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Repair a Broken Ethernet Plug

by laxap on September 12, 2009

Table of Contents

Author: laxap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: Repair a Broken Ethernet Plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: On Broken RJ45 Locking Tabs... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 2: Needed Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3: Find the Right Size of Cable Ties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 4: Cut the Cable Tie #1 to Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 5: Make its Head Thin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 6: Bend the Cable Tie #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 7: Use the Cable Tie #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 8: Done (Almost) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 9: Tune it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 10: Now, Use it ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
Author: laxap

Author: laxap author's website

I like things that are cool, useful, efficient and well executed. At best, all that in the same time.

Subscribe to me!
If I inspired you, share it: post photos in a comment, and you'll get a patch.

I am an engineer, wanting to learn to sew, to weld, and to play the guitar... And I *love* the Instructables site and its community!

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)

Intro: Repair a Broken Ethernet Plug

The locking tab of RJ45 plugs breaks very easily. Replace it by two nylon cable ties (aka zip ties), in minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
- This must be regarded as a temporary "Mac Gyver" solution, for home usage.
- Definitely not for IT staff! (no crimper? asking for one in the budget won't get you fired!)
- Before the tab breaks, consider protecting the plug.

step 1: On Broken RJ45 Locking Tabs...

There are always some Ethernet cables around with a broken tab. Did you remember to exchange the cable?

Now the RJ45 plug no longer locks properly, making the connection unreliable. You firmly push the plug into the socket, hurray you're connected again! so you forget
about the plug until the next lost connection some weeks later, wasting a long time to figure out that it's this damn broken plug again. And so on.

Now it's time to act and grab your RJ45 crimp tool. Oh, you don't have one? Or you're reluctant to use it? so read on...

Image Notes Image Notes

1. RJ45 before (with the tab). 1. RJ45 now...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
step 2: Needed Stuff
Tools:

Cable tie tool (optional)

Sharp knife
Cutting pliers

Materials:

TWO CABLE TIES (small size)

They are true heroes of this instructable.

Their exact size matters, this is discussed in the next step.

Image Notes
1. cable tie tool (optional)
2. X-Acto knife
3. cutting pliers
4. two cable ties; for size considerations see next step.

step 3: Find the Right Size of Cable Ties

The head of the cable ties must have the proper width to snap into the socket, and be easily released.

To test, insert the head into the socket as shown in the first picture below. It should snap.

Then gently pull the cable tie. You should feel some resistance.

I measured a head width of 4.3mm.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. snap into socket 1. <-- gently pull: it should resist

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
 Image Notes
1. 4.3mm

step 4: Cut the Cable Tie #1 to Length

Cut approx 4.5 cm (1.8 inches).

Image Notes
1. approx 4.5 cm (1.8 inches).

step 5: Make its Head Thin

With the sharp knife, and preferably on a piece of scrap material, cut the head of the cable tie, to make it flat.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
 Image Notes
1. the excess part has been removed

step 6: Bend the Cable Tie #1

Bend it as shown.

Image Notes
1. here
2. here
3. here
http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
step 7: Use the Cable Tie #2
With the second cable tie, tighten the first one.

Image Notes
1. 1: pull firmly
2. 2: twist to cut

step 8: Done (Almost)

Now it looks funny. Is that meant to work? Read on...

Image Notes
1. ok, it won't break; but how is it meant to work?

step 9: Tune it
Tune the position and bends of the cable tie #1, so that it acts as a spring.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. <-- tune position --> 1. when pressed, they should touch here
2. tune angles, to produce a spring effect

step 10: Now, Use it !

Insert the repaired plug as shown.

You should get this beloved "click" noise again!

Image Notes
1. >click<</td>

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"splitter" by Router, AP, Through an
existing Cat-5
chrismake Switch, Hub by Ethernet Cable
cable by
rjwarpath T3Hprogrammer by mixadj

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 176 comments

adr990 says: Feb 9, 2011. 8:07 AM REPLY

Awesome! it worked here! :D

Now when I move my PS3 it will stay in there, haha.

Thanks man.

tikeda10 says: Jan 31, 2011. 5:20 PM REPLY

I found another idea like this.
http://csoon.free.makeshop.jp/shopdetail/002000000002
Icould fixt it in few seconds.

sqeeek says: Jan 28, 2011. 9:22 AM REPLY

Great idea. If I didn't work in network repair and have a pile of connectors sitting around, I'd use it.

FYI if you have a plug you really need to be stable and not break, check out Panduit's RJ45 connectors, the tabs are built a little bit differently so they don't
break as fast.

