Can I use a "store bought" CAT6 ethernet/lan cable for Loconet?
Digitrax seems to imply that there is something special/different about a Loconet RJ12 connection/cable in that it is "twisted", or that the RJ12 connector at each end is orientated 180 degrees from the opposite end. If the cable is wired pin 1 to pin1, etc I don't see any difference. As cheap as these are what's the point in spending $50 for good crimping tool if you can buy ready made CAT6 for far less?
No, Cat6 cable has a different end. You are looking for telephone style plugs, yes, 6 wire, but Cat6 is bigger. It simply will not fit.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Digitrax does not recommend using ethernet cables for Loconet due to the electrical characteristics of the cable.
If you want to buy rather than make, look here:
http://www.monoprice.com/search/index?keyword=rj12%20cables&mode=list&category_1=Cables
The first three, 7, 14, and 25 foot that say "straight for Data" are the ones you want. Yes they are that cheap. If you need an HDMI cable for your TV check those guys out too. I buy all kinds of cables from this place, never had a problem.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Arto,
The other posters are correct. But to add a little as far as why they are:
First, you seem to be confusing CAT6, with 6-conductor cable. They are not the same. Cat6 cable actually has 8 conductors and a larger plug (RJ45 as opposed to RJ12 on a LocoNet cable).
Then, the "twisted" thing you mention: LocoNet cables are wired straight through, so pin #1 on one end is connected to pin #1 on the other. That requires that the plugs are crimped to the cable in opposite directions, and is the opposite of how "normal" phone cables are usually wired.
You can show that in a picture of the cable by either twisting the cable ends 180 degrees, or by showing the plugs with one locking pin facing up while the other faces down (with no twist in the cable itself).
Here's a good illustration of the difference between the two.
The reason Digitrax specifies straight-through cables is because of RailSync. If you use a "regular" phone cable that isn't straight-through, you will reverse the RailSync phase with each cable. Depending on what you're cabling together, that could cause major problems.
There are only a few components affected by the railsync being flipped - HOWEVER, ALWAYS use the correct cables - while everything you have connected today might be fine no matter which type of cables you use, in a few years you may add one of the devices where it DOES matter - and then tracking down the incorrect cable is a total nightmare, especially because an even number of flips is the same as not flipping it in the first place and as you try to swap out cables to find the bad one, it works, then it doesn't work, then it works again.
The same thing applies if you need a longer than standard cable - not all couplers are made equally. Some add the equvalent of a twist to the cable - because phones don't care.
It's not too hard to make your own. They keys are a good quality crimp tool and decent quality wire. A good crimp tool takes the guesswork out of things - they ratched closed at the proper pressure. Like the difference between cranking on a breaker bar and guessing you have applied 85 foot pounds to the nut or having a torqure wrench which clicks at the proper torque. No guessing, insert the end, insert the prepared wire (the good tools also have the exact length dual step cutters built in to properly prepare the wire, again with no guesswork - insert to the stop, close the handle, pull the wire), and squeeze until it clicks and allows you to open. Decent qulaity wire I say because super cheap wire often has no side indicator, so you have to be careful to match the correct colors, and the wire size tends to be on the small side of whatever AWG it is specified as, leading to less reliable crimps. Decent wire had an indicator strip or ridge along one side of the wire, so you can see and feel which side is facing the tab of the connector when you crimp it on.
But if you don't feel confident, or only need a couple of cables to complete your wiring, you can get premade in many places. Many DCC resellers have them, at rather inflated prices relative to the Monoprice ones I posted. I haven't used their RJ12 cables, I make my own for my layout, but I do have many of their ethernet cables and my TV is hooked up with their HDMI cables. Heck, my wireless router doesn't have enough ethernet ports so I'm even using one of their gig switches to expand my network.