Anyone here using Shielded RJ-45 cable instead of UTP?
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RazorsEDGE
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Used UTP cat6 personally. Just can't see the need for shielded in the home.
NoloC
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I bought a roll of it thinking "why not?". After it arrived, I now know , why not!
Much stiffer and harder to work with. Also shielded connectors are more difficult to terminate. And in many cases the device you are connecting to, is not grounded. I now don't think it is worth the trouble.
Really suitable for vertical runs in a data center, but agree not so much for home.
Much stiffer and harder to work with. Also shielded connectors are more difficult to terminate. And in many cases the device you are connecting to, is not grounded. I now don't think it is worth the trouble.
Really suitable for vertical runs in a data center, but agree not so much for home.
zero-degrees
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If you are a novice and this is a home environment just stick to traditional UTP solid cable 5e/6. You will save yourself time, money, headaches, and all around prob. produce a more quality end product unless you truly know what you are doing and why you are doing it that way it's not worth it.
Thanks for the advice, some of this wiring is running parallel to electrical conduits, but I think UTP should be more than adequate. The 5e looks a little less resilient compared to 6. I think its really going to boil down to price here. 
zero-degrees
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Monoprice for cable, just assure you get Solid Core Copper and NOT stranded or CCA.
Yep, but its too bad that Monoprice's modular plugs aren't living up to the hype these days.
Shielded cable is VERY hard to work with, Outdoor rated shielded is even worse. I did a 14 camera install in a building last year and cat 6 shielded was what I was forced to use because of some bad advise that was given to the owners and they were not going to change their minds. Worst of all it was 23 gauge and needed special staggered connectors to. This stuff was like back bone cable, stiff and caused me a ton of extra time working with it. never again with that stuff. Stay with the standard stuff. The worst stuff I had to deal with was for outdoor Cisco AP's, they require shielded so in that case you have to follow what they advise to use but for IP cameras, forget about it.
I'm about to get 1x 250FT Cat6 Bulk Bare Copper Ethernet Cable, UTP, Solid, Riser Rated (CMR), 500MHz, 23AWG - Blue from Monoprice. You pointed out 23 AWG. Somehow, I still like added rigidity for extra durability. Its a few dollars more than the Cat5e varient.
RazorsEDGE
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I prefer using the ez-rj45 connectors. You have to get the crimp tool as well but they are just easier to get a perfect crimp everytime.
For IP cameras 23 is a little tougher to work with and in my case, the diameter of the insulator in the pairs would not use a standard clamshell connector. I had to order special ends for the bigger diameter and it had a staggered pushbar. As long as you get the correct ends you will be fine. Just check the spec on the OD of the pairs.
zero-degrees
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Not exactly sure where your getting your info, but I've never had an issue with Monoprice connectors and I've prob been through a few thousand. Not to mention the majority of all their connectors have pretty high ratings...
The MAJORITY of the time when people complain about connectors is because they don't know what they are doing. They purchase the incorrect connectors (non shielded when using shielded cables, using stranded/solid connectors on incorrect cable, trying to force larger gauge cable into smaller connectors, not understanding Cat6 2 piece connectors, etc)
However, Fry's electronics have been some of my favorite connectors to date.
Modular Plugs for Cat5e Solid Cable - 100 Pack
Shaxon RJ45 Modular Plugs for Cat6 Solid Cable - 100 Pack
Some people really like the Ez connectors, personally I'm not a fan, but i've been terminating cable for 20 years or so so I don't really need the assistance. My main complaint about these is also they technically requite special tools to terminate/cut. However, I have used them a few times and just used a nice straight edge to clip the cables. Most amateurs really like them though because their is no chance of shorting a single strand.
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You have a valid points, chances are, there's good handful out there that don't know what they're doing, but some were complaining regarding the Crimp Tool they were using was not able to do a proper crimp, resulting in cracking of the modular plug (I'm suspicious they were using the wrong hole, lol )
Coming to Cat6 modular plugs, the Monoprice ones do not come with a load bar. And a 100 / 200 pack is overdoing it for me. I think a 25-pack or even a 50-pack should be more than adequate for my needs; however, these companies are reluctant to sell them at this quantity.
Good thing Monoprice has 15% off today.
Coming to Cat6 modular plugs, the Monoprice ones do not come with a load bar. And a 100 / 200 pack is overdoing it for me. I think a 25-pack or even a 50-pack should be more than adequate for my needs; however, these companies are reluctant to sell them at this quantity.
Good thing Monoprice has 15% off today.
wantafastz28
Getting comfortable
I bought shielded cat5e since one of my runs is exposed to the elements outside, and it doesn't hurt... like said above, the people complaining about connectors or even crimpers are people that don't know what they are doing.... just make sure you buy the right material and get it done.... don't get hung up on reviews for connectors.