Warped-House says: Jan 28, 2011. 5:03 AM REPLY

Thank you for this great solution to this pesty problem. It'worked fantastic. Thank again.

Mooch07 says: Jan 26, 2011. 3:16 PM REPLY

These are my favorite instructables - the ones that are easy, cheap, and everyone will need at some point.

adr990 says: Jan 26, 2011. 6:32 AM REPLY

Woah, such a easy and smart solution!

Thanks for this man.

egal says: Jan 25, 2011. 5:04 AM REPLY

thats great ..you have a wide ideas thanks for sharing

neivadan says: Jan 20, 2011. 2:45 PM REPLY

i am glad that you put the measurments or ive would of been scratching my head all day long

ozone333 says: Jan 13, 2011. 11:30 AM REPLY

Wow, that's brilliant! I'm impressed... I'm gonna try that ASAP instead of fixing it with my crimper. Imagine how many broken rj45 plugs wouldn't have to be
removed and re-crimped... Thanks!

edfarina says: Jan 10, 2011. 3:32 AM REPLY

Magnífica idéia... Meus parabéns!
Com uma idéia muito simples e com um custo baixíssimo, resolveu um problema que para muitos ia custar uma nota... tendo de chamar um "técnico" para
"tentar" refazer o cabo...
Já ví muitos apanhando dos RJ-45... =)
GENIAL !

Elton Farina / Viamão / RS / Brasil

iMacThere4iAm says: Sep 21, 2009. 5:56 AM REPLY

That is downright ingenious!
I always believed that cable ties could fix anything :)

mwarid says: Jan 6, 2011. 12:08 PM REPLY

and duct tape

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
 WPee says: Sep 23, 2009. 1:32 PM REPLY
There needs to be a GREAT SHOOT-OUT between Cable-Ties VS DUCT TAPE There should be at least 2 classes in this shoot out; one WITH a
DREMAL Tool ALLOWED and the other class WITHOUT a DREMAL Tool ALLOWED :-) :-)

Blackwo says: Oct 19, 2009. 9:09 PM REPLY

haha I like it! :D I have to admit I use Duct tape to fix like EVERYTHING. hardly use cable ties...

laxap says: Oct 3, 2009. 12:36 AM REPLY

I'd be in! Zip-ties w/o Dremel (or whatever class; any would be fun)

WPee says: Oct 9, 2009. 3:13 PM REPLY

OLD SCHOOL DUCT TAPE has a couple of old slogans
"DUCT TAPE can fix anything"
or
"If DUCT TAPE can't fix it IT CAN"T BE FIXED"

We need a similar slogan for the NEW SCHOOL 'bailing wire' guys who use high tech 'Zip-Ties' and 'Tie-Wraps'.
Also I would like to include the 'VELCRO' guys too.

Supermancp says: Dec 9, 2009. 12:11 PM REPLY

I've always been partial to: "If you can't DUCK it, _ _ _ _ it." ;)

Cap_n_Scarlet says: Oct 14, 2010. 7:27 AM REPLY

Supplies needed. 1.Super glue (5g tube or whatever!) 2 Rubber band (About the same width as the plastic TAB LEVER CLIP THING!) Gather the snapped
off lever tab (assuming you have it?) and the rubber band. Cut band to roughly same length as tab then apply super glue to the plastic tab but before glueing
to the terminal plug put the rubber band beneath the tab & wedge it under the so it fits snugly under the part that's still attached to the plug so when re-joining
the broken tab and letting the adhesive take hold leave for a while 'till the certainty that it won't just snap again (don't be inpatient! ) & when using it the plug
now has the reassurance of the rubber band to stop it from breaking again.

Well mines been great for quite a good while now!

laxap says: Oct 15, 2010. 1:05 PM REPLY

Great hack too (provided you still have the broken tab)!

Cap_n_Scarlet says: Oct 15, 2010. 2:51 PM REPLY

The rubber band would solve the breakage if placed there in the first place.

