Where To Get CAT5 Cable and connectors cheap?

[Salvador]

I'm looking for the best prices on CAT5 cable. Home Depot has 1000 ft of CAT5E for $57. Can I do any better than this? A box of 50 RJ45 connectors is about $15 at HD. Decent?

TIA,

Sal

 

[randal]

$57 for 1k' is pretty good -- here in co.springs, co, my business pays 59.99 ... $15 for 50 ends is kind of steep ... our most recent invoice shows that we paid $22.50 for 300 ... check online for some wholesale stuff.

pretty good deal, though.

$.02
randal

 

[Salvador]

Thanks Randal! Sometimes HD has good deals, I just wanted to know if this was a decent one or not because I haven't got a clue.

As far as checking on connectors, where do you suggest that I look? Got any favorite vendors for this sort of stuff?

Thanks again,

Sal

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.9thtee.com/networking.htm

 

[BuckMaster]

Thats not a bad price! Dont forget your crimpers! Also if you need any good sites for wireing the ends LMK. I just wired my whole basement.

 

[ScottMac]

Make sure the connectors you buy are the Category-rated variety. They're more expensive, but you need 'em....

FWIW / .02

Scott

 

[aimn]

Check out CyberGuys

 

[Salvador]

<< Make sure the connectors you buy are the Category-rated variety. They're more expensive, but you need 'em.... >>


Sorry.. I don't follow? What is Category-rated?

Thanks again,

Sal

PS.. Thanks for all the great replies everyone!

 

[ScottMac]

Structured cabling components (cable, connectors, panels, etc) are usually certified to a certain level of performance. The EIA/TIA sets the specifications.

The current popular spec is Category 5. TO keep Category five, EVERY component (cable, connector, panels, outlets) must be certified Category 5. The current higest spec is Category six...harder to find, more expensive, but likely to have &quot;longer legs&quot; than the Cat 5 stuff of today.

The other thing you have to watch for is whether it's 568A or 568B....for panels &amp; outlets, both oughta be the same spec (568a or b). How you position the pairs in the connector is also a spec...the cable designers expect the colors to be in a certain sequence...failing to follow the right sequence will (might) blow the cable spec too.

That's it, in a nutshell. Keep yer &quot;A's&quot; &amp; &quot;B's&quot; the same and you should be good (kinda like Geranimals....).

Good Luck

Scott

 

[G19]

The best deal I?ve found on cable and ends is through ComReady. They have a 1000? spool of Space Shuttle brand Cat5e 350Mhz stranded for $59. They also sell the crimp on ends at 50 for $5 or 100 for $8.

NetCruiser Tech RJ 45 Crimp On End for Stranded Cable Use

SPACE SHUTTLE 1000 Feet Cat.5e Gigabit Ethernet Enhanced 350Mhz Stranded Cable

They also sell a decent crimper for $22.
NetCruiser Tech. Modular Plug Crimping Tool

 

[Salvador]

Thanks for you input!

Sal

 

[lambo881]

Looks like ComReady has good prices on Cat5 Keystone jacks too. I think they go for $5 or $6 a piece at HD, but I was able to find them at Radio Shack for $2.99, although they were very limited in supply (I went to 3 stores in order to get 8 jacks).

 

[Wik]

PCCABLES has pretty good prices on the ends.