There are many different types of cables that are sold at hardware and computer stores. Some of the cables for sale can be enormous lengths just by looking at the way they are coiled and how big the coiled cable is.
If each end of the cable has 4 strands of twisted pair in the jacket, the cable is most likely Cat 5 (Category 5) or Cat 5e in bulk. Consider this little checklist before proceeding to buy a cable in bulk, especially if it’s online like Amazon.com.
Understand its uses
Cat 5 and Cat 5e cables look alike on the screenshots, so be sure to tell them apart and ultimately learn about their primary uses. Cat 5 cables are mainly used for 100 Mbit/s networks like 100BASE-TX Ethernet.
Cat 5e cables are the upgraded version of Cat 5 and are absolutely better with no known drawbacks compared to Cat 5. What’s even better is that cable prices are similar so go for Cat 5e especially if the network type is a Gigabit network to enjoy the 1000 Mbit/s and to protect against crosstalk at the far end.
Let’s see if it’s worth the installation
Many Amazon customers put a bulk cable, crimping tool, and Cat 5e RJ45 modular jack pack in their shopping cart, as these are the materials needed to create a standard Ethernet cable.
It is imperative to understand how to use the crimp tool to properly configure an Ethernet cable. There are several tutorials online that provide decent explanations on how to use them.
The network cable installation crimping tool kit found on Amazon is also a good place to start, as it also includes a cutter and stripper. If the crimping process turns out to be too much, it’s more reasonable to get a standard ethernet cable from Amazon.
Learn about the advantages over buying standard Ethernet cables
Buying a cable in bulk is much cheaper than buying individual Ethernet cables that are the same length. Bulk cables can be up to 1000 feet in length, which should be more than enough to make dozens of cables that will be used to connect a network of dozens of computers. RJ45 connectors can also be purchased at low prices.
Since the bulk cable will be safely stored after all crimping, there is no need to purchase additional Ethernet cables until the bulk cable is depleted. This means that it is not a good idea to buy a long bulk cable just to interconnect a small home network.
Always remember that the Ethernet cable is limited to a maximum of 328ft or 100m. It’s a good habit to go below that limit (usually 90m) for the patch cord. Once crimping is mastered, bulk cables are the way to go for setting up large wired networks.