Are stranded cable RJ45s necessary?

Charly

Charly

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Hey guys, I am planning to have a LAN party and I'd really appreciate some advice.

1) Are stranded cable RJ45s necessary or can I use solid cable RJ45s? Is there a big difference?
2) I suppose stranded cable is a must? I've heard that stranded cable has a lot more attenuation per meter and that stranded cables should be kept to a minimum distance. What exactly is still acceptable? The run from a switch to a PC would be a max of 2m (maybe a little more but not much) so that should be fine?
3) Should I use solid cable for the gigabit (100Mbps would be fine but gig speeds would be preferred for file transfers) link between the switches or would stranded still be fine? This would be a maximum of 10m.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Just buy CAT5e cables. No need for CAT6. Both do 1Gb fine. One is not going to be "faster" than the other.
 
At the distances you're talking here, attenuation is not going to be an issue. Either will work just fine.
 
Agent_Smith said:
At the distances you're talking here, attenuation is not going to be an issue. Either will work just fine.
Click to expand...

+1

Also, you want to go with solid cable when you're running it through walls, ceilings etc. where it's going to have to bend and could be subject to friction/etc in trunking.

2m is nothing, go ahead..
 
All switches must be Gigabit otherwise all pcs will be limited to 100 Megabit.

Use standard RJ45.
 
Cat5 can go upto 100m, don't think you'll have a problem there.
 
Anything will do in your case.

But for interest, here is the difference:

Solid: Better attenuation (which at the distance you're talking about won't make any difference whatsoever). But it is not suitable to regular movement or bending as it damages the copper.

Stranded: Suitable to a lot of movement and bending but has higher attenuation. Stranded usually works best for what you want to do.

That is why fixed point connections are usually done with solid as there will be no movement, usually terminating in a patch panel. And the patch leads themselves are stranded as they will plugged in and out more often.
 
Frikkenator said:
Anything will do in your case.

But for interest, here is the difference:

Solid: Better attenuation (which at the distance you're talking about won't make any difference whatsoever). But it is not suitable to regular movement or bending as it damages the copper.

Stranded: Suitable to a lot of movement and bending but has higher attenuation. Stranded usually works best for what you want to do.

That is why fixed point connections are usually done with solid as there will be no movement, usually terminating in a patch panel. And the patch leads themselves are stranded as they will plugged in and out more often.
Click to expand...

Good answer.
 
Also, the plugs (or jacks rather) at the ends of the cable are RJ45 jacks, the cable itself is CAT5/CAT5e/CAT6.

Best thing to do is check if you've got a gigabit switch, if you do, go to wherever you're planning on getting the cables from and ask them for x amount of CAT5e or CAT6 fly-leads.

If it is not a gigabit switch, do the same but ask for CAT5 fly-leads, they are quite a bit cheaper.

Fly-leads are stranded so easier to handle and come in a variety of different lengths, so plan beforehand how far away from the switch people will be.
 
Dean said:
+1

Also, you want to go with solid cable when you're running it through walls, ceilings etc. where it's going to have to bend and could be subject to friction/etc in trunking.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ here..

Solid cable for fixed installations; For bends stranded would be better.

If you plan to move the cables a lot stranded is best. However if the cables will be fixed into walls, ceilings or trunking and never moved then solid cable is is best. Especially if your running close to the theoretical 100m max distance (more like 70 real world)
 
Stranded crimps better with rj-45. Either way for your purposes it's not a train smash whatever you use.
 
wez1007 said:
I beg to differ here..

Solid cable for fixed installations; For bends stranded would be better.

If you plan to move the cables a lot stranded is best. However if the cables will be fixed into walls, ceilings or trunking and never moved then solid cable is is best. Especially if your running close to the theoretical 100m max distance (more like 70 real world)
Click to expand...

Yea I didn't articulate my point very well at all and contradicted myself throughout, though it made sense in my mind :D
Luckily Frikkenator saved the day with his pearls of wisdom.
 
Charly said:
1) Are stranded cable RJ45s necessary or can I use solid cable RJ45s? Is there a big difference?
.
Click to expand...
1) yes there is a difference between solid and flex RJ's, and no its not much so dont worry. Its the shape of the copper conductors that pierce the cable.

No need to ever crimp stranded cable as buying moulded flyleads is way easier.

Buy some Cat5e or Cat6 flyleads for what you are planning, and do not stress about the length as 5M is just as good as 2M

Never buy CCA and always get full copper cable (even a moulded flylead)
 
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