On Fri, 2007-12-21 at 13:55 +0000, Chris G wrote:
Well don't buy from PC World then! :-)
If you do a search on Google Products for "30m cat5e" then you get loads of hits and prices start at less than £5.
True but it doesn't change the fact that most of those premade cables I have seen are using multistrand cable which is wrong for that length.
Also it would mean that I have to keep a stock of 2,3,6,8,10 and 15m etc where as one box of cable and 5 minutes crimping the ends will do any length I want. Sure I carry some common lengths because the cable from the wall socket to the computer should be multistrand (for under 10m) as it is more durable and making up a cable every time would be daft. But for one off longer lengths that are going into a reasonably static environment I make them every time.
Oh and the female<>female RJ45 connectors are evil and should only be used when there is no alternative.
Yes, but sometimes there is no alternative.
Unless you are extending an already installed cable because it would be a pain to replace it then there is always an alternative. Like making a cable the right length :)