[KwartzLab] in search of bix punchdown tool

[Bob Jonkman]

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Make sure that Home Depot actually sells a BIX punch.  Most ethernet
jacks and data panels have type 110 punchdowns, which requires a
subtly different punch tool (wait for it: a Type 110 punch). Those are
common and cheap at Home Depot. BIX punches are neither common nor
cheap. Using the wrong tool may spread or dull the knife edges in the
block or jacks, preventing a good connection.

That said, the block in the picture Daniel Allen provided does appear
to be a BIX block.  Meh.  $80 at Electronic Products Online:
http://www.electronicproductonline.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2338
 (I've ordered BIX parts from them before).  BIX blocks are also
available locally from Primespec, probably cheaper, but they don't
appear to be listed in their online catalogue http://primespec.ca/

BIX blocks are Cat6 rated; make sure you keep the twist in the wires
right to the punchdown.

Using a credit card is unlikely to cause damage to anything except
your bank balance.

- --Bob.

BIX punch tools:

EPO:
http://www.electronicproductonline.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=859

Primespec:
http://www.businessvision.net/Edge/Main.asp?D=%7B9B9E3255%2D6E01%2D4878%2D8CBE%2DEC41587FF981%7D&PageType=Product&SKU=BIX%2D16A&CategoryID=241


Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>         http://sobac.com/sobac/
SOBAC Microcomputer Services              Phone: +1-519-669-0388
6 James Street, Elmira ON Canada  N3B 1L5  Cell: +1-519-635-9413
Software   ---   Office & Business Automation   ---   Consulting



On 12-07-05 03:45 PM, John Van Ostrand wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
>> Hi! Does anybody have a bix punchdown tool I could borrow for an
>> evening or two?
> 
> Yes, I have one, a crappy but functional tester, and a wire locater
> so you can figure out which cable is which. You can also use the
> edge of a credit card to punch down, it will make lots of marks on
> the card and is a little finicky.
> 
> You can also get a cheap plastic punch-down tool at Home Depot as
> well as the BIX branded $60 tool.
> 
>> Having just moved into my new condo, I was very pleased to
>> discover ethernet jacks in most rooms, plus a tiny-leetle wiring
>> closet in my utility room; which contains a pair of bix mounts as
>> well as phone/cable incoming wires AND what I believe are 6
>> ethernet-grade cables which run to each room.
> 
> The cables should be marked on the jacket. You can also tell by the
> wires in the cable. A loose twist is CAT 3, a tight twist is CAT 5
> and a tight twist with a centre core is CAT 6. For short runs you
> can easily to GigE with CAT 5. I'd try with CAT 3 too.
> 
>> Given my photo of the wiring closet ( 
>> http://coder.com/daniel/photos/wiring-box2.jpg ) a friend pointed
>> me at
>> http://www.cablek.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=163 ,
>> a bix-mounted block of 6 ethernet jacks. I'm told I should just
>> unhook the wires from the one bix block (for phone) and then
>> mount them on the rj45 block I'd buy. Et Voila, capacity for
>> ethernet to each room. I've got wifi running now, and it's pretty
>> sweet, but ethernet would make us even happier.
> 
> That punch-down block your friend pointed to isn't CAT 5 or 6
> rated, but it will likely work fine. I've used then for CAT 5
> 100Mbit before. It also won't fit unless you remove the bix blade
> that's in there now. The RJ45 block takes two slots.
> 
>> I think all I need is a bix punchdown tool. If you have one I
>> could borrow, I'd be grateful. Or if you have other
>> recommendations, I'm all ears.
> 

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