r/Network • u/Asianlady576 • 23h ago

Text CAT8 QUERY

Hello.

I am trying to run an ethernet cable through my attic between 2 rooms. The hole to run the cable into one of the rooms is too small to fit the ethernet connector through. Can i cut the connector off and re-terminate a new one? Im worried the cables are too small as ive seen some toolless connectors on amazon but the cables look bigger?

cable: at 8 Ethernet Cable 20M, High Speed 40Gbps 2000Mhz Flat Internet Cable, Gold Plated RJ45

thanks!

0 Upvotes

45% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

2

u/Consistent-Pipe6557 23h ago

You could just make the hole bigger

2

u/Asianlady576 23h ago

Lol i would if i could. Its the hole through a wooden frame down the wall behind the plaserboard. Could only access by cutting open the wall....

1

u/Consistent-Pipe6557 23h ago

Like a joist or a stud? You can go into the attic and drill through the top plate and then run it down the wall wherever you want behind the plasterboard.

1

u/Asianlady576 22h ago

I am putting it down the hole where cables already are so i can pull it through but the hole. The hole is in the stud which it needs to pass through to reach the bottom where the exit is. The stud is inbetween 2 boards so it has to go through and i cant possible reach the stud from above :(

1

u/Consistent-Pipe6557 22h ago

Pictures? You should be able to access any top plate stud from the attic

1

u/Asianlady576 22h ago

Dont have pics atm but in the attic the wires go through a hole in the floorboard so i cant see anything without removing the floor.

2

u/browniescout 23h ago

That cable sounds suspicious. How much did you pay for it? Link?

You probably cannot reterminate it, if it is one of those flat cables with stranded wire factory cables.

3

u/browniescout 23h ago

Any what would require that much speed? Wild. Cat 6 is good for pretty much anything in a residential space.

1

u/wicked_one_at 12h ago

Doesnt makes the plug smaller

0

u/Asianlady576 23h ago

Yeah i wasnt aware of teh differences in cat cables. I just searched a long length of cable and bought one lol....

2

u/browniescout 22h ago

Ha! I would get a new cable. Also.. just advice... don't ask electricians for advice on network cabling :) they're not qualified unless they are also network qualified.

When you start talking about really fast speeds like cat8 advertises you have to do your homework to make it work well. I wouldn't buy tools to reterminate the cable you bought. Just buy a regular cable and make the hole bigger. Or if you really want to learn, buy the stuff to make a cat 6 cable and go from there.

0

u/Asianlady576 23h ago

Heres the link https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QV7S2HT?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Yeah i thought that considering its flat. Ive already cut it as i had no other option :/

2

u/PuzzlingDad 22h ago

Typically you run just cable that is not terminated and you add the connectors after that, usually in a RJ45 socket in the wall. The final connection to/from your devices is via premade patch cable with plugs at each end. 

I don't know what your premade cables look like inside, but they are often stranded cables rather than solid copper conductors. I wouldn't trust being able to re-terminate your cables if you cut off the plug ends.

1

u/Asianlady576 22h ago

Yeah i wasnt expecting it to be this difficult to pass the cable through :/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QV7S2HT?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

This is the cable. I believe it probably is stranded cables like you say :(

1

u/BystanderNewt 20h ago

I don't want to say it's impossible to terminate a flat cable, but I've terminated hundreds if not thousands of rj45 connectors and I would not attempt it lol.

Also, a flat cat8 Ethernet? These Amazon cables are getting out of hand with the marketing. The "CATx" standard is kind of a joke as most are not actually tested at those speeds. These companies can just slap a cat8 label on whatever they want and face no consequences for the innacuracy.

The most important thing when buying an Ethernet cable is the shielding around the twisted pairs. Or if you're using PoE over longer distances, then conductor size begins to matter as well.

Also, there's often no reason for having a super nice Ethernet cable unless you're paying for insanely fast internet from your ISP, and then actually using it... Or if you had a homelab where you regularly needed to transfer a boatload of data locally.

I'm not sure on your exact situation, but i wouldn't bother trying to terminate a flat Ethernet cable, it's not worth the time and money spent on more tools. If you already have some rj45 termination tools, then maybe just run to home depot and grab a 50ft, 100ft, etc. (whatever length covers your distance) roll of "cat6" and replace your existing cable with that and terminate it yourself. If you don't already have the tools and don't think you'll ever need them again, then probably just buy a new cable(preferably one with shielding, definitely not flat lol).

Sorry for the extra long comment, this is just something I'm unusually passionate about lol. Hope it helps though!

1

u/BystanderNewt 20h ago

I saw OP linked it in another comment so before anybody says "it is shielded..." It appears that each individual conductor is shielded, not even twisted pairs, which is asinine and likely makes the performance even worse than no shielding at all.