Testing Cat5e Cables

[techie17]

Hi

 

Im currently testing data cables in a school that will be transferring into the MAT and so far out of the 12 cables I have tested with a fluke tester, 11 have failed on NEXT and Return Loss although not by much. What would others stance on this be? Would it be to rip out the cables and put in new ones or if they have only just failed, to leave them?

 

Ive still got another 40 cables to check and to be honest, the cable installations look very poor and probably done about 20 years ago so not sure what the best options are. The chances of the rest of them failing i would say is very high and i wouldn't now where to check or remedy the NEXT or Return loss issues.

 

Thanks

[elsiegee40]

I’d be tempted to rip the lot out and replace with something more modern than Cat5e to future-proof things if you have the budget for it.

[Chris_Cook]

If it's just the end terminations of the cables that look dodgy, then I'd probably replace the face-plates on a couple of them and see how that affects the fluke test.

 

If the cable is that old, its probably worth seeing if you can find what grade it is. If its Cat5 rather than 5e, I'd make a recommendation to replace it completely.

 

The other thing is the cable routing. If it runs past fluorescent lights or high current plant machines/Lifts etc then that would be another argument to replace.

 

What's the history of the IT in the school? Have they had network (or random IT) problems in the past?

 

Really, it's up to the school to decide if they want to take a risk on it.

[chazzy2501]

unless the PCs have been having difficulties using the points I'd not worry about it.

[techie17]

Thanks all. I will get some quotes to begin with and go from there. The school does have issues with network connectivity from time to time hence the reason i tested the cables.

[k-strider]

id love one of these

https://www.flukenetworks.com/content/linkiq-virtual-demo

[pete]

I vote to rip it out and replace. It may require a Condition Improvement Fund bid if the electrics are also in poor condition, but your CFO should be on the case with pulling together a bid for that. Ethernet is low-voltage electrical wiring.

 

So far we've:

 

• Redone electrics and fibre at one of the secondaries
  
• Redone electrics, ethernet and fibre at both primaries
  
• About to begin redoing as much of the electrics as we can fit into the budget at the other secondary
  
• Planning to rewire incoming primary for electrics, ethernet and fibre
  

 

Mostly because "it'll last another year" has been relied on for far too long and now it's a problem.