What I learned about Crimping CAT 5-6 Cable

Crimping CAT5 and CAT6 Cable: Lessons from a DIY Camera Install

Crimping CAT5 or CAT6 cable should be a simple process—or so you’d think. You can buy a crimping tool, a cable tester, and a pack of connectors on Amazon for about $35. Easy, right? Not so fast.

I recently installed a hardwired security camera system at my house. Anyone with networking experience knows that Wi-Fi cameras aren’t worth much. In my opinion, they’re easily hacked, often deliver subpar image quality, and lack advanced features. I opted for an 8-camera professional system that outputs high-quality 4K video, includes facial recognition, license plate reading, and a host of other features.

The system came with an NVR (Network Video Recorder), cameras, and several 50–100-foot lengths of pre-terminated network cable. That’s where the fun began.

I ran the included cables through my home and planned to trim any excess using my crimping tool for a clean, tidy install. But I quickly discovered that the cables did not follow any standard wiring color code. Without standardized color coding, how are you supposed to correctly pin the cable? You’re left looking through the translucent connector, trying to guess the wiring pattern. If that doesn’t work, your only option is to create your own color pattern—then cut off the opposite end and match it.

That might be manageable, except the second cable had a different color coding. As it turns out, the cables included with the system used three different wiring patterns—none of which followed industry standards for CAT5 or CAT6 cables.

After wasting time cutting and re-crimping both ends (on cables that were poor quality to begin with), I finally got the system up and running. But the experience taught me an important lesson.

The Takeaway

If you’re installing a hardwired camera system, skip the included cables. Go to your local hardware or electronics store and buy a 500-foot roll of high-quality, standards-compliant cable. Most cables bundled with camera kits are low-quality imports—nonstandard and unreliable. Properly made cable is easier to crimp, has consistent and visible color coding, and won’t leave you guessing. It’ll also save you headaches if you ever need to reconfigure your system later.

Bonus Tips

• Cheap cables = cheap insulation. Good quality cables are sturdier, and you can feel the difference. Cheaper ones are more likely to degrade and need replacing within a few years.
• Always use POE (Power Over Ethernet) hardwired cameras. These are far more secure than Wi-Fi-based options. While no system is totally hack-proof, a wired connection significantly lowers the risk.
• Segment your network. I use one router as my internet gateway, and another for my internal home network. That way, I can let friends connect to the gateway router without exposing my private network.
• Hide your SSIDs. Once your system is set up, disable the broadcasting of your network names. This adds an extra layer of security. If an attacker can’t see your network, they’ll have a harder time targeting it. Just look at your phone—how many visible Wi-Fi networks do you see in your neighborhood? Those aren’t hidden. Yours doesn’t need to be one of them.