I use shielded Ubiquiti ToughCable and Ubiquiti ToughCable connectors for ALL outdoor installs between the POE injector and the Ubiquiti radio and insure the POE is plugged into a properly grounded outlet.
Even if using shielded cable was not a condition of Ubiquiti's 1 year warranty, I'd do it anyway because ESD here in rural Alabama during the numerous thunder storms is ferocious and doing so might prevent or limit damage from nearby lightning strikes. I know that no installation method or surge device of any kind will guarantee total ESD protection here, especially from a direct hit, as I've seen MANY surge devices literally vaporized into oblivion and the 'protected' device blackened, melted and destroyed. The best ESD defense could be to unplug the device at the device end every time we suspect a storm is coming and we all know that's not practical and just won't happen. So I use the shielded between the POE and the device to perhaps stack the deck in my favor just a tad.
To facilitate getting the thick, twisted conductors to lay properly and into the connector I strip about 2" of the black outer jacket and the inner gray jacket off then with my thumbnail untwist all of the pairs. I bend all but 1 conductor (half of a pair) back over the jacket out of my way and allow that 1 conductor to stick straight out, I then use the UN-SERRATED, SMOOTH portion of my needle nose pliers to GENTLY press along the length of the single conductor, about a 1/4" at time, holding the tool horizontally, flattening it out in one plane. I then rotate the needle nose pliers 90 degrees and do the same thing along the length of the conductor again, GENTLY flattening. I may do this a couple of times until I feel the conductor is reasonably straight.
I then fold the straightened one back and pick another one. I do this one at a time until all 8 are pretty straight and lay next to one another very well. Then I arrange them to T-568B, trim the length, check layout, push into the connector, check layout and crimp. When both ends are done I test.
Some of you may be able to do this straightening with your fingers, I cannot. At age 68 and 45 years of using my fingers to manipulate wires and connectors I have to use the needle nose pliers. It works for me and I'm used to it. I can actually perform the above fairly quickly now, I estimate it takes me about 6-7 minutes to do the above and I have a good success rate, perhaps I have to re-do 1 out of every 30 or so.
Even if using shielded cable was not a condition of Ubiquiti's 1 year warranty, I'd do it anyway because ESD here in rural Alabama during the numerous thunder storms is ferocious and doing so might prevent or limit damage from nearby lightning strikes. I know that no installation method or surge device of any kind will guarantee total ESD protection here, especially from a direct hit, as I've seen MANY surge devices literally vaporized into oblivion and the 'protected' device blackened, melted and destroyed. The best ESD defense could be to unplug the device at the device end every time we suspect a storm is coming and we all know that's not practical and just won't happen. So I use the shielded between the POE and the device to perhaps stack the deck in my favor just a tad.
To facilitate getting the thick, twisted conductors to lay properly and into the connector I strip about 2" of the black outer jacket and the inner gray jacket off then with my thumbnail untwist all of the pairs. I bend all but 1 conductor (half of a pair) back over the jacket out of my way and allow that 1 conductor to stick straight out, I then use the UN-SERRATED, SMOOTH portion of my needle nose pliers to GENTLY press along the length of the single conductor, about a 1/4" at time, holding the tool horizontally, flattening it out in one plane. I then rotate the needle nose pliers 90 degrees and do the same thing along the length of the conductor again, GENTLY flattening. I may do this a couple of times until I feel the conductor is reasonably straight.
I then fold the straightened one back and pick another one. I do this one at a time until all 8 are pretty straight and lay next to one another very well. Then I arrange them to T-568B, trim the length, check layout, push into the connector, check layout and crimp. When both ends are done I test.
Some of you may be able to do this straightening with your fingers, I cannot. At age 68 and 45 years of using my fingers to manipulate wires and connectors I have to use the needle nose pliers. It works for me and I'm used to it. I can actually perform the above fairly quickly now, I estimate it takes me about 6-7 minutes to do the above and I have a good success rate, perhaps I have to re-do 1 out of every 30 or so.
Didn't want to shell out for the pricey crimp tool, so I've been using the CAT6 EZ-RJ45 connectors with these $13 TRENDnet crimpers fine - just that I have to manually snip the leads and pull the cable back a bit by hand before crimping.
Amazon.com: TRENDnet 8P/RJ-45 and 6P/RJ-12, RJ-11 Crimp, Cut, and Strip Tool, TC-CT68: Home Improvement
Platinum 202016J EZ-RJ45 Cat 6 Connector and Strain Relief Combo Kit, 50-Pieces - - Amazon.com
Yes, I even tuck the outdoor-rated ToughCable behind vinyl siding and under eaves to prevent direct exposure to moisture and UV.