sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Pull box or reel

The cable marking post brought to mind most cable companies use of pull boxes, I have always used reels because of multiple pulling use and find it easier with less stop and go do to a tangle in pull box. Also by looking at reel can gauge whats left without looking at ft. markers. It seems reels are almost history now.--------John

I like reels better, but I am also finding it harder to get cable on reels. I still get coax on reels, but things like cat 5 I find myself almost always using pull boxs.

coax = reel
data = box
voice = any way I can get it

Brings up another question - does anyone use cat 3 for voice any more??

havent used cat 3 for a few years now .

like the box for everything

you guys that are having trouble finding reels I think its general that is a reel in a box . so you could take the box apart and have a reel .

I found it a PITA when the box broke and I had to use the reel

We still use Cat 3 but the price is getting very close to Cat 5 so the days are numbered

Have always liked boxes the best, even with some kinking problems. Takes less time to set up

I still use cat3 for voice unless the customer request cat5.

I like boxes for thinner cables and reels for thicker ones.

Systimax still uses reels for its higher end cables. The 81 series CAT 6E comes on a reel and the 91 series CAT 6A also comes on a reel.

A full reel of 6A cable is heavy. I take extra precautions to make sure that I don't drop that thing on my foot. It pulls nicely though.

I've found the thicker CAT 6A resists kinking and twisting better than CAT 6E. :thumb:

Good point - I'd bet we'll see reels make a comeback when 6A ramps up.

I prefer reels for larger jobs, but I mostly use boxes. They do pack better in the van, I suppose, but I hate running into the inenvitable snag. Also, some manufacturers use thinner cardboard boxes, so the hand hold rips out as soon as you go to pick it up. Grrr...

Reels always. Anything is available on a reel if you want to wait for it and we do have the equipment to handle it. Unfortunately all anybody stocks is pull boxes and if you can't afford to wait then that's what you are going to get. Can't tell you how many times I drop kicked one of those &*%# boxes across the building or out the window because they got tangled up.

As for CAT 3 are you kidding me? We always use CAT 3 for voice. I'm not in favor of getting carpal tunnel from untwisting CAT 5 to cut it down on 66 blocks. :nono:

-Hal