Cap_n_Scarlet says: Oct 16, 2010. 11:54 AM REPLY

Mine break because of constant removal so the rubber cushions the stress.
I see the sugru stuff protect the tab in the other inscrutable but that's not cheap and looks crap IMO , but whatever rocks your boat. It's given me
an idea to look for something to act as a boot so off I goes.
Thanks for the inspiration!

elias.alberto says: Oct 11, 2010. 9:30 PM REPLY

Man, I love you. You solved my problem with 50% of my ethernet cables and gave me something to do with the huge pack of zip ties I bought...

xeon_hl2 says: Oct 8, 2010. 5:20 AM REPLY

thanks man this will help me now
thanks

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
 erikos kostarikos says: Sep 23, 2010. 9:22 AM REPLY
VERY useful, my father used it too, his cable was broken and he tried to tape it on his laptop but it still fell out.Now he is very thankful to you.=]

laxap says: Sep 23, 2010. 9:39 AM REPLY

Glad it helped!

rak says: Sep 12, 2010. 4:02 PM REPLY

Awesome use of zip ties!

pikky_team says: Sep 10, 2010. 12:35 PM REPLY

use full idea

Popsdacook says: Sep 19, 2009. 2:48 PM REPLY

My grown up, know it all, computer expert kids now think I'm a fix-it God. Once again "Pop can fix anything." I'll never tell them about this site. Thanks for the
tip. A great one. Now, what can I do to impress the grandsons?

garavin says: Aug 23, 2010. 4:29 PM REPLY

Jet pack

hack124x768 says: Oct 6, 2009. 3:31 AM REPLY

Hovercraft

erikos kostarikos says: Sep 23, 2010. 9:24 AM REPLY

Cans of coly wich fly to you!

kelseymh says: Aug 9, 2010. 10:12 PM REPLY

Congratulations! Apparently the folks at MAKE finally stumbled across this (only 11 months late...), and have put it up on their Web site.

primelec says: Aug 6, 2010. 7:23 AM REPLY

This was really nice when my cable broke thanks so much. www.primelec.com

Kirbsome! says: Aug 1, 2010. 11:13 AM REPLY

My Internet died, and then I remembered this. You good sir, saved my Internet! Five muddy funkin' stars!

pthree says: Aug 1, 2010. 4:23 AM REPLY

I just had to say thanks, so.. there ya' go :)

abadfart says: Dec 25, 2009. 1:46 PM REPLY

very nice but i prefer the crimper but in a pinch i bet you could do with a cople of screw drivers

lukeshu says: Jul 29, 2010. 4:10 PM REPLY

Perhaps, but I'd think you would just screw up the connector. You don't just crimp down on the main cable; you must also drive the metal pins into the
individual wires. While it could be done, I bet you'd mangle the plastic around them if you weren't super careful/lucky.

abadfart says: Jul 30, 2010. 1:35 PM REPLY

ya if you had a really small one and a bigger one it might work

lukeshu says: Jul 29, 2010. 7:31 PM REPLY

I stand corrected: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-crimp-a-Network-Cable-with-a-Victorinox-Swi/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
 rocketguy says: Sep 17, 2009. 9:56 AM REPLY
Nice Hack! This is a great improvised solution, for where that's appropriate.

Furthermore, I'd like to see a tab design that is more like this than the current style, as I've only seen one that doesn't suck, and it's pretty much the same
idea but attached at both ends, sorta like a leaf spring.

Two bits of advice though: as others have noted, crushing the cable is both easy to do and a bad thing. I was thinking 5min epoxy on the jack head, but that
would be harder to do right. Just be careful I guess.

Secondly, the days of building your own cables is really past, *don't* do it! As much as I love DIY, hand crimping doesn't hold a candle to the $20K machine
that does factory made cables, crimp depth and so forth are regulated at the factory, not at the hand crimper. They're generally cheaper store bought than
the time you'd spend messing around with it, and goal #1 is reliability.

A bad hand crimp (and they're virtually impossible to do well) can really take a long time to figure out while troubleshooting. The fault can be both intermittent
and not bidirectionally broken. The worst part is that it's never clear if it's been done right, even if you have the right heads/cable type. I speak from vast
networking experience, 60K+ node network and 16 years on the job. Just not worth it, resist the urge!

amplex says: Sep 17, 2009. 10:32 AM REPLY

Have to disagree, as an IT Technician who installs cat5e cable professionally (for only 2 years, but I've done plenty of retail network
installs/moves/remodels, 1000's of terminations, etc), crimping modplugs (rj45s, aka icecubes) is not brain surgery. If you know the basics, a $10 crimper
will last you 2 years. The only 3 things you need: Crimper with adjustable stripper, Bag of icecubes, RJ45 4pair Continuity tester. $18.95 on ebay from
hongkong, these packages last quite awhile if you take care of them. After you crimp your 2 ends, run the continuity tester while moving around the cable
near the modplug. If you get a short(s), cut and reterminate that end. I sell custom length patch cables all the time too and have never had a complaint or
return. Do not be afraid to DIY regardless of what people within the industry say!!!

rocketguy says: Sep 17, 2009. 11:36 AM REPLY

Glad you've had success with it, but on a broader scale and long term, I've seen problems. You can have success with it, but the issue I have is
reliability, and in my experience it's something that folks are "getting away with". Sure it will work, even most of the time, but not as well as a precision
made cable. This is probably more of an issue for me running a larger enterprise than most businesses. Your odds of having a bad cable in a smaller
install is of course less, and if you're doing it all day you're probably better than the occasional use guy. Also you've got a tester, so you've got a
fighting chance there. With stranded core and the right type of ends to match, you'll probably do fairly well. I used to do cable installs, much like
yourself, and also worked for companies that had their own cable fab plants (where I encountered the aforementioned expensive auto-uber-
crimpers), now I'm responsible for a huge and very diverse network. I see everything possible, and a few things that really shouldn't be. (Flat Satin on
RJ-45's -CAT-Zero! what moron put this in!?!). In any case, the time spent on custom cables is really only justified cost/benefit wise if there's some
specific real need other than "didn't have that length". I'm a huge DIY guy, but I know how to pick my battles. I don't build my own refinery for car oil
either. My bar for reliability is very high because I don't have time to fix things at this scale. We run a 60,000+ node network with about 10 guys, so
it's gotta be solid. My trouble duty rotations have put me in a position to see what technologies work, and which don't with a large statistical base. But
hey, y'all are adults and make up your own minds. I use the best car oil I can find, as the extra $40 saves me $1000's down the road, and I use good
network gear as downtime is more expensive in the long run than any equipment cost that's reasonably possible. Last thing, You're just as much "in
the industry" as I am. Not like I sell the damn things, I just have to fix it when it's broke.

lukeshu says: Jul 29, 2010. 4:31 PM REPLY

Like others have said, there's no reason a cable hand-crimped is any worse than a factory made cable, just pull out a multimeter and test it before
you install. I know that I trust the connectors on a cable I made more than factory-made cables, but I don't trust others to do such a good job. (if
it's low-quality wire, and they go bad; that's a separate issue). Of course for a 60,000+ node network, it's impractical to hand-crimp all of them.

However, I would like to note that flat satin is okay for cables shorter than the minimum length of cat5.

rocketguy says: Jul 29, 2010. 5:55 PM REPLY

1) Hand crimped can work, but it is not as consistent as a quality cable made via machine. I've worked with those machines personally, so I
understand some of the differences that actually do exist, in terms of repeatability. I have done both, and while it's appropriate to hand crimp
to expedite the occasional connection on your own home network, it shouldn't be a regular professional practice for network installation at the
enterprise level. Also most hand crimpers are crap, which may be most of the problem. 2) Flat satin is "CAT-0", no twist at all. It's an antenna
for any EMF in the area, and should never be used for network cable. Again, it can be made to function, you could use two car jumper cables
and pass traffic, but what you'll end up with is more network errors and a slower network. I've seen this firsthand, and done packet analysis to
back it up.

Taranach says: Sep 18, 2009. 8:51 AM REPLY

Let me tell you a little something about those "factory cables" you are recommending. I have worked on the commercial building installation side
of things where nearly ALL the crimps are hand done, and I have also worked on the "factory" equipment.

To begin with they are about 6 to 8 times more expensive then DIY ones. They only come in predetermined lengths that are generally rarely
suitable for the application unless the application has been specifically engineered for them. Next the failure rate for the "factory made" ones is
one out of one hundred... about the same as a home crimp... why? because the dies wear, insulation doesn't cut right, wires snap, etc... the
reason why the factory ones *Seem* so good is that they are tested before packaging. Even there the tests are quick continuity tests. Only about
one in a hundred are sent to QA to be thoroughly tested.

On the home use side, I actually have to have a stash of several different lengths in order to find one that will match and don't get me started on
longer runs. If you get the proper tools and a tester there is no reason why a DIY crimp can't be every bit as good as a "factory" crimp. Especially
if you make several short practice cables to get the feel for doing it.

Maybe you have the nice deep corporate budget and regimented installation where factory crimped cables turn out to be easier but the average
Instructables user does not have that luxury.

Finally, this is an expedient that is especially useful for field work and for low stress applications where the wiring only gets disturbed
occasionally. I have had the clips snap off the ends of a perfectly good cable several times when trying to reroute the cable and this "fix" is an
excellent idea.

