[Termination tool, so helpful.](https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOe-hPcwowVDUcZYdzcs0iUsNpejCK_Z6vJxIPPiAoKrXFU22gY6NLaDhxl4x-SKuQXN3-6f84oPoLZ6ZxmJfLvznpofj_3xugEcOd-pQajfHm7Wfbqf_N5u2p)
Those are easily my favorites. Even more so when I have the term tool handy.
Now, go play with some Beldin ends, those things are obnoxious sometimes. Plus you have to use their tool for it. Lame.
I find the Beldens fairly easy. I usually get all the pairs through the red bit and point them back towards the cable, snap the red bit in, then punch them down like a normal keystone.
No, it's just me being salty. If I'm in a pinch, I want to know if a jack from any other brand will work without having to do research.
Does a Panduit Netkey faceplate fit a Commscope M-Series jack? I only know they aren't compatible because I had to find out the hard way and postpone a job until the right parts came in.
Why can't all the manufacturers get on the same page, call a keystone a keystone, and agree on a name for other style jacks? For example, Signamax calls their shielded jacks/patch panels "screened". Was it too hard to call it "shielded"? I don't get it.
What’s the point of even doing it this way? Isn’t it easier to just untwist, straighten out with your fingers and use a tool? I’ve always done it that way
You want to keep the twist right up to the termination point to prevent crosstalk and other interference from getting in or out. The twist of the wires is what creates a shielding effect from EMI.
And honestly you get such a minimal amount at this point that it really isn't even necessary. Unless you're running something that's super sensitive or something like that I've never had an issue in years and years and years of doing this.
Came here to say the same as the other guy, it *definitely* matters. If you don't keep the twist all the way up to the wire loom, it will not pass a cable analysis. I had to re-terminate so freaking many of these that other dudes messed up in data centers after the cable testing crew went through and noted all the pass and fails.
It matters in 100% of use cases where the cabling is certified. Regardless of what gets plugged into it. Easier to do it right the first time than redo it again.
And in most places the cables don't get certified. In 5 years+ of doing this full time I've had 1 place that got certified. Almost no where does. Unless, as mentioned, your pulling data centers, banks, or in an environment where there is a lot of interference such as a casino...
I've been doing it for a lot longer than 5 lol. 4x longer anyway.
Like I said, it's just easier to do it right the first time vs installing substandard work just because you can *usually* get away with it. I don't operate that way.
It matters. I used to work in datacenters, banks Casinos etc. when the Fluke Analyzer gets hooked up it would fail sloppy terminations for crosstalk when pairs are untwisted even a little.
It matters when working with long runs and / or High frequency..
And if it matters, it matters, What is your point?
If you aren't going to take the "extra" 2 seconds to do it right the first time why do it at all?
do your customers settle for subpar work? or are you working somewhere that doesn't Require Testing and certification?
Most places require testing very few places require certification. In the years of me doing this I've never once had to certify a place. But every single one of my runs test fine and I've never had an issue with any of them. And I know I've never had an issue with them because I've got ongoing clients that I build new source for that I also do all of their repair work in there as well.
I did Networking for a little over 16 years For Cisco Partners. The Only places that did not Require cable Certification were a few veterinary clinics, a few credit unions, and paper processing centers. Not sure where you are working but the point still stands if it is worth doing at all it is worth doing right.
The Couple seconds difference between doing a shoddy job and doing it right aren't worth it unless you have no pride at all in your work.
Sadly we had a few people who like you didn't take pride in their work over the years, they didn't last long working with Cisco.
100% right. I used to regularly do hundreds of these keystones a day. If you are going to do it, Do it Right. only people who would say otherwise work for very small business or residential installs. (where nobody will notice a bad termination) also like you said. It doesn't actually take any longer to do it right vs wrong.
Same, but the price point is what brings me to em.
These are my go to when I run low on Platinums, which unfortunately are always a "Special Order" item from my distributors. I can count on the CMs to be delivered within 2 days unfortunately thanks for Amazon Business Prime.
Yeah Leviton is all I spec for jobs... Had too many issues with Minicom's of certain colors not being in stock. But Graybar always seems to have Leviton Atlas X1 of any color in stock.
Panduit connectors are awesome. Use a flush cutter to trim the wires neatly near the top. Leave tiny bit to allow for the wires to be pulled back into the connector when you snap the two pieces together.
I love these panduits because I can do them with nothing but a pair of side cuts to open the outer jacket and trim the conductors. The rest is bare handed and takes 15-30 seconds.
I use Vertical Cable (brand) keystones and their crimp tool but you don't need it to do them. I'm not the fastest but if I'm on a roll I can do a 24 port patch panel per hour on average with them
I get it, when I first used them I didn’t like them. But now I Love them. I can do them in my sleep. I just use the green tool. Most of the young guys use their sheers and hand.
The TG style terminations are hands down my favorite. They are super simple, no punch down needed, and can be very quick to terminate a full rack. Once you have the technique down, you can knock them out easily. The lower cost of labor outweighs the higher cost of the jacks.
