CrimpShop Blog
Expert articles on cable termination, connector selection, and installation best practices.
Troubleshooting Network Cable Problems: A Field Guide
Ethernet cable not working? Start with the symptom — no link, slow speed, intermittent drops — and work backward to the cause. Step-by-step diagnostics with cable tester explanations.
How to Terminate Cat6A Cable: Complete Guide
Cat6A termination step by step: strip length, separator removal, ezEX48 connectors, correct crimp tools, T568B wiring, and testing for 10-Gigabit performance.
Can a Cat6 Connector Work on a Cat5e Cable?
The short answer is yes, but it wastes money and can cause unreliable connections. Here is exactly which connector to use for each cable type.
Cat6 vs Cat6A: What's the Difference and When Do You Need 10G?
The real-world differences between Cat6 and Cat6A - physical specs, performance, cost, and when 10G actually matters for your install.
How to Identify, Verify, and Test an RJ45 Pinout
Pin numbering, T568A vs T568B color codes, crossover cables, and how to verify your terminations with a cable tester.
Pass-Through vs Standard RJ45 Connectors: The Complete Guide
How each connector type works, speed of installation, wire waste analysis, and when standard is actually the better choice.
How to Crimp an RJ45 Connector: Step-by-Step Guide
The complete 10-step process for terminating ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector, from stripping the jacket to testing the finished crimp.
Shielded vs Unshielded Connectors: When Does STP Actually Matter?
What shielding does, when you actually need it, grounding requirements, cost analysis, and why most installs are fine without it.
EZ-RJ45 vs ezEX Connectors: Which System Should You Choose?
Design differences, cable compatibility, tool requirements, and a decision guide to pick the right pass-through connector system.
The Complete Guide to RJ45 Strain Reliefs and Boots
Why strain relief boots matter, types and installation methods, color coding standards, and sizing by connector type.
Best Network Cable Testers: What to Buy for Every Budget
Wire map testers, qualification testers, and certifiers compared. Which tester you actually need based on your role and budget.
Why Your Cat6A Crimps Keep Failing (And How to Fix Them)
The 3 mistakes that cause Cat6A termination failures - wrong connector, wrong strip length, wrong tool - and exactly how to fix each one.
Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6A: The Complete Cable Comparison
Every spec, cost, and use case compared side by side. The definitive guide to choosing the right ethernet cable category for your install.
How to Choose an RJ45 Crimp Tool: Buyer's Guide
Budget tiers, connector compatibility, and tool-by-tool breakdowns. Find the right crimp tool for your connector type and workload.
Solid vs Stranded Cable: Which Connectors Work With Each?
Why solid and stranded cable need different connectors, how to identify your cable type, and the most common mismatch mistake.
EXO Crimp Frame vs EZ-RJ Pro HD: Which Crimp Tool Do You Need?
Modular die system vs dedicated pass-through tool. Feature comparison, cost analysis, and which one fits your workflow.
What Is a 10Gig Termination Kit and Do You Need One?
What comes in a 10Gig kit, kit vs buying individually, who actually needs Cat6A termination tools, and how to evaluate kit quality.
The T568A vs T568B Wiring Standard: Which One to Use
Pin-by-pin color codes for both standards, the actual difference between them, and why consistency matters more than which one you pick.
How to Make an Ethernet Patch Cable
The complete step-by-step guide to making custom ethernet patch cables. Materials, wire order, crimping technique, and testing.
RJ45 Connector Types Explained: A Visual Guide
Every RJ45 connector variant decoded — standard, pass-through, ezEX, shielded, solid-rated, and 2-piece. Which one fits your cable and use case.
Cat7 and Cat8 Connectors: What You Need to Know
Why Cat7 connectors aren't RJ45, when Cat8 actually makes sense, and why Cat6A is still the right answer for most 10G installs.
How to Use a Network Cable Tester: Beginner's Guide
Step-by-step instructions for wire map testers, tone generators, and qualification testers. How to read results and diagnose failures.
Ethernet Speed Testing: How to Certify Your Cable Run
Testing vs qualification vs certification — what each level proves, which parameters matter, and when you need more than a wire map test.
The 10 Most Common RJ45 Termination Mistakes
Wrong connector, too much untwist, bad wire order, and 7 more mistakes that cause failed crimps. Each one with the fix.