Getting factory made whenever possible is a great idea because you have the option of returning it to the place of purchase if it fails out of the

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/
 box. However, DIY can be done every bit as well if not better if taken the time to do carefully and properly.

cegu says: Sep 17, 2009. 3:13 PM REPLY

There is no quality or reliablity diffrence betwen your cable or factory cable, if any, yours is better. All the phones all over the world work on cables
with man-put connecters on them, factory cables are minority. Tester? A battery and one LED is your tester. It's just a copper wire, nothing more.
No need to compare it with oil quality.

amplex says: Sep 17, 2009. 2:52 PM REPLY

You have a great point, I can see why you wouldn't want to make every single patch cable within a 60k+ node environment, and for someone
responsible for reliability of networks that large, you really wouldn't want to dabble around with crimping/testing patchcables all day. That's
agreed. And TBH, I would never mess around with making short patch cables unless I need one in a pinch. With so many people moving to
wireless routers, you can pick them up pretty cheap now. Mostly I get calls for 75-100' cables, where people are saving a substantial amount of
money buying it from the guy with the bulk cat5e cable boxes for $10 instead of paying $25+ for one (about the cost of 500') instead. I don't mind
helping people out locally, selling my leftover patch cables for cheap that I collect from jobs, etc. I only make $2-10 per cable but it costs me
nothing to offer them on craigsli st. It's just the DIY mentality I'm trying to promote with that reply. When you have a small network of 2-3
computers, its much more cost efficient to find someone to make you cables and plug them in yourself than to hire a network professional to do
the work for you. Your company probably saves a lot of money by buying their patch cables in bulk, but consumers end up paying a lot more in a
retail store for something that works no better or worse than one that I make in 2.7 minutes. You are correct and logical in every point you make,
we just come from opposite ends of the spectrum. I'm from the school of: stay 2-3 generations behind the 'newest thing' for reliability, cost, and
knowledge pertaining to the technology. If something breaks, it costs me much less to replace. New technology only lasts so long anyway. All
consumer electronics are engineered to break these days anyway.. I digress =]

amplex says: Sep 17, 2009. 3:08 PM REPLY

On another note: you can buy 100' patch cables for $5 off ebay if you don't mind waiting a few days for them to be shipped =] Pretty cheap
compared to say radioshack which wants something like $30-60 for a 100'er. Retail stores sometimes have 100x markup on items like this,
which is where they make all their money (used to work @ CompUSA 10 yrs ago, where these items were the only thing that they made
money on in the whole store, besides service plans). Premade cables should be very cheap, don't be fooled. And machine crimped/multiple
LAN tested cables are way more reliable in general than some random persons custom crimped cable. But the ease/power of being able to
make/test them yourself is what I was shooting for in my reply, more in the spirit of this site.

jakdedert says: Dec 8, 2009. 9:01 PM REPLY

Your ready-made cable is fine, if all you're going to do is run it across the floor. Mine all go under the house. I'd have had to drill a 5/16"
or larger hole in the floor instead of the 1/4" or smaller hole to pull a bare cable. Even the hooded connectors get snagged when you're
doing jobs like that.

Bare cable/hand-crimped connectors is the only way to go in these situations.

(Tip: always drill the hole between the baseboard and quarter-round or other shoe molding. It's usually painted, so if you have to pull out
the cable; a little calk/some paint, and you can't tell there was a hole. IOW, drill at an angle into the top of the shoe molding.)

rocketguy says: Dec 9, 2009. 8:21 AM REPLY

Actually, what the (bicsi certified etc etc) pros do in this situation is install premise cabling and hardware(jacks). So instead of putting
a male plug on it, use solid core CAT5e and terminate per 568A onto a jack, mounting the jack into a biscuit or wall plate as fits your
situation. This is preferable as the mounted hardware tends to stay still and keeps your pain-in-the-butt-run cable from having issues.
Then a patch cord goes from the jack to your machine. When the patch is crushed, chewed or otherwise destroyed by furniture pets
or toddlers, it's easily replaced and your intra-wall cabling is untouched.

All that said, this is definitely going for what my mom calls "the nth degree" of reliability. Great and even necessary for an enterprise
network, less important for a 3 node home network. So it's a judgment call. I'd spend the extra $15 on jacks and stuff if you make a
living off it and need it to always work. But I'm kinda anal about these things, which is why my mom has phrases like "the nth degree"
in her vocabulary.

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-a-Broken-Ethernet-Plug/