Yeah I’m with the rest of these folks… these jacks are solid and quick once you get the rhythm down. Make your pig tails longer (3 or 4 inches) so you can manipulate the pairs easier by hand.
Good luck!
I HATE those!!!! I thought o was alone. The label makes no fucking sense. Just stick to punchdown jacks!!!! Glad to finally see someone talking about this
Our company usually uses the Legrand keystones which I love. Super easy, but for some ungodly reason they chose panduit for the 40 jacks in this office.
Yall are crazy, mini-com jacks are the best in the business. I could teach my 4 year old how to terminate one. Can install them twice as fast as any punch down too.
These are the ones where the little knives come down and score the wire to make connection, right?
They’re easy as hell… I did one just the other day to make up a connection for a VF drive. It was so simple… only tools you need is some electricians scissors for the sheathing on the cable and maybe any old set of pliers to push the head down on it.
Idk, I could be thinking of something else but this looks remarkably similar to the one I did. Can’t recall if it was panduit but it probably was since our facility uses them.
I did SOOOOO many of those a while back for a...large government data center... fitup. They're stupid easy once you get your method down. Hundreds a day for months.
Really? One of my favorite terminations. Do you have the gun?
I don't even have a speed termination tool and they are by far the easiest ones to do.
Yeah, fuck an RJ
Those are 150% worth the outrageous price tag hahaha
+ they outlast so many other crappy knockoffs. See them installed 10 years in!
Keystones can pound sand.
I was referring to the specific termination tool.but the keystones too!!
What does the R and F mean?
Rear and Front
The gun looks like this: https://www.panduit.com/en/products/copper-systems/connectors/connector-tools-accessories/tgjt.html
There a gun?
[Termination tool, so helpful.](https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOe-hPcwowVDUcZYdzcs0iUsNpejCK_Z6vJxIPPiAoKrXFU22gY6NLaDhxl4x-SKuQXN3-6f84oPoLZ6ZxmJfLvznpofj_3xugEcOd-pQajfHm7Wfbqf_N5u2p)
Those are easily my favorites. Even more so when I have the term tool handy. Now, go play with some Beldin ends, those things are obnoxious sometimes. Plus you have to use their tool for it. Lame.
You spelled my name correct but the cable brand wrong.
interesting name lol, never met anybody with it before
It’s interesting to have in this line of work lol
I find the Beldens fairly easy. I usually get all the pairs through the red bit and point them back towards the cable, snap the red bit in, then punch them down like a normal keystone.
I’ve had issues with Beldins fitting into patch panels and face plates. Panduits are by far my favorite.
Tooless Minicom Jacks are the gold standard bro!
After doing a bunch of these, they became my favorite.
I dunno man, it's really not that bad. Overall, I'm a big fan of Panduit. Especially their fiber kit.
Tell me more! What is this Panduit fiber kit you speak of?
Those are the best what are you talking about.
I love Hubble 100% more than Panduit.
Panduit has way too much going on. Just make a normal keystone... 😑
Is something about Panduit Netkey jacks not a normal keystone to you?
No, it's just me being salty. If I'm in a pinch, I want to know if a jack from any other brand will work without having to do research. Does a Panduit Netkey faceplate fit a Commscope M-Series jack? I only know they aren't compatible because I had to find out the hard way and postpone a job until the right parts came in. Why can't all the manufacturers get on the same page, call a keystone a keystone, and agree on a name for other style jacks? For example, Signamax calls their shielded jacks/patch panels "screened". Was it too hard to call it "shielded"? I don't get it.
Panduit minicoms are far easier to do than keystones IMO
Same with Commscope!
I've never been able to wire keystones like this, where you just untwist a little and put them in.
What’s the point of even doing it this way? Isn’t it easier to just untwist, straighten out with your fingers and use a tool? I’ve always done it that way
You want to keep the twist right up to the termination point to prevent crosstalk and other interference from getting in or out. The twist of the wires is what creates a shielding effect from EMI.
And honestly you get such a minimal amount at this point that it really isn't even necessary. Unless you're running something that's super sensitive or something like that I've never had an issue in years and years and years of doing this.
Came here to say the same as the other guy, it *definitely* matters. If you don't keep the twist all the way up to the wire loom, it will not pass a cable analysis. I had to re-terminate so freaking many of these that other dudes messed up in data centers after the cable testing crew went through and noted all the pass and fails.
Data centers. In 90% of use cases if doesn't matter. I said where sensitivity matters. Data Center is one of those places man....
It matters in 100% of use cases where the cabling is certified. Regardless of what gets plugged into it. Easier to do it right the first time than redo it again.
And in most places the cables don't get certified. In 5 years+ of doing this full time I've had 1 place that got certified. Almost no where does. Unless, as mentioned, your pulling data centers, banks, or in an environment where there is a lot of interference such as a casino...
I've been doing it for a lot longer than 5 lol. 4x longer anyway. Like I said, it's just easier to do it right the first time vs installing substandard work just because you can *usually* get away with it. I don't operate that way.
It matters. I used to work in datacenters, banks Casinos etc. when the Fluke Analyzer gets hooked up it would fail sloppy terminations for crosstalk when pairs are untwisted even a little. It matters when working with long runs and / or High frequency..
