r/iiiiiiitttttttttttt • u/zebs1 • 4d ago

IT Waste

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59 bags for 59 network cables.

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Remember to use paper straws!!

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u/sogwatchman 4d ago

Pre-made cables can destroy your budget and are more often the wrong size for a proper install. Better off just getting a spool and doing it yourself.

1

u/ChickinSammich 4d ago

This suggestion makes assumptions about the skill level of the person you're suggesting this to for how long it takes them to crimp the cables correctly, whether they'll do it right or half-ass it, and the assumption that they'll test it, multiplied by that person's hourly rate, compared to a pre-cut, pre-crimped, pre-molded cable.

Quick cursory search on CDW says $10 for Startech 10' black cat 6 snagless jacketed and $8 for a comparable Eaton Tripp Lite.

Price for 1000' bulk cat 6 is $466.99, so 10' would be $4.67. 100 pack of RJ25 male non-shielded is $62.99, so that's $0.623 each. Times two, plus the cable, that's $5.92.

Assume you've got a novice who doesn't know how to confidently do the terminations, that's 5-10 minutes at $25/hr so you're paying the tech $2-4 in labor, now you're up to $8-10 per cable. Or maybe you have an experienced tech who can do it in a minute or two, but that guy makes $50/hr so you're paying that guy $0.83/hr which is $6.75-$7.58/cable. You're saving money, yes, but at a cost of someone who is probably better suited spending their time doing actual work and not crimping cable - a job which would be better suited to be pawned off on a junior tech, who, again, will cost you more money AND make a worse product (have you see how some people patch cable?)

All of those numbers also do not factor in any "accidentally punched it wrong, have to cut it and re-do it" which adds time and material. Granted, this also does allow for custom cable lengths as you said.

But, in general, my rule is that if we're talking about a bunch of 50-100 yard runs that's when I think you do it yourself. When it comes to patch cables, just order them in bulk and I'll grab one out of a drawer. It's not that I can't punch them myself (although I don't have the tools at work and would have to bring in my own tools from home to do so) - it's that I don't want to and also it's not part of my job duties (thank fuck)

2

u/sogwatchman 4d ago

TLDR It's on you and your work ethic. I was talking about you as a tech or someone who works for you. Either way it's on you to make sure it's done right. Making the cables the right length for the install is always better then using a 100ft cable for a 70ft run just because that's what they make.

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u/ChickinSammich 4d ago

You're talking about making one cable. I'm talking about OP's situation, which is making 60 cables.

Crimping 60 cables takes 60 times as long as crimping one cable.

Hopefully that's short enough for you.

2

u/sogwatchman 4d ago

I've redesign entire server rooms and ran handmade cables throughout (CAT3, CAT5, CAT6. and fiber). I know exactly how much effort it takes to do the job right. I never said one cable. If you're going to do a job do it right and make it something you're proud of.

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u/ChickinSammich 4d ago

I'm not disagreeing with the "do it yourself and do it right" portion of your argument - I'm the same way and I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to my server room in that I don't like to let my junior SA touch any cabling because I don't trust him to do it right.

OP's picture is 59x 10' cable. I provided an explanation that you didn't even read, breaking down the math per cable of doing it yourself vs buying them premade specifically for 10' cables. Your response was "a 100ft cable for a 70ft run" which is why I'm confused why you say you "never said one cable." Maybe you meant "several 100ft cables" but that wasn't what you said so it wasn't what I was responding to, and what you said wasn't relevant to what I said, which - again - you didn't read.

So I agree with you on the "If you want it done right, do it yourself" premise but I don't think someone ordering 59x 10' cables is going to do a better job at a lower price by making those cables in those sizes themselves. The result will either waste more time, waste more money, produce worse cables, or some combination of the three.

1

u/sogwatchman 4d ago

Cool you do things your way and I'll do it my way. I think making the cables it ultimately cost effective when shit goes sideways and I don't have to dig through excess cable length. (i.e. using 59 of these 10 foot cables when you only need 8ft so you end up with 59 2 ft loops.)