Cheap network CAT 5 cables

[swifty3]

I just bought a 1000' spool of CAT 5E network cables and a bunch of patch cables for a home network. The prices were good, and if u spend over $100, you basically get free shipping. ($10 discount on shipping)
Look at GreatCables.com The 1000' spool was $79, and the patch's were 2 or 3 bucks, I think.

 

[Vegito]

i bought a few spool at home depot for like 69 and they're 5e, might not need to wait if it's emergency...

 

[stevens]

Check out your local homedepot. I went there and they had 100ft for $6. didnt look at 1000ft but it is probobly decent and youd ont have to pay shipping and handling.

 

[UofI]

Home Depot has some superb prices!

 

[alpha88]

Cat5e 1000 feet for $59 at newegg.com last time i checked

 

[IBhacknU]

1000" Cat5e only 54.99 here at Home Depot

 

[nekote]

At Home Depot Web Site

From my zip:

SKU#709456 1000' CAT-5E $59.90

UPS Ground S&H 9.21 (again, zip specific, I'll bet)

 

[geekender]

Outpost.com 55.94 with 2 day delivery, 57.94 overnight. No tax.(GA resident)

sku#2343869

 

[kendogg]

whats cat5e? vs cat5?

 

[Jhill]

yes, i had the same question

what is cat5e vs cat5?

 

[radioactiveman]

Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure that the e means that you can run it near metal (i.e. heating ductwork) and it's way more resistant to the interference that you get with a regular cat5 cable.

Like I said though, don't quote me - I remember being wrong once - a long time ago

 

[darth maul]

I think cat5e is gigabit network ready.....atleast that is what I thought it was.

 

[AfterShock]

yep, cat5e rated at 1000mb, cat5 rated at 100mb

 

[radioactiveman]

Oh man was I wrong -> ripped from csp.com

CAT5:
Ratified standard for unshielded twisted pair. Handles voice or data at 100MHz over 22 or 24 AWG wire. Used for high-speed twisted-pair networks such as 100 base-TX, fast ethernet.

CAT5e:
More stringent specifications than CAT5. CAT5e has a higher rating, 350Mhz vs 100Mhz for CAT 5...it also provides better performance. Cable manufacturers have improved the cabling, connectors and patch cords of regular CAT5 to provide an improved attentuation-to-crosstalk ratio (ACR), and to meet or exceed all the parameters of the CAT5e standards approved by the Electronic Industries Association/Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/Telecommunications Industry Association) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

OK - the thing that I was talking about is plenum - it's just the coating around the twisted pairs - it doesn't do anything with metal -> it does protect from heat sources though and it costs triple the price of regular cat5e cable.

sorry for the confusion!

 

[jsfetzik]

When buying bulk cable always check the specials and clearance sections at Worthington Distribution. I have gotten 1000' of Cat5 for as low as $40+shipping. It is hit and miss, but worth the minute it takes to check.

 

[Vette73]

At my school they threw away about 200 feet of Cat6. So I am going to use that after I get out this semester.

So check your local college to see if they have some left over. A long shot but FREE BELKIN Cat6 is nice

 

[BigDoggie]

The best prices I have seen on patch cables is from

http://www.cyberguys.com/

Examples: 3' cat 5 patch cable, moulded connectors, various colors, $1.17
7' = $1.59, 14' = $2.56, 25' = $3.84

3' cat 5e patch cable, moulded connectors, various colors, $1.65
etc

Also good prices on general PC hardware items, screws, case parts, fans, etc.

 

[lowtek]

Nice deals on CAT5E cables. So where's a good place to buy a crimper?

Thanks,

Spencer

 

[Vette73]

I got my crimper at eBay. I think Dell has one for $13, might be listed in the cheap NIC listing here.

But I got mine for around $15 and that was with 50 end clips.

 

[paig2956]

E stands for "enhanced"... This supposedly canrun at higher speeds. If you are running this stuff through drop ceilings/walls, you should be sure that you get "plenum" cable. Typical cable gives off toxic fumes when it burns, and therefore is not up to code for buildings. Just my $.02.

 

[cantstop]

Don't forget that at Home Depot you can buy by the foot, a little more expensive that way, but you don't have an extra 920 ft of cable left over.

 

[ckmoocow]

if i remember correctly, cat5e is still 100 mbps. cat6 is for gigabit networks...

 

[beatinitup]

just incase u wanted to know the "E" stands for Enhanced

 

[worms]

Plenum is never required for walls, attics, floors, or such. It is only required for airspaces such as drop ceilings where the toxic smoke from regular cable would enter the room in large quantities.

Home Depot sells 5E for in lengths of 100' for $6? That's a great deal. Is it stranded or solid?

The crimper at Dell sold for $11 shipped yesterday but it's still under $20 now and one of the better deals you'll find. Here's a better pic.

 

[kyle1745]

www.cyberguys.com has always had great cable prices and fast shipping.

Kyle