From: jl@glen--canyon.com   
      
   On Fri, 9 Jan 2026 07:45:49 -0700, Don Y    
   wrote:   
      
   >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?   
      
      
   I can imagine testing the whole thing, or even individual wires, with   
   capacitive coupling through the insulation.   
      
   TDR or capacitive measurements would tell you a lot from one end.   
      
   But is a cable likely to be damaged somewhere between the ends?   
      
   Use wi-fi!   
      
      
   John Larkin   
   Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center   
   Lunatic Fringe Electronics   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)