Cat5 cable tester

[Sparkymart]

I've been given the task of fitting a new Poe  door entry and CCTV system into the factory where I work. So far I've pulled in over a mile of cat5  and fitted 8 wiegand card readers and controller's  and I've fitted 4 out of the 32 hikvision cameras all working well. Today I fitted a new camera but the NVR wouldn't pick up the camera. So I retested the cat 5 with my basic tester (the sort with 8 less which confirms the continuity and for crossed wires) all good. So I plugged the camera into the PoE switch which was about 10m away and it connected straight away so I guessed there was a issue with the cable so replaced it and still no joy but once again the tester tested OK. 

So is there something else I should be looking for? Or a tester that will give me a better clue about what's going on with the cable. Any ideas will be much appreciated 

[corsechris]

How long a run is it?

[Sparkymart]

It's only about 10m from camera to the switch 

[corsechris]

Ah, not near the (often exceeded without big problems) limit of 315m then...

 

Have you had a chance to try a different camera on the troublesome cable?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

Unfortunately once you get in to lan cable testing beyond the basic pairs, the costs ratchet up exponentially! You can hire Fluke’s etc in if absolutely necessary, though. 
 

So am I understanding correctly, you’ve tried two different cables in the region of 10m lengths and neither has worked?

 

But if you use a short patch lead to plug the camera into the switch, all is OK?

 

Are the cables that won’t work existing cables, or new that you’ve fitted, are they long patch leads, ie pre-terminated, or were they field terminated?

 

If you plug the camera in on one of the other, know good long cable runs, does it work ok?

[Sparkymart]

Hi @Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretarythanks for the reply. So I've pulled all New cat5e cables in on the first fix and terminated them all with the cat 5 plugs (So field terminated) and then tested, All ok the other cameras so far have worked fine even on longer runs.

And yes once I plugged the camera into the switch with a short patch lead the NVR detected the camera and displayed an image. So I guessed the cable might of been damaged while being pulled in so I ran a new cable terminated and tested all fine re fitted the camera and plugged it into the new cable and lost the connection with the NVR I haven't tried changing the camera onto the on of the over cables but I have tried a second camera on this circuit but with no luck. 

Do the fluke testers give that much more information about what is going on? Cost isn't to much of an issue as work will buy it  and being that the company that I work for owns fluke as well I'm sure we will gat a deal from them. 

Hope this gives you a clearer picture 

Cheers Martin 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

 A basic Fluke lan tester for a grand or so will show cable mapping, swaps, shorts, breaks and also the PoE status - just in case something on that run is upsetting it. Beyond that you’re starting to get into Fluke cable certifying testers for £4/5000 and upwards, which will do the full scope of test including cross talk etc.

 

Could the cables be picking up noise or some other issue on the problematic run?

 

Are you using standard crimp on RJ45 connectors or EZ-RJ45 style, where the pairs pass through the end of the plug and are chopped off in the crimper? 
 

What standard are you wiring to 568a or b?

[Sparkymart]

Wow that is expensive... I was sent the EZ-RJ45 buy the supplier of the system and I'm wiring to  the b standard 

THE cable is running along a corridor with T8 fluorescent fittings may be they are causing the problem? 

[SootySport]

I’ve had problems with a broadband routers patched through Cat 5 networks due to interference from all sorts, TIG welders, Arc lights, fluorescent lighting and other dodgy power supplies. Solution usually was to re-route the cable and/or use shielded cable.  You could run a temp cable on the floor to the camera site from the frame to prove if it works.

[corsechris]

Maybe get some STP and be prepared to have to make a few of the troublesome runs with that. It's a PITA to do properly, but does work.  Another thought, is it possible to downgrade the link speed on the problematic link? Assuming it is trying to run at 1GBPS, reducing it to 100MBPS would very likely solve the problem and still provide plenty of bandwidth, unless the cameras are something very special.

[Quinten]

I've got a Hikvision NVR and 3 Hikvision camera's.  One of the camera's will not remain online when connected to the NVR's POE port, but works fine off a separate POE switch.  The same model (bought at the same time from the same seller) works fine on the NVR's POE port.  Makes no sense, but it sounds a lot like your issue...

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

The EZ-Cat5 plugs are so notorious for issues when not cut across the ends of the wire cleanly, most of our video over Cat5/6/7 suppliers won’t warranty systems where they’re used. 
 

B seems most common in the UK, at least, it’s what I’ve always used, too.
 

I have found PoE can be flaky occasionally too, good quality switches help, but sometimes the end points, such as CCTV cameras can be troublesome. A more local PoE injector  can sometimes help here.

[Sparkymart]

Thanks guys that's given me plenty of things to try @corsechrisI've had to run a cat6 stp for a HDMI to network adapter as the Nvr is in a server room and the main screen is in a office 30m away I'm now on my 3rd different type of RJ 45 plug but still can't get one to fit the cable(its double the size of a standard cat5e cable) so I've given up and ordered a 30m pre made cable from RS. so hopefully I won't need to start messing with them again. I'll also try and turn the speed down to 100mbps

@SootySport we do have a lot of RF welders which is why I've run the route I have to try and keep clear of them. Apart from the lights the only other cables are the fire alarm pryo and FP100 cables 

@Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretarythat's interesting about the EZ cat5 plugs I was supplied with a bag off them(100) and a new crimper. I've put on around 70 plugs now but I noticed the blade is not cutting as cleanly as it was on the last few ends but as my tester tested the cable OK I didn't pay to much attention to it. I've got some of the other style plugs with the internal guide I'll try giving them a go 

@Quinten it sounds very similar to what I've got going on all the gear was supplied in on go by the same company and everything is hikvision (branded) including the switches 

[Sparkymart]

Just a quick update I fitted two of the normal Rj45 fiddly type of connectors on to the original cable and the camera came straight online. I'm just hoping I don't need to replace the other 70 connectors I've already fitted. Thanks for the help guys 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

It’s normally a case of “if they work, they work” with EZ-RJ45’s - unless they’re being disconnected regularly, at least. So your working ones will probably be ok.