sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Factory or Hand crimp patch cords?

I go with premade whenever I can, it is just not worth the time and effort. I will make one if I have to but I am like Skip i will repalce it the first chance I get.

Mike good idea with the reading glasses

reading glasses are a good idea , Ive got a pair that came in a metal carrying case that I have stuck in a pocket on my tool bag .

they key is remebering to put them back but they have really helped

Same here,..... only make when I have to. But some customers what custom made in some cases,...so I keep a box of cat5e stranded cable and boots on the van with modular plugs just in case.

But always run them across the tester and give the customer a printed copy of the results. But yes they pay much more for that than they would if they had just let me put in a pre-fab.

Indeed, CAT5 & CAT6 pairs are hard to work with...I will insist on factory or threaten to quit!

Mdaniel carries a box of Stranded. How many others make jumpers out of solid wire. Failure rate with solid is much higher, even with the right plugs..

I only make them if I don't have a choice. I haven't read the entire EIA/TIA standards, but I was pretty sure they recommended only factory made.

We should probably establish the definition of a Category 5e and Category 6 Patch cord before answering this question.

If I were to follow ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2 for Category 5e Patch Cords and ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1 for Category 6 Patch Cords, it is clear they have to be certified (tested).

Most patch cords from vendors are not certified. If they are not certified, the assurance of quality from buying your cords and not making them is reduced. You could then argue, why not make them yourself and test them? If you have a DSP-4x00 or DTX CableAnalyzer you can purchase test adapters than will allow you to test to the previously mentioned standards. (Sales mode off)

That said, making Certified Category 6 Patch Cords is a nightmare, there is a real art to making them. The same cannot be said for Category 5e. Maintain that twist up inside the RJ45 plug, use a quality patch cable and you should be golden.

I was recently given a Category 5e Patch Cord from a cabling vendor. When I tested it using my DTX CableAnalyzer and DTX-PCU6S test adapters, it failed the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2 limits. I then re-terminated it and it passed. OK, so I have been making cords for almost 20 years now and have an advatage having the test equipment. During one exhibition where I needed custom lengths, I made over 60 cords. My fingers were shot at the end of it of course, but I had no alternative in this case. I say this, because there are times when you have to deviate from best practices.

Bottom line:
Purchase the cords and insist on a "Certified Patch Cord" to either ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2 for Category 5e or ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1 for Category 6.

I wanna know which Vendor Supports Home Made Patch cords.

You will always have plenty of room for Factory Cords if you’ve installed adequate Vertical and Horizontal Cable Management.

There are no vendors I know of that specify the patch cord other than catagory.

As far as I go. If you have the time and your guys are standing around, have them make patch cords

If you are installing a copper solution and are using (for instance)commscope patch panels, you should use commscope wire, jacks, and patch cables. All these items are certified, but only when these items are used with the same company's product, not homemade cables or off brand copper solutions. Companies make, test, and certify their solutions only with their products, so if you use one brand patch panel with a different brand wire and then make your own patch cable; you are not going to have a network with integrity. :thumb:

Something about your statement doesn't make sense. If a manufacturer certifies their product meets or exceeds a standard spec, then how could the network not have integrity? It's a STANDARD. All cables meeting this standard are certified by the manufacturer, whether or not they have that particular manufacturer's connectors.

Now, maybe just maybe, the manufacturer won't provide a WARRANTY on the specs if the wire comes from one place, the jacks another, and the panels from somewhere else.