From: blockedofcourse@foo.invalid   
      
   A typical installation, for me, requires 100-500 CAT5e drops.   
   I'd prefer to have "local talent" do this (licensed electricians on   
   a job site) but the consensus is they are woefully underqualified   
   for anything more than grunt work:  stringing wire.   Certainly   
   not qualified to install, configure and troubleshoot anything   
   more advanced than a doorbell!   
      
   So, I'll have to find other folks to actually connect the devices   
   to PRESTRUNG cable and bring the system up (much easier to do when   
   actually connecting the devices as they are still accessible at   
   that time so you can interact with them AS you are connecting them!)   
      
   But, you'd like to defer this until after the walls are in place.   
   Maybe even *after* the sale (so this can be priced as an add-on option,   
   treating the cables' prior installation as overhead).   
      
   However, you don't want to discover that one or more cables are   
   toast as opening the walls to replace them is REALLY costly!   
      
   Ideally, I'd like to be able to test/qualify each cable before   
   that point.  But, would like to avoid having to attach 8P8C's to   
   each end JUST to connect a test set.  The 8P8C's would then have   
   to later be removed (cut off) and discarded by the installer.   
      
   [So, you're paying to have them attached to the cable ends SOLELY   
   for the purpose of ringing out the cable!]   
      
   Ideally, I'd like to be able to "connect" to the cables without   
   attaching a connector.   
      
   And obvious solution would be to strip the ends of each conductor   
   and insert them into a temporary connector (built into test set)   
   just for the duration of the test.  But, stripping 8 conductors   
   also adds labor (many hundred times over).   
      
   So, I'm thinking of an IDC connector (ideally reusable but likely   
   not practical) so the conductors could be quickly connected for   
   the test.  Then, the connector removed (cut off!) and discarded   
   after the cable is qualified.   
      
   As the connector is disposable, there's no need for it to be pinned   
   "correctly"; the test set could sort out HOW *this* instance is   
   pinned and adapt itself to that configuration for the duration   
   of THAT test.   
      
   This burdens the tester with that additional capability.  But, saves   
   labor costs by allowing relatively unskilled people to install and   
   test those cables.   
      
   Make sense?   
      
   The two questions are:   
   - is there a "reusable" IDC fixture that could provide this   
   connection as part of the tester (without having to incur the   
   cost of consumables)?   
   - any potential risks in this approach (besides ensuring that   
   the testing is done after the possibility of any cable damage   
   has passed)?   
      
   Bonus question:  any way to check the cable without piercing the   
   insulation on each end?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)