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How do you know if your wiring is truly working properly?  A network tester will help you see if all the wiring you did with the tool-less Keystone Jack and the patch work done with RJ45 connectors is good to go.   The network tester comes with a little sidekick tester to test RJ45 connectors by sending a signal back and forth from tester to mini-tester.

To test your Keystone Jack connection just simply plug in a Cat5e/6 cable into the main port in the tester.  Place the sidekick tester at the other end of the connection of the Keystone Jack to test the signal.  By turning on the tester you will see the lights run downwards.  If the line of lights do not all light up then a port is open.  This means you need to check the Keystone Jack hook ups to make sure you have the correct colored wires in the corresponding slots.

To test a patch RJ45 connector cable, just simply plug in the cable into both the main tester and sidekick tester in the correct ports.  When the tester is turned on both devices will light up in corresponding order.  If the lights do not correspond together then there is a short or open wire.  If the lights jump around (ex. Base 2 = Sidekick 5) then the wires are crossed.

To have a successful testing connection all lights need to be working in corresponding order.  The SHEILD light will light up on the main tester no matter the connection.  Though if you are testing a sheilded Cat5e/6 wire both SHEILD lights will light up on the main and sidekick tester.

This is how a network tester is used to test connections between the Keystone Jack and RJ45 connectors you just built for yourself.

• Tools Needed

• (2) RJ45 connectors
• Category 5 Jacket Stripper
• Crimp Tool
• CAT5e/6 cable

Tired of having too long of a cable making it look like a nightmare to untangle? Well we can fix that problem for you by showing you how to create CAT5e/6 network cables with RJ45 connectors. By doing this it will give you the ability to set up your Local Area Network (LAN) to the exact length needed.  By following these simple steps listed below you can finish this project in a snap.

Step 1

By using a Crimp Tool, trim the cables to ensure the end of the wires you are patching are constant.

Step 2

While using the Category 5 Jacket Stripper be careful not to damage any of the wires by stripping off roughly 1 inch of the jacket.

Step 3

Untangle the wires by using the discarded jacket making them 8 individual wires. Use your hands to straighten the wires.

Step 4

Once the wires are straight, face the ends of the wires away from you. Place the wires side by side in the correct order from left to right: white/orange, solid orange, white/green, solid blue, white/blue, solid green, white/brown, solid brown (T568B Pair is used in the United States).

Step 5

Making sure the connector clip is facing down on the RJ45 connector; place the wires in the connector still facing away from you. Push the wires firmly to the end of the connector aligning the cables to the pins. For a strong connection try to push as much of the cable jacket into the connector as possible.

Step 6

By using the Crimp Tool again, place the RJ45 connector in the correct slot labeled 8P. Squeeze down on the handles crimping the connector and the wires together.

Step 7 (Optional)

Optional Step – Test the connection of the wire by using a Cable Tester to ensure your colors are crimped in the correct slots allowing a strong connection. Steps on how to use a Cable Tester will be explained in a future blog.

Repeat steps 1-6 to patch the opposite end of the cable.  Now you have successfully modified your CAT5e/6 cable to your desired length.  This cable can be used with any networking devices such as network switches, routers, and Keystone Jacks.

• Tools Needed

• Tool-less Keystone Jack
• Jacket Stripper
• CAT5e/6 cable

The Tool-less Keystone Jack is here to the rescue to help you wire up your home network. This invention gives you the ability to install a Keystone Jack without using an Impact Punch Down Tool. This tool-less jack is mainly meant for the small networker wanting to set up just a few jacks around their home. If you are planning on wiring Keystone Jacks for a hobby or a job I would consider buying an Impact Punch Down Tool and 110 Keystone Jacks. The following steps below will help you on installing the jack.

STEP 1

Cut a CAT5e/6 cable by using a Jacket Stripper. Rotate the stripper around the cable clockwise until the jacket is fully cut. (Do Not use scissors to strip the wire, because it can slice the wire causing a bad connection).

STEP 2

Remove the jacket by just simply pulling it off.

STEP 3

Untangle the exposed wires by rotating the scrap piece of jacket downwards on each pair of wires.

STEP 4

Match up the colored wires with the corresponding color codes on the  Keystone Jack (T568B Pair is used in the United States). The correct order of wires is the following: solid orange, orange/white, green/white, blue/white, solid blue, solid green, solid brown, brown/white.

STEP 5

Since this can be a tricky task, use the black clamp tool that can hold up to four wires in place while placing the other four in their correct slots.

STEP 6

Once you have placed all the wires in their correct slots remove the black clamp tool and press down the cover snapping it in place.

STEP 7

Then place the white clip in the slot in the middle of the jack and press down snapping it in place and locking the cables in position.

STEP 8 (Optional)

Optional Step – Test the network connection by using a Cable Tester to ensure your jack has a strong connection. Steps on how to use a Cable Tester will be explained in a future blog.

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You have successfully completed your Tool-Less Keystone Jack. Place the jack into your wall plate and start using your network. If you do not have a wall plate, please visit FireFold’s Wall Plate section.

We review a classic problem: How to terminate Cat5 cable at a keystone jack. Our speaker, Daniel, takes the viewer through all of the steps and techniques that should be used to complete this tedious, yet important, task. Daniel had no experience with Cat5e cable coming into production of the video, but you can see that with a little practice, even a novice can install Ethernet correctly. What else can I say that the video cant say for itself?
Have a look

Following is a list of products used in the making of this video.

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