You could just cut off the current RJ45 ends and switch to using a different unused pair in-place of the damaged pair (since 100mbps Ethernet only needs 2 pairs).

Just make sure that the colours match up at both ends when you come to crimp on new RJ45 connectors ( :

I almost had a similar type of dilemma when installing Ethernet outlets in the loft room when it was being built, one end of the cat5e run got buried under the floorboards and sealed up.

Took us a good few hours locating it and fishing it back out.

http://www.ampnetconnect.eu/neptun/neptun.php/oktopu...
bored now

http://www.ampnetconnect.com/product_cut_sheet.asp?p...

Edited by deleted (Sat 15-Sep-12 22:46:23)

http://xkcd.com/386/

http://xkcd.com/927/

CAT6A is the TIA (ie- the people who helped make the cat 5/5e standard) standard and is the one that should be used.

The latest standard from the TIA for enhanced performance standards for twisted pair cable systems was defined in February 2008 in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10. Category 6a (or Augmented Category 6) is defined at frequencies up to 500 MHz�twice that of Cat. 6.

I think cat6e is a bit of a misnomer - even though its called cat6e it probably adheres to 6A standard (or at least you'd hope so)

Edited by deleted (Sun 16-Sep-12 00:02:40)

Whilst agreeing fully about testing immediately after installation and also any subsequent work in the vicinity of the cable, I would recommend if practical, crimping the plugs on the appropriate length of cable and testing BEFORE installation, from the experience of installing probably several hundred cables, ranging from current-loop, co-ax, Cat 5 etc.

For co-ax cable particularly, a TDR Tester is more appropriate. (TDR = Time Domain Reflectometer ~ "Pocket Radar Set".

But it's good to know it's available to buy, if the OP wants to get some more Cat6E.

In reply to a post by chris6273:

I have been running CAT6a since June 2009 and have never managed to have a short in a cable.

I have. Caused by over tightened cable ties and kinks in the cable that exceed the minimum bend radius of the cable. They are rare, but very irritating when it happens.

In reply to a post by chris6273:

I would check the terminations on each end of the 'faulty' cable and re-terminate them just to make sure it wasn't a faulty connection.

Also have a look at the RJ-45 plug you are testing with and ensure the gold contacts are completely straight and not bent. Also make sure they are all at the same height when looking at it from the front.

My old RJ-45 crimp tool for some reason suddenly stopped pushing all 8 pins down correctly and only partially pushed down a few and pushed them sideways. Check whether your crimp tool may not be working properly .

For future reference, it's always recommended to test the cable immediately after installation .

Agree with all this, by far the most likely cause is a faulty crimp, either the plugs or the crimp tool. Even with high quality plugs and a good, well maintained, crimp tool you will get a few faulty crimps every now and then. (Also very annoying)

In reply to a post by pmb00cs:

I have. Caused by over tightened cable ties and kinks in the cable that exceed the minimum bend radius of the cable. They are rare, but very irritating when it happens

Which is why the standards require the use of velcro ties and not PVC ones.