What are some good online sources for Cat 6 cable and pass thru connectors?

[KennyG]

HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more! - Monoprice.com

They have almost everything electronic at reasonable prices.

 

[cqaigy2]

cablestogo.com fs.com. You'll need to shop them to see if it's what you are looking for. I bought 1000' and bag of rj45 from cablestogo, seemed like adequate quality. Fs.com i've bought fiber related stuff.

 

[k0ua]

Putting wire between buildings. I assume underground? You should always avoid putting wire underground if possible due to lightning. Even in conduit, currents can be induced in the wires from nearby lightning strikes. I would recommend fiber if you can't make wi-fi work. I would much rather put an antenna on the side of a metal building (faraday cage) than run wire to it. But to each his own. Fiber and its associated hardware on each end is pretty cheap now, and solves the lightning problem. But I sure would not run copper in the ground if I could avoid it. Not in this lightning prone area at least.

 

[dlctcg]

@newbury

IMO you are exactly on the right path by hardwiring as many fixed network devices / station; basically if there is going a fixed network device... wire it. Of course the PoE cameras will be wired but depending on what you are using for an NVR & where it is going to be located you may have to plan your wiring appropriately.

Ethernet connected (hardwired) devices will have more consistent speeds & lower latency (as long as the wiring & terminations are done properly) then 99% of Wi-Fi networked devices, even with the release of Wi-Fi 6 Routers, & this has nothing to due with your metal buildings but a very good reason to hardwire... Also wired networks are usually more secure if setup properly & of course the benefit of PoE.

As mentioned prior you will only want solid conductor Cat6 for your cable runs.
All Patch cables used should be Stranded Cable.
Cable runs should be tested - especially is using PoE equipment
For termination of connectors we prefer the 568-B wiring over 568-A

You can purchase cable at any of the big box stores (HD - Lowes) but if you have a electrical wholesaler close by I would try them. Just make sure you are purchasing a quality cable & with the same specs when comparing pricing, standard Cat6 is usually 550MHz which will handle way more bandwidth then you will need, so don't let someone to talk you into Cat6a at twice the price.

Wish I could give you an online supplier but we are in the industry & purchase wholesale so most of them will not sell to individuals... if you have any questions on wiring / between building connections / product PM me & I will see if I can help...

 

[kcflhrc]

Save yourself some money and use CAT-5E, it will run Gig. No difference between 568A or 568B wiring, either will work just fine. Not sure where that myth came from. We use Platinum Tool's EZ-RJ45 Connectors PN 202003J with the EZ Crimp Tool. I would recommend Indoor/Outdoor CAT 5E if the cable will be installed in a uncontrolled temp environment. The sheathing on the indoor/outdoor cable will not crack while you are running it and remains more pliable if you have a short run outside to a camera or such. You could probably order everything off of Amazon.

 

[dlctcg]

Save yourself some money and use CAT-5E, it will run Gig

I agree on the CAT5E, it is what I would use also, but didn't want to bring up the debate when he asked about CAT6...

No difference between 568A or 568B wiring, either will work just fine. Not sure where that myth came from.

I never said there was a difference just what we prefer... & not sure what myth you referring to.... anyway... We just keep it that way in-house (except Gov Contracts) so everyone is always installing the same wiring scheme. it all I was saying...

We like the Platinum connector too... but they are not cheap

I would recommend Indoor/Outdoor CAT 5E if the cable will be installed in a uncontrolled temp environment.

Good Call on the indoor / outdoor cable for unconditioned buildings.

 

[newbury]

Where is a good place to order from?

Cable runs should be tested - especially is using PoE equipment

Any pointers for a decent tester for less than $100? I don't want to spend a lot on equipment that will be used for one job.

Just make sure you are purchasing a quality cable & with the same specs when comparing pricing,

What is a quality cable? I need names if possible.

 

[Torvy]

I ran cat 7 in the house. Running old tech just means when things improve, you will have to redo it. Wireless will always drop off compared to wired. If you are worried about lightning underground, you could put the wires in PVC. I would anyway. More worried about rodents than lightning.

You can buy cables and connectors on Amazon.

 

[k0ua]

What is a quality cable? I need names if possible

I always specified Superior-Essex. Not that their isn't other good cables. But this brand was always what I used. And we used millions of feet of it company wide. It always tested out very good and the scrabble wound boxes usually unwound and payed out easily.

 

[Diggin It]

Cat 5 Direct Burial between the buildings. You could look at Fiber, but there's a learning curve in doing it and different tools are required.

I would also add lightning/surge suppressors. Several types are available.

Cat 5 is fine for home use. Nothing will need Cat 6 outside of specialized data facilities.

The ONLY difference between 568A and 568B is the color scheme. One splits the green pair, the other splits the orange pair. As long as both ends of each cable match, there is NO performance difference.

If you do POE, make certain each device is either POE capable or you have POE extractors in place.

For POE injection, I have 2 of these: DSLRKIT 48V 72W 6 Ports 4 PoE Injector Power Over Ethernet Switch 4,5+/7,8- | eBay

I have one PTZ camera at over 100' that works fine with it.

I got my last batch of cable from the Bay too. Monoprice used to be the best, but I'm not so sure about them any more. Big Box stores and local electrical suppliers are really, really, really proud of their cable prices ... often double what I can find it for elsewhere.