Embarrassingly simple question about ethernet cable

aliasojo

I posted this question on another forum and got a reply but I didn't understand and posted to say so. I then got another reply but I don't understand that one either and I'm too embarrassed to say so again so can you lot help please? I feel like a complete idiot and don't want to try their patience.

I've run 3 cat6 cables to one bedroom but forgot to mark the ends so that I know which end goes with which end iyswim. It wouldn't matter if they were all for the ethernet network but one is for the phone.

Someone advised me to connect one pair of colours together at one end of the cable. Then go to the other end of the cables and test them all; only one of them will have a connection between those colours.

But what do I do to test them?

PROLIANT

Ok, a couple of things; At one end plug in a PC/Laptop and the other end plug in a switch or Router, if the connectivity light blinks then you know which line you are hooked up to.
The other way is buy a cheap multi-metre from Maplin for a fiver and bell the wires out, i.e. put a short across one of the pairs at one end and use the metre at the other to show continuity.

Nilrem

Any multimeter or continuity tester would do it (you can get them cheaply enough, starting at a couple of pounds or even just a pound in some pound shops).

Or something like this ethernet cable tester would be a very easy way to do it (and handy if you ever need to try and work out if it's a cable that's damaged or the device connected at either end).
It also saves mucking around making the connection at the end of the cable.

DVardysShadow

Normally you would use a multimeter with an ohms range - if you short the leads of the meter together, the meter will read full scale, as it will when you put it across the correct pair at the other end from your connected pair. Some multimeters have a 'buzz' range witha buzzer for this purpose, hence the process is called 'buzzing out'. But as you don't know how to do it at all, you probably wouldn't be sure about a multimeter...

Another approach [requiring several pairs of hands] is to open the bottom of a torch and switch it on, connecting a pair of leads, one to the torch case or return connection and the other to the exposed end of the battery. If you connect the free ends together, the torch should light - then you can test your cables.

But in your case, if you have an NTE5 telephone master socket, I would be inclined to guess at which is the phone cable and connect the new socket to that cable [with the NTE5 front plate off] then try the phone in the new socket [with the NTE5 front plate reinstated]. Repeat until you find the cable which gives dial tone on a phone connected to the new socket.

aliasojo

Thanks for your replies. I'm a bit clearer now. I have actually got a multimeter with an ohms range but I've never used it as I was never sure how to. I think I'll go dig it out and have another look at it. The ethernet cable tester linked to above seems like a handy (and fairly simple) thing to have around so I think I'll get one of those anyway. Appreciate your help and suggestions. :beer:

DVardysShadow

aliasojo wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. I'm a bit clearer now. I have actually got a multimeter with an ohms range but I've never used it as I was never sure how to. I think I'll go dig it out and have another look at it. The ethernet cable tester linked to above seems like a handy (and fairly simple) thing to have around so I think I'll get one of those anyway. Appreciate your help and suggestions. :beer:

If you have a multimeter with an ohms range, you are sorted. I wouldn't bother with the ethernet cable tester for cable identification nor even for cable faults.

Just make sure that the meter has a good battery, short the leads together, check that the needle goes to full scale, then start looking for your cable.

closed

Router is cheapest/easiset option assuming you have one, plug all three leads in, see which port lights up when you plug a pc/laptop in

DVardysShadow

closed wrote: »

Router is cheapest/easiset option assuming you have one, plug all three leads in, see which port lights up when you plug a pc/laptop in

These are as I read it cables with no connectors on, one of which will ultimately be a phone line.

aliasojo

That's right DV, just bare cables at present. Will likely tackle this tomorrow.

debitcardmayhem

Sorry Aliasojo does this picture help could not resist :rotfl:

aliasojo

Lol....no it doesn't, no-one reminded me to mark the flipping cables. :rotfl: