The Trench

Friday, August 26, 2011

How to Make a Telephone Cable - DIY Video

To get started, let's make sure you have the necessary tools:

You'll Need:
RJ11/RJ45 Crimp Tool
Bulk Cat3/Cat5e Cable
RJ11 6P6C Modular Plugs
Electricians Scissors
RJ11/RJ45 Cable Tester

Now that we have all the right tools, let's make some telephone cables.

Step 1) Strip off about 1-2 inches of the cable jacket, being careful not to cut the individual strands of cable

Step 2) Separate all 4 pairs of cable

Step 3) Cut off the brown pair, and line up the cables using the USOC wiring diagram. We will be using conductors 2-7, since this is an RJ11 6P mod plug.

Step 4) Cut the cables as straight as possible, leaving around 1/4" of cables

Step 5) Insert the cable into the modular plug. Keep constant pressure on the cable, to assure the pairs do not come out of order. Make sure to press the cable all the way to the front of the mod plug.

Step 6) Insert the assembly into the 6P slot on your crimp tool, keeping pressure on the cable. By pushing slightly on the cable towards your tool, you will reduce the risk of the cables backing out slightly. Squeeze the tool all the way, remove the plug and repeat the same steps on the other side.

Watch the video: How to Make a Telephone Cable Using USOC Wiring

2) Video: How It's Made - Bulk Cat6, Cat5e, Cat3, and OSP Cable

3) Crazy Data Center Wiring Pictures

4) UL Warning: Counterfeit Cat6 Communications Cable on the Market

5) UL Requires New Holographic Labels for Low Voltage Communications Cable

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

8 Outlet Rack Mount Power Strip Video

The MinuteMan UPS Rack Mount Power Strip is the star of this weeks Product Video Blog.

First, some information on the MinuteMan MMPD815HV:
This 8 outlet rack mount power strip is ideal for data and communications equipment, typically installed on data racks and server cabinets. The 8 outlet power strip provides power to 8 pieces of equipment, and comes standard with a long 15ft power cord. This power strip is UL listed and works with any data/communications products you need to install.
Tight on space? This 8 outlet power strip can also be installed using the 0RU rack brackets.

This rack mount power strip works great with:
- 2 Post 7ft Data Racks
- Wall Mount Server Cabinets
- Wall Mount Swing Racks

Watch the Video!

Features and Benefits of the MinuteMan MMPD815HV:

- Unit can be mounted vertically or horizontally

- Longer 15-foot cord is standard

- More Outlets for your Dollar than the Competition

- High Standards - Unit is Listed with higher UL 60950-1 standards

- Rack mount and 0U Brackets Included

- Great Limited Warranty

- Easy to order from Discount-Low-Voltage.com

- More...

2) Instant Rack! Mount it Anywhere

3) Crazy Data Center Wiring Pictures

4) Video: 4 Post Data Rack Installation

5) Video: 19" Hinged Wall Mount Brackets

Monday, August 22, 2011

Contractor Testimonial: Cat3, Cat5e, and Cat6 KWIK System

We've been bragging about how good the KWIK System is and how much time and cost of labor can be saved at the job-site, but don't take it from us, take it from a contractor himself!

Doug Lynn from All Cal Communications has been doing low voltage installation work since 1989, and has worked with a wide spectrum of cables. In addition, he regularly works with and installs Panasonic phone systems. Let's see what he had to say about the Kwik Tool and Kwik Jacks:

So what else makes the Kwik System so cool besides saving time and cost on labor?

- The same cutting head is used for the Cat3, Cat5e and Cat6 keystone jacks. The cutting head is good for at least 1000 terminations, and an additional cutting head is included free of charge.

- Excellent cable test/certification results, so printed reports for your customers are a breeze. No additional labor in troubleshooting is accrued.

- Count on quality! Ever go back to a job-site to troubleshoot a keystone jack that was working when you left? Not with the KWIK jack, once it's done, it's done.

- 25 year TIA/EIA smart link performance warranty is an excellent offering for Hospitals, Military, Government and fortune 500 companies.

- The "High Density" design allows for a wide selection of applications; such as: modular furniture face plates, decora wall plates, and high density keystone patch panels. Saves valuable space.

- No split pairs! No split pair design saves time when lacing the wires onto the keystone jack.

- Color coded for 568B and 568A. Cat3 is colored for USOC wiring. Great for the new guy or home DIYer who always forgets the color code.

- UL and RoHS listed.

- 10 different colors available (Almond, Black, Blue, Gray, Green, Ivory, Orange, Red, Yellow, White).

All that and you get to work with a company that has been offering solutions for over 10 years. Sounds to me like you have a win win : )

Order all the Kwik Tool and Kwik Jacks online at Discount-Low-Voltage.com/The-Kwik-Jack-System

Or by phone (888) 797-3697

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Is There Signal Loss Using Coax Cable TV Splitters?

So your installing a structured wiring system with coax cable and your wondering how much signal loss you'll get using coax splitters. If you have a handful of coaxial cable splitters, what's the best way to reduce your signal loss? Should you use multiple 2-way splitters, or a single 8-way splitter? Our good buddy Ron Kipper from Ideal Industries gives an excellent explanation of how much signal loss you can expect.

On a personal note, as a video gamer I had a constant problem with my internet signal dropping in the middle of a match on XBOX live. This is very irritating and a problem that shouldn't be happening. After a technician troubleshooted the problem, he replaced a 4 way splitter with a 2 way that was on the external part of the house. No problem ever since! Wish I viewed this video before.

For weekly videos, check out the Discount Low Voltage YouTube Channel and for more of Ron, check out his channel at Ron Kipper Data Comm YouTube Channel.

We hope you learned something. If you did, leave a comment for us below. Or ask us your questions in the comments box. Want to see something else? Suggest it below!

Related Posts:
How to Fish Wires Through a Wall or Ceiling
How to Crimp RG6 F-Connectors
How to Make an Ethernet Cat5e/Cat6 Cable
How It's Made: Low Voltage Cable

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Everfocus EN720P19 High-Def CCTV Monitor Video

The Everfocus EN720P19 Monitor is the star of this weeks Product Video Blog.

First, some information on this 19" LCD CCTV monitor:
The Everfocus EN720P19 is a high resolution, 19" display monitor for CCTV systems. It features 720P resolution, with HDMI, BNC, VGA, S-Video, RCA inputs. Great for setting up security camera systems with 4 cameras, all the way up to 16 cameras. You can view all the cameras on the screen at the same time, or display 1 camera full screen for close up viewing. This high resolution monitor works best with the HD DVR's we offer. High definition video has taken over the cable world, and is starting to make a big entrance into CCTV.

Watch the Video!

Features and Benefits of the EN720P19 CCTV Monitor:
- High Definition 720P Display
- HDMI, BNC, VGA, S-Video, RCA inputs
- Wide screen 16:9 aspect ratio
- 3D comb filter with de-interlace & noise reduction
- 500+ lines of resolution
- Easy to order from Discount-Low-Voltage.com
- More...