Build a high-end CAT cable

[JeffreyD]

Hi,

I'm starting a new building journey and could use your help.

I want to make my own CAT cable because I don't have Audioquest Diamond cable money.

To do this I ordered already two Telegardner connectors. The same as AQ.
Next is silver wiring, isolation, shielding etc. What are the pitfalls? Impedance? Twist? Distances between pairs?

Thanks for your help!

 

[JPS64]

Datasheet Telegärtner?

JP

 

[planet10]

CAT5 is typically quality copper, no silver. I use a single pair of wires pulled from a CAT5 cable.

dave

 

[DF96]

Next is silver wiring, isolation, shielding etc. What are the pitfalls? Impedance? Twist? Distances between pairs?

Silver: not necessary.
Isolation: yes - via twisting.
Shielding: not needed?
Pitfalls: get it wrong and it doesn't work.
Impedance: very important - if you don't know about this then you are not in a position to make even a bad CAT cable
Twist: very important - each pair must have different twist, all carefully calculated to minimise coupling - my guess is that twist lengths are related to prime numbers.
Distance: has an effect on cross-coupling and impedance.

To make a reasonable CAT cable you may need to do full wave analysis and modelling, so start brushing up on Maxwell's equations so you understand the results.

Or you can buy one from any reputable non-audio cable maker.

 

[JPS64]

Do you have friend at Airbus? Very good recommendation will be Draka CAT7 one, the blue one.

No!? then Gore cable (will use them expensively in military and airborne development). All measurements and qualification for intended use successfully passed.

Black sleeves and shrinkboots, nice!

And I´m not working for Airbus or Draka or Gore.

For the price of 10 Audioquest cable you be able to order 1km Draka CAT7 blue one.

JP

JP

 

[chrisb]

Jeffrey - what is your application? I think that when "CAT" is used, it's generally taken as "Category" for network telecom voice /data cabling, for which the specifications are clearly defined.

Many of us use CAT 5 or higher cabling as source for any number of the twisted pairs of (usually solid) #24 copper wire, as the per foot cost can be very attractive

 

[scottjoplin]

Like this? AudioQuest Diamond RJ/E Ethernet Cable 12m - By Brand - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists
Have you seen the stuff they use between you and the exchange?

 

[analog_sa]

Have you seen the stuff they use between you and the exchange?

Pretending to be stupid again? It's a cable between a router and a computer. What exchange?

 

[scottjoplin]

Hehe, the exchange the router's connected to?

 

[analog_sa]

No idea what you mean by "exchange" but no, it doesn't need to be connected to any such place.

 

[scottjoplin]

Telephone exchange, where the interweb comes from

 

[chrisb]

7500 GPB for a 12meter, directional network cable? well, at least they offer financing - or maybe accept organ donations?

we're in the wrong frickin business, I'd say

 

[analog_sa]

I see. Today you've overdone yourself. Congrats.

 

[scottjoplin]

My very serious point is that I get high enough data speed for the highest quality audio available through a couple of twisted aluminium wires a mile long, or am I missing something?

 

[Tromperie]

Like this? AudioQuest Diamond RJ/E Ethernet Cable 12m - By Brand - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists
Have you seen the stuff they use between you and the exchange?

From the website, audiophile foolishness of the highest order

Directionality

All audio cables are directional. The correct direction is determined by listening to every batch of metal conductors used in every AudioQuest audio cable. Arrows are clearly marked on the connectors to ensure superior sound quality. For best results have the arrow pointing in the direction of the flow of music. For example, NAS to Router, Router to Network Player.

lol, they "listen" to the cables to determine directionality. I've read some cr@p before but this takes the cake.

 

[Tromperie]

Use Cat7 cable;
Cat7 - Wikipedia

 

[analog_sa]

What's speed got to do with perceived sound quality?

What about radiated noise?

Perhaps there other factors too. Difference between ehternet cables is so startling i seriously consider going back to wifi.

 

[scottjoplin]

Yeah, forget expensive wires, send it through the air....

 

[planet10]

My very serious point is that I get high enough data speed for the highest quality audio available through a couple of twisted aluminium wires a mile long, or am I missing something?

Your connection to the internet will be governed by the connection to the change, but a network cable is intended to give local network performance. It won’t be the bottleneck to the internet, but it can degrade local performance. Speed is useful for data transfer (including remote access to the machines downstairs).

Here the telco usually runs optical fibre to the house, the cable company brings it in by sheilded co-ax from a local head-end which is connected via fibre. The cable company is easier to deal with and we get (at least the plan i’m subscribed to) 20 Mbps download and 1/10 that for upload.

Here the use of CAT5 is for cables, and is just a source of cheap high quality copper.

dave

 

[DF96]

My very serious point is that I get high enough data speed for the highest quality audio available through a couple of twisted aluminium wires a mile long, or am I missing something?

Yes you are missing something: coding and modulation. The signals between you and the exchange are coded in a completely different way from those between your computer and the local router. Google may help you.