Home networking projects can become expensive quickly when you’re purchasing ready-made cables. I was staring at a $600+ price for all the cables I needed, so I grabbed an RJ45 crimp tool and a 1,000-foot spool of Cat6 cable instead. That decision cut my costs by hundreds, while providing me with perfectly sized cables for my basement network setup.
When I had my basement framed before finishing it, I saw the perfect opportunity to wire Ethernet throughout the space. Living in a ranch home with a sprawling basement, some cable runs stretched over 75 feet. Each 75-foot Cat6 cable would run me about $20–$25, and I needed coverage for 12 locations plus three future spots in our great room. The numbers didn’t lie: store-bought cables would drain my wallet, while making my own would keep most of that money where it belonged.
Why I chose to crimp my own cables
The cost savings were too good to ignore
Store-bought Ethernet cables in my required lengths would’ve hit me for over $600. The crimp tool kit I bought included everything: the actual crimping tool, RJ45 connectors, protective boots, and a cable tester. Add the 1,000-foot cable spool, and my total spend stayed under $250. That’s over 50% savings compared to buying finished cables.
Standard cable lengths rarely match the actual requirements for wall runs. You end up with bunched-up excess cable creating ugly tangles behind your equipment. Making my own meant I could measure each run exactly and cut cables to the precise length, resulting in a tidy setup.
Running bare cable makes installation easier
Pulling wire without connectors saves time and effort
Threading bare cable through drilled-out holes in floor joists and wall plates beats wrestling with connector-tipped cables every time. The slim bare wire slides through cramped spots and navigates corners without catching, while finished cables with their chunky connectors get hung up constantly. I ran all my cables first, then added connectors once I knew my exact measurements.
Planning my basement network infrastructure
Mapping out 15 strategic locations
I planned Ethernet drops for every spot that might need rock-solid internet access. The main basement received coverage in the sitting area, home gym, office space, guest bedroom, and two areas in the common space near the stairs. For entertainment zones, I hid the Ethernet cables behind smart TVs using in-wall mounting boxes and added baseplates underneath with Ethernet and HDMI ports for gaming consoles.
Although our great room isn’t fully finished yet, I have wired three strategic locations there. Two spots will eventually house Echo Hubs with PoE installation for smart home control, while the third location features three Ethernet connectors behind our planned 100-inch smart TV wall. This setup will accommodate the TV plus two gaming systems without any visible cables.
Every cable run connects back to my Ubiquiti Dream Machine, which serves double duty for routing and network control. The same setup powers an Ubiquiti Access Point, which blankets the basement with solid Wi-Fi, finally eliminating the dead zones that once plagued the space.
The learning curve of cable crimping
Getting the technique right takes practice
Mastering the RJ45 crimp tool definitely requires some trial and error. You have to strip the outer jacket just right, arrange those eight tiny wires in perfect order, slide them into the RJ45 connector, and crimp everything securely. I botched a couple of my early attempts, including one connector I wired completely backward, but the included cable tester caught my mistakes fast.
After wrestling with about five connectors, muscle memory kicked in. My first attempts ate up 20–30 minutes each, but eventually I got my time down to under 10 minutes per connector. The secret is patience with wire placement and double-checking that every wire hits the connector’s end before you squeeze the crimper.
The results were worth every effort
Significant cost savings and professional quality
My final numbers showed $350+ in savings versus buying ready-made cables. Even counting the hours I spent learning and working, the math worked out beautifully. The 1,000-foot spool handled all 15 cable runs with some left over for future projects.
These custom-cut cables ensure a spotless installation, eliminating messy loops and awkward routing. Every single connection passed testing with the included cable tester, and network performance matches anything I could’ve bought at retail stores. Additionally, I now possess the skills and