Ethernet Cable - difference in brands?

[Dolby]

Some of you that hang out in the Off topic section may know that I've moved position within my company recently specializing on the networking side.

So first thing is that if you're a reseller and working on a large project requiring Ethernet cable, racks or wireless - drop me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you regarding pricing.

I've just started the position and still balancing my old position, so haven't ready up as yet. So the question part of my post is does different brand Ethernet make a difference? Or it it only the standard that matters?

 

[Necropolis]

I would think it would be the standard that matters.

I can't imagine there'd be much difference between brands.

 

[Mal1ce]

Yes, some brands are CCA (copper clad aluminium) whereas others (the more expensive) are pure solid/stranded copper.

 

[InusB]

On the proper brands the difference is negligible. Have to say that Systimax is in a class of it's own but never worth the price it is charged.
I do think that performance on Copper Clad Aluminum cables is not up to standard. (Always very difficult to proof anyway)

 

[SauRoNZA]

I've found the RJ45 jacks themselves to be of more importance in most cases than the cabling itself.

They might claim it's a standard but some RJ45's simply don't work in some RJ45 ports when hand crimped. Use a factory made cable and magically it works again.

Found this especially with Dell and Apple.

 

[DA-LION-619]

Saw a CAT7 cable from Siemens with a metal jack, don't want to imagine how much it cost.

 

[WAslayer]

we are in process of cabling up 20 racks right now.. we bought some really nice good looking quality cable from one supplier.. you know that type of cable that feels solid in your hand, does not coil back up after it has been uncoiled and you can feel the weight to it on the 10 to 15 meter lengths.. then we also bought the same length cable from another supplier, literally 5 to 6 times cheaper than the a fore mentioned cables.. the jacket covering the clip on the rj45 is rock solid.. you can not push the clip down that jacket covering the clip.. we had to cut the jacket off covering the clip.. the cladding around the twisted pairs is miles from the actual twisted pair cables and the pinch and twist in a heartbeat.. so much so that i have little faith that those cables that have pinches in them will work once the links go up.. they dont uncoil.. even with 5 of them cable tied in a loom, the entire loom coils back up and gets all horrid and twisted and an utter pain the run.. and they also weigh much less than the other cables we bought.. so in terms of workmanship and build quality etc, there is a huge difference.. massive.. as for actual performance, cant comment there as yet.. links are not live yet..

 

[ponder]

Between the supplier & installer I want certified test rest results & a warranty covering the entire installation.

 

[Dolby]

Thanks guys.

I've never even given thought to cable brands until I realised I need to sell the stuff

 

[sajunky]

I see there is lot of confusion regarding Cat5e cables. I don't talk about CCA cables - these are substandard. These inflexible cables which coil back are probably plenum rated cables. Don't use plenum rated cables unless they must be installed in air-ducts for central airconditing system or return air path (ceilings). There are more expensive and electrical characteristics are not better.

Typical material for plenum rated cable individual wires is Teflon FEP. It will not burn or shrink when heated with soldering iron.

Normal (non-plenum) cables use PVC as an outer insulator. It makes it flexible. The individual wires are insulated with polyolefin. Polyolefin has an excellent electrical charasteristics. Check cable specification whether it is using polyolefin for individual wires. It is your minimum requirement when chosing Cat5e cable. If doesn't say, probably it is something cheaper. Polyolefin will resist shrinking when heated with soldering iron and is less flexible than the insulation used on the standard Telkom telephone cable.

About plugs. There are two types: for solid wire and stranded wire (patch cable). Never mix plugs, there are incompatible. Some of 3-pronged plugs can be used both on the solid wire and stranded, they use longer prongs. However design is patented and imitations not always work well. Always have two sets of plugs to be safe.

In the past I used a cheap distributor of cables: Cable Link in Strijdom Park (Randburg). They always had two types of cables: a cheap one and some sort of "premium brand". Premium brand was only 10% more expensive and it was imperative to always ask for a "premium brand". Non-premium was a rubbish, but dealers didn't know it.