splitting cat 5

[neoice]

Hello,

We recently got a cable company in to re-cable our network. A couple of days later I am having a lot of calls saying the network is much slower than before. I decided to replace the dlink 530 ethernet card in the server with a 3com server card and things are certainly better.

However, I have since noticed that they have chosen to terminate double RJ45 data outlets with one cable rather than a cable to each module. I opened a double box and can clearly see one cable spliced to two RJ45 modules.

I have read that you generally only need two pairs for ethernet transmission but wouldn't this then be sending more data down the same cable?

If the same cable is split, will I still be getting close to 100mb bandwidth?

Have we been cheated?

cheers,

neil

 

[Grenage]

Oh dear. There are many posts in this forum about the method you speak.

General feelings are its ok for temporary use but you don't want it for permenant installations, you really want 1 cable per outlet.

 

[neoice]

thanks for your assistance

neil

 

[QuiltedCamel]

If my cabling contractor had done that to me, they'd be my ex-cabling contractor very soon....

 

[Bobg1]

If the contractor had bid the job and the bid called for a certain number of jacks to be installed, I would make them come back and make it right.
A standard installation would have one cable per jack.
Can you read the jacket on the cable used? It should be at least cat5, and I would want to make sure that it is if they have pulled the other trick.

 

[mikeydidit]

I would make them come back and redo all these jacks. Who would sign off on this job as complete and done correctly? Too many people are getting into the wiring world and getting away with substandard work. I had to fight with the subcontrctors on one of last large projects and told myself that would be the last. I put together a cabling standards and methods for all of our new buildings. This has helped, at least to the fact that someone with some knowledge of TIA/EIA standards will have to do the work. If you find any mistakes, please consider that they are there for a purpose. And everyone needs a purpose.
Hope this helps, Mikey.

 

[executone]

It is very common to split them out like this for voice, but not for data. I would call them back and correct the problem. Do not let it go to long.

Good Luck!!

 

[franklin97355]

If the job called for a cat5 system then you did not get what you paid for and the contractor MUST come back and redo the job. Cat5 has all eight wires terminated at a single jack. What you have is 10baseT wiring and it is only rated for 10mbs. Again, if you paid and spec'ed a cat5 installation you got ripped off!

 

[jeffbouldin]

I agree with everyone else. Cat5 standards call for all 4 pairs to be terminated to one jack whether they are used or not.You may not strip the outer jacket more then 1" to 1 1/2" inches, and the pairs may not be untwisted more then 1/2". It would be impossible to meet these standards the way you describe the job was done. If your contract states that it was to be a Cat5 network then make them redo it. I would insist on all new wire. If they refuse, you may need to hire another company to redo it. Have them document every way that it was installed improperly, GET IT IN WRITING. Then sue the pants off the first company. The only way to keep people like this out of the industry is to make them pay.

 

[jono261970]

A big thanks to all the guys here.

I contacted the company and explained what I have found. Armed with the support from this forum I threatened them with legal action. They claim that it was a "trainee" engineer on-site that day and it is possible that he made an error.

They will come out on Monday to investigate and resolve any issues. I also demanded a full report of tests carried out on the cables as I still haven't received any baseline documentation.

This has been a very valuable learning curve for me.

Again, thanks very much for the speedy support.

one very happy dude!

cheers,

neil


A good fortune may forbode a bad luck, which may in turn disguise a good fortune.

 

[ANFPS26]

Here's a link someone posted in another forum that shows the proper way to connect Cat 5 to the jacks:

http://www.jimhayes.com/VHO/utpterm/cat5pd-4.htm

Jim