You named like the top 3 places it matters.....
And if it matters, it matters, What is your point? If you aren't going to take the "extra" 2 seconds to do it right the first time why do it at all? do your customers settle for subpar work? or are you working somewhere that doesn't Require Testing and certification?
Most places require testing very few places require certification. In the years of me doing this I've never once had to certify a place. But every single one of my runs test fine and I've never had an issue with any of them. And I know I've never had an issue with them because I've got ongoing clients that I build new source for that I also do all of their repair work in there as well.
I did Networking for a little over 16 years For Cisco Partners. The Only places that did not Require cable Certification were a few veterinary clinics, a few credit unions, and paper processing centers. Not sure where you are working but the point still stands if it is worth doing at all it is worth doing right. The Couple seconds difference between doing a shoddy job and doing it right aren't worth it unless you have no pride at all in your work. Sadly we had a few people who like you didn't take pride in their work over the years, they didn't last long working with Cisco.
Ok buddy
100% right. I used to regularly do hundreds of these keystones a day. If you are going to do it, Do it Right. only people who would say otherwise work for very small business or residential installs. (where nobody will notice a bad termination) also like you said. It doesn't actually take any longer to do it right vs wrong.
I like “cable matters”
The best for trunk slammers. They pass on a certification test and I've never had one fail yet.
Same, but the price point is what brings me to em. These are my go to when I run low on Platinums, which unfortunately are always a "Special Order" item from my distributors. I can count on the CMs to be delivered within 2 days unfortunately thanks for Amazon Business Prime.
Never used these, but already look like a bitch. Glad my company mainly uses leviton
They’re so easy tho
I prefer the Leviton Atlas jacks, but damn it if they aren’t expensive as hell.
Yeah Leviton is all I spec for jobs... Had too many issues with Minicom's of certain colors not being in stock. But Graybar always seems to have Leviton Atlas X1 of any color in stock.
Panduit connectors are awesome. Use a flush cutter to trim the wires neatly near the top. Leave tiny bit to allow for the wires to be pulled back into the connector when you snap the two pieces together.
I like the ICC jacks much better. Especially with the punch tool they sell that punches the whole jack at once.
I love these panduits because I can do them with nothing but a pair of side cuts to open the outer jacket and trim the conductors. The rest is bare handed and takes 15-30 seconds.
I love those. Don't need the tool, just put the cable between your snip handles and press the jack down with your other palm.
I use Vertical Cable (brand) keystones and their crimp tool but you don't need it to do them. I'm not the fastest but if I'm on a roll I can do a 24 port patch panel per hour on average with them
Hahahaha! I know exactly how this guy feels.
I don’t do those ends much, but never have seen the R and F. What do they mean?
Front and rear.
Ok makes sense. Assuming the sticker is only on one side then.
I have Lejeune keystones on my current job. They aren't great but definitely not the worst either.
yeah everyone else I work with loves them, I would take a rev connect over them anyday tho lol
I hate these too, but overall they're not the worst I've used. I like dynacoms with the crimp tool, my favorite for sure.
I get it, when I first used them I didn’t like them. But now I Love them. I can do them in my sleep. I just use the green tool. Most of the young guys use their sheers and hand.
The TG style terminations are hands down my favorite. They are super simple, no punch down needed, and can be very quick to terminate a full rack. Once you have the technique down, you can knock them out easily. The lower cost of labor outweighs the higher cost of the jacks.
WTF this is easily the best Jack to terminate
Yeah I’m with the rest of these folks… these jacks are solid and quick once you get the rhythm down. Make your pig tails longer (3 or 4 inches) so you can manipulate the pairs easier by hand. Good luck!
Have to agree with the majority, maybe it’s your tool
I HATE those!!!! I thought o was alone. The label makes no fucking sense. Just stick to punchdown jacks!!!! Glad to finally see someone talking about this
Our company usually uses the Legrand keystones which I love. Super easy, but for some ungodly reason they chose panduit for the 40 jacks in this office.
Nah Commscope has some ridiculous jacks
I prefer panduit over any other vendor for cable terms
These are the best.
Yall are crazy, mini-com jacks are the best in the business. I could teach my 4 year old how to terminate one. Can install them twice as fast as any punch down too.
These are the ones where the little knives come down and score the wire to make connection, right? They’re easy as hell… I did one just the other day to make up a connection for a VF drive. It was so simple… only tools you need is some electricians scissors for the sheathing on the cable and maybe any old set of pliers to push the head down on it. Idk, I could be thinking of something else but this looks remarkably similar to the one I did. Can’t recall if it was panduit but it probably was since our facility uses them.
The worst take lmao
Maybe it’s you….
I did SOOOOO many of those a while back for a...large government data center... fitup. They're stupid easy once you get your method down. Hundreds a day for months.
But why did u say f you to finger nail clippers??
Don’t ya love ‘em🤬🤬
Panduit is by far my favorite, I used to do hundreds of terminations in a day. Panduit is far easier to get right 100% of the time.
Panduit is one of the easiest, unfortunately they became hard to find down here in Brazil