the splice. The proper way to do it is termintate the cable rather than splice.

That said I've spliced coax (ancient 10base2) into 1 pair of phone line to get between floors & gotten it to work at 10 megabit (back in the 90's in colledge) & Ethernet to my barn is running on 2 of the 3 pair of CAT3 (100 megabit tops). I've got the new conduit burried, but haven't pulled the new CAT5 out there yet.

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[Git]

You didn't mention if this is PoE or not?

If it isn't - you may still be able to salvage the cable since only 2 pairs are actually used to transmit and receive data

It may work just the way it is or you may have to custom wire two new connectors to use the working pairs

 

[CNGsaves]

Rather than stapling it, you should have instead ran one of those cheap blue "noodle" conduits end-to-end so you could just re-pull another wire. Also, as cheap as wire is . . . . put in a SPARE wire . . . even 2 Spare WIRES !!!

Also, don't forget the pull string for future additions of more wire runs !!

Also put in conduits from floor-to-floor and especially from basement (unfinished area) to attic so you can "future proof" for changes in internet/CATV vendors like CableCo, U-Verse, DISH/DirectTV, etc. and over-the-air antenna That way you can have end runs to one specific concentration of runs for hubs/switches to group/manage in a centralized distribution center.

Bet your cameras aren't that data intensive so you could likely do the suggested solution of cutting and adding in-line connectors to narrow down your staple penetration problem. Good luck.

 

[happy2rv]

It sounds like you are crimping RJ-45s on each end of the cable. With 150' run you probably would be ok cutting the the damaged part of the cable out, putting RJ-45s on the new ends, and connecting them with an ethernet rated RJ-45 coupler.

The fun part is going to finding where the cable is damaged and confirming it's only damaged at one point. They make cable testers that will tell you the location, in feet from the end being tested, of any shorts or opens in the pairs. However, these aren't cheap.

 

[Jess]

Staples can be a problem, even with voice on Cat 3. We changed over to Velcro ties years ago and no sharp bends. Problems solved. Today, they run mostly fibre and its pretty forgiving compared to the early stuff I worked with 20 yrs ago. None of it likes to stapled through though.

 

[Fallon]

You didn't mention if this is PoE or not?

If it isn't - you may still be able to salvage the cable since only 2 pairs are actually used to transmit and receive data

It may work just the way it is or you may have to custom wire two new connectors to use the working pairs

You top out at 100 megabit tops with 2 pair & I've found about half the switches I have dont like that (as noted above, thats how my shop is currently connected for the moment). I've been a sysadmin for a couple of decades... you will have more pain longterm doing a half *** job than it will take to re-run that cable properly.

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[CoogarXR]

I avoid wire staples too. What I do when running across open areas (basements, attics, etc) is use the big romex nail-in staples. I nail them about halfway in, leaving about a 3/8" opening, then just drape the cable through it. That way, it's not pinched, plus there's room to run more if I ever need to. You can always zip tie the cable to the staple if you want to get the slack tightened up.

As the others have said, try re-crimping the ends. If that doesn't work, re-pull it. Just pull all your staples, tape a new cat6 run to the old one, and use the old cable to pull the new one through.

As a side note, I have never seen dim lights on my tester. They either light or they don't. Are you sure that tester is ok? Maybe test a patch cable and see if all the LEDs light up normally.

 

[Kaizen]

Thanks for the input. Some answers and added info...
My tester is fine. I used a good short cable and got solid individual lights.
To be clear these are not normal staples. They leave breathing room for the wire....except if you drive one through it which I believe I did.
This camera is Poe and replacing a rgb camera that the cable....which was run buried in joists...now stopped working.
The camera end is twenty feet up outside which is why I double checked it was perfect before running the rest. Suppose in retrospect I should have put a sacrificial plug on the other end to verify the cable was good before I ran it.
So this is why I can't use conduit or loosely hang it. I will be installing a clear grain fir ceiling

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[wyliesdiesels]

According to the specs you really can't splice CAT5, much less CAT6 & still maintain the rating. I'd avoid splicing if you can at all. If you do splice, just like you are suppose to when terminating things, keep the proper twists in the pairs right up until the termination or the splice. The proper way to do it is termintate the cable rather than splice.

That said I've spliced coax (ancient 10base2) into 1 pair of phone line to get between floors & gotten it to work at 10 megabit (back in the 90's in colledge) & Ethernet to my barn is running on 2 of the 3 pair of CAT3 (100 megabit tops). I've got the new conduit burried, but haven't pulled the new CAT5 out there yet.

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Never heard of this. Its done all the time without issues.

And these are perfect for splicing cat6:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005M20QC8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Kaizen]

well just checked every staple and nothing through or pinching the cable. not worth continuing as it seems to be the cable. might as well just run more and I guess now I can zip tie it to the first one . Thanks for your ideas.

 

[MFortie]

Zipties aren't allowed per the Standards either. Velcro straps are the preferred method.

And technically you can 'splice' CATx cabling per the Standards, that's essentially what a MUTOA or a consolidation point is...

 

[CNGsaves]

Run steel electrical conduit across top of ceiling . . . but smallest that will hold 3 CAT6 wires (live and 2 SPARE's . . and pull string) . . . like is there 3/8" metal conduit ??

Then router any space needed for conduit to fit on the backside of your final wood covering of the ceiling.

This will protect your CAT6 wiring from nail damage, etc. Also allows pulls for future changes or expansion of camera system.

Right now, I'd just string a "test cable" and see if indeed you have a wiring problem or a camera problem. Good luck.

 

[Kaizen]

Run steel electrical conduit across top of ceiling . . . but smallest that will hold 3 CAT6 wires (live and 2 SPARE's . . and pull string) . . . like is there 3/8" metal conduit ??

Then router any space needed for conduit to fit on the backside of your final wood covering of the ceiling.

This will protect your CAT6 wiring from nail damage, etc. Also allows pulls for future changes or expansion of camera system.

Right now, I'd just string a "test cable" and see if indeed you have a wiring problem or a camera problem. Good luck.

as usual you are right. the correct solution is never the easiest. the flat part at the ceiling will be removable but still makes sense to just put in the conduit.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Could be sh1tty cable....offshore ?

I would cut 150+ feet of whatever footage you needed before running it.
Dump heads on both ends. Test. If it test fine, then run the cable.

 

[Kaizen]

Could be sh1tty cable....offshore ?

I would cut 150+ feet of whatever footage you needed before running it.
Dump heads on both ends. Test. If it test fine, then run the cable.

probably. got it from home depot. I have a reel of direct bury cat6 I've been using and its hard to work with so I used this. i'll definitely stick on two ends from now on. what a pita.

 

[CoogarXR]

Could be sh1tty cable....offshore ?

That reminds me, if it was super cheap cable, it could be CCA (copper-clad aluminum). I personally only buy solid copper because I have heard of problems with CCA, but I never experienced it for myself. Just something else to check.

 

[Fallon]

I've pulled hundreds of thousands of feet of Ethernet in my career & can't recall ever getting bad cable out of the box. It's always been termination problems or damage when pulling & installing.

I've never used the CCA stuff, which isn't standards compliant & might not be legal to install for some reason I can't quite recall. I'd HIGHLY recommend not using it.

 

[art487]

As a rule, I've never stapled low voltage wire. I'll put a standard wire staple into a stud and then either zip-tie or Velcro the cabling to secure it in place. I've seen way too many cables damaged by a staple.

I'm betting you caught a part of the cable during install with your stapler.

The staple and zip-tie is a great idea, it is inexpensive and reliable, however you must remember not tighten the zip-tie so tight as to crimp the cable. Snug is good.

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[pacecar]

Any pics of your crimped connection? One tab down and another looking at the front head on?

Push comes to shove yank the staples and use the line as a pull string for new wire. I would second that in my years pulling cable I seldom encoutered bad cable out of the box, I did encounter problems with crosstalk but your scanner wont check for that. It looks like a pin out error based on your scanner, if your crimps/pin out/punch downs are correct (correct wire/pair alignment) I would give my jacks and rj45's a closer inspection.

 

[Kaizen]

Any pics of your crimped connection? One tab down and another looking at the front head on?

Push comes to shove yank the staples and use the line as a pull string for new wire. I would second that in my years pulling cable I seldom encoutered bad cable out of the box, I did encounter problems with crosstalk but your scanner wont check for that. It looks like a pin out error based on your scanner, if your crimps/pin out/punch downs are correct (correct wire/pair alignment) I would give my jacks and rj45's a closer inspection.

its the cable. I went up and took the cam off the house and put a remote tester on the connection with the other one transmitting from the basement. it was doing the same thing and I pulled some extra cable that was in the ceiling and it changed to what typically looks like two or three connectors bridging. i'll take another look at that wire and see if I can see a pull or damage and if I can cut it out and try another connector before I trash it.

 

[PT Doc]

Rather than stapling it, you should have instead ran one of those cheap blue "noodle" conduits end-to-end so you could just re-pull another wire. Also, as cheap as wire is . . . . put in a SPARE wire . . . even 2 Spare WIRES !!!

Also, don't forget the pull string for future additions of more wire runs !!

Also put in conduits from floor-to-floor and especially from basement (unfinished area) to attic so you can "future proof" for changes in internet/CATV vendors like CableCo, U-Verse, DISH/DirectTV, etc. and over-the-air antenna That way you can have end runs to one specific concentration of runs for hubs/switches to group/manage in a centralized distribution center.

Bet your cameras aren't that data intensive so you could likely do the suggested solution of cutting and adding in-line connectors to narrow down your staple penetration problem. Good luck.

Great advice. Also run 2" flexible metal conduit with pull string for future hi volt and now you are set for anything.

 

[rharman]

Next time, invest in a cable stapler. You should have no problems with these.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KLTELK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mobiledynamics]

Cable staples are a big no no....unless you're the comcast/time warner guy that comes and runs coax and just goes to town stapling against the inside corner of the wall

 

[Kaizen]

Next time, invest in a cable stapler. You should have no problems with these.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KLTELK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

stated above I have one.

 

[Kaizen]

Any pics of your crimped connection? One tab down and another looking at the front head on?

Push comes to shove yank the staples and use the line as a pull string for new wire. I would second that in my years pulling cable I seldom encoutered bad cable out of the box, I did encounter problems with crosstalk but your scanner wont check for that. It looks like a pin out error based on your scanner, if your crimps/pin out/punch downs are correct (correct wire/pair alignment) I would give my jacks and rj45's a closer inspection.

I lucked out. I had a few extra feet at the camera end and noticed when I moved the cable the tester changed a little. so I cut it back as far as could and put on another jack. presto. I looked at the one I cut off closely and it looked fine. Thanks for everyones input. definitely going to run some noodle conduit up there before I close it up