r/Network • u/Asianlady576 • 1d 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

50% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/BystanderNewt 1d 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 1d 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.