Waterproof RJ45 Connections: Outdoor Ethernet Guide
IP ratings, waterproof couplers, direct-burial cable, conduit options, and installation best practices for outdoor ethernet runs.
Ethernet Cable for Security Cameras: Complete Wiring Guide
PoE standards, cable selection by camera type, max run distance, outdoor wiring, and NVR vs cloud — everything for IP camera installs.
Home Network Wiring: A Room by Room Guide
How many ethernet drops per room, where to put them, cable selection, central distribution, and the tools you need to wire your whole house.
How to Run Ethernet Cable Through Walls
Route planning, wall fishing techniques, drilling through plates, fire stopping, and cable separation from electrical — the complete DIY guide.
Homelab Network Setup: Choosing the Right Cable and Connectors
When 10G matters, patch cables vs permanent runs, rack cabling best practices, and budget tiers for homelab networking.
PoE Cable Requirements: What Installers Need to Know
PoE standards (af/at/bt), cable gauge requirements, heat in bundles, voltage drop, and why connector quality is critical for power delivery.
How to Wire a Patch Panel: Step by Step
Panel types, punch-down technique, wiring standards, cable management, labeling conventions, and testing — the complete patch panel guide.
Low Voltage Installer Toolkit: Essential Tools for Every Job
Every tool a low voltage installer needs organized by category, with budget tiers from starter to fully loaded and job-specific kit builds.
Data Center Cable Management Best Practices
Rack-level organization, color coding, labeling standards, bundling rules, and documentation practices for clean data center cabling.
How to Set Up a Network Closet for Small Business
Location, rack selection, layout, cabling, power, cooling, and security — everything you need for a professional small business network closet.
Fiber vs Copper: When to Make the Switch
Speed, distance, cost, and PoE compared. When copper is the right choice, when fiber wins, and why most installs use both.
HDMI over Ethernet: How It Works and When to Use It
HDMI extenders, HDBaseT, cable requirements, distance limits, and why termination quality determines whether you get a picture or a black screen.
Coax to Ethernet: How to Convert Your Existing Wiring
MoCA adapters turn your coax into ethernet. How they work, setup steps, speed, limitations, and when to just run new cable instead.
Electrician's Guide to Structured Cabling
Code separation requirements, TIA standards, termination methods, testing, common violations, and the revenue opportunity in data cabling.
BICSI Standards for Cable Installation: What You Need to Know
Bend radius, pull tension, conduit fill, untwist limits, and support spacing — the key BICSI numbers every installer should know.
WiFi Access Point Placement and Cabling Guide
Ceiling mounting, coverage planning, PoE requirements, cable routing, channel planning, and why hardwired APs beat consumer mesh.
How to Terminate Shielded (STP) Cable
Shield handling, drain wire placement, grounding requirements, and the step-by-step process for terminating shielded ethernet cable.
RJ45 vs RJ11 vs RJ12: What's the Difference?
Physical size, pin count, wiring, and use cases compared. Why they look similar but aren't interchangeable.
Ethernet Cable Length Planning: How Much Cable Do You Need?
The 100-meter rule, room-by-room cable counting, bulk cable math, patch cable lengths, and a planning worksheet.
Wire Gauge (AWG) in Network Cable: Why It Matters
AWG by cable category, why gauge affects PoE and signal quality, connector compatibility, and how to identify CCA vs solid copper.
Keystone Jack vs RJ45 Plug: When to Use Each
Punch-down keystone jacks vs crimped RJ45 plugs — where each belongs, performance differences, and why most installs use both.
How to Pull Ethernet Cable: Long Run Tips
Pull tension limits, conduit fill rates, equipment needed, and step-by-step technique for pulling cable on long runs.
Ethernet Cable Color Coding: Standards and Best Practices
Wire pair colors, jacket color conventions, rack color coding strategies, and how to read the cable jacket print.
PoE Tester Guide: How to Test Power over Ethernet
How PoE testers work, reading results, PoE standards identification, and troubleshooting dead PoE devices.
Plenum vs Riser Cable: Fire Rating Guide
CMP, CMR, CM, and CMX fire ratings explained — where each is required, substitution rules, cost differences, and NEC code reference.
Cable Certification Reports: How to Read and Understand Them
Every parameter on a cable certification report explained — wire map, insertion loss, NEXT, return loss, margin, and pass/fail interpretation.