Contender for worst networking job ever.

[pete]

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, other than saying no it's not here - I found them in a thread on another forum and yes, they're on bare earth outside.

 

[featured_spectre]

ingenious method, but not something i would do

[rad]

and in no cable run anyway. mice spring to mind.....

[Ric_]

The ingenuity astounds but it certainly wouldn't be my method of choice.

[synaesthesia]

With those connectors, that was either a sparky or a telecoms engineer. Quite likely a sparky when they've untwisted that far back with no idea why you shouldn't.

[GREED]

I want to go one better and mention that when a refurb happened at my last place, the av installed used CAT5 cable as speaker wire... because they had nothing else. That is brilliant!

[sted]

I want to go one better and mention that when a refurb happened at my last place, the av installed used CAT5 cable as speaker wire... because they had nothing else. That is brilliant!

 

ive seen 2 core mains lead used as speaker wire before now

[Andrew_C]

ive seen 2 core mains lead used as speaker wire before now

So? Perfect for it; only becomes a problem with systems needing more than 2.5mm csa cables.

 

And if the run is short, and low powered, CAT5 would be fine too. Especially tiny speakers near whiteboards.

[MYK-IT]

Nothing wrong with Cat5 as speaker cable (as long as you're into braiding!)

 

DIY Cat5 Speaker Cables

Speaker cable made from braided Cat5

[GREED]

All agree this is not a problem, but not when you have paid for it, aaaand you have this horrible purple wire sticking out of the wall!

[GrumbleDook]

Shhhh .... don't say purple is horrible ... you know a certain person will coming in and have to kill you ...

[john]

Holds hand up, I've done that type of repair / quick mod before, Jelly Crimps are cheap enough (Ive got a box full here under my desk I got years ago) and it works fine and does the job. Never use it for a permanent connection though that's just silly but a repair where damaged or a temp I need a connection for a few days would be fine.

 

I've also used cat6 for speaker wire, it works fine and does the job and cheaper at the time than a roll of speaker wire, was only a short run between an amped speaker and the other side in an IT room does the job, but I wouldnt' use it for a big setup like School Hall etc.

[p858snake]

Looks like something Telstra would do.

[AngryTechnician]

I have actually seen this method in my current school, though only indoors and hidden inside trunking!

[sidewinder]

Admire the ingenuity but I certainly wouldnt want to be using whatever is connected to that cable!

If we have a similar situation here I usually terminate both ends with an RJ45 connecter and use a coupler

[SpuffMonkey]

Heres one from a previous job - twisted together & covered in tape....

[fafster]

Saw something similar in my previous job. They (a member of the teaching staff) stripped the plastic and twisted the wires together. The look of bafflement on their face when it wouldn't work was priceless.

[Andrew_C]

Again, no real reason why that shouldn't work. Wire wrapping is a common connection method inside serious (sometimes painted green) equipment. Same process.

 

OK, I'd not use it for anything other than a quick fix to tide you over until you can do a proper job.

[soveryapt]

I think the worst job I've seen of late was by a contractor my school had bought in to sort an office refit over the holiday (sparky work as well as network so they lumped it all together). The wire wouldn't reach the new cab so they fitted one of those lovely CAT5 connector blocks and put a new stretch on to the cab. This is ok in my book as the extra length was only 2m (maybe 3m) but the problem was, they just shoved the wires into the box and punched randomly by the looks (our deputy head was complaining she couldn't access SIMS which is why I found out). So at first, as there was no signal on the wire, I thought ok, they've not patched it, so popped my toner on and traced it back along and found this connector box. Had a look inside, realised what they'd done so repunched it ..

 

Thinking GREAT it'll work now, I went back to test .. nope .. then found out, they'd even managed to punch it incorrectly into the COLOUR CODED PATCH BAY! So I repunched that and et voila, got a signal .. I keep thinking about testing the remaining cables in there as I worry there will be more problems like it .. I mean, it took the guy 2 days to figure out why his link from the cab to my main cab wasn't working (again, incorrect punching). I do worry about contractors that people pull in these days .. I certainly wish I was on the same hourly rate for doing such a poor job! lol ..

[IanT]

I always get any cabling guys to test every port\cable before they leave the job.

[dwhyte85]

I always get any cabling guys to test every port\cable before they leave the job.

I bet they love you

[soveryapt]

I always get any cabling guys to test every port\cable before they leave the job.

 

They were meant to .. however, not being a job I've organised, but one that's been organised from above me, I didn't have the luxury. Showed my worth to the school though by getting her back up and running! Problem is as well, is that the guy is doing work on some portacabins we have on site now .. so I can see me having some fun when they're commissioned!

[IanT]

I bet they love you

 

Don't Care :-)

[HarryMonkey]

I always get any cabling guys to test every port\cable before they leave the job.

 

They are meant to, and give you a printout of the test results showing speed etc. ... How else can they warranty the work if it's not tested.

 

Quick question for all the "twist for a quick fix" people ... in the CAT5 spec, what is the maximum distance between the last twist and the point of termination?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: 12mm

[pete]

Again, no real reason why that shouldn't work. Wire wrapping is a common connection method inside serious (sometimes painted green) equipment. Same process.

 

OK, I'd not use it for anything other than a quick fix to tide you over until you can do a proper job.

 

It's more the length of untwisted copper that's the issue. Plus random gnawing mammals under the house, not using outdoor rated cable.

 

The background on this job was that a guy contracted electricians to do a few network runs in his house. Rather than going from A > B in a contnuous run, they ran a cable from A and B and then joined them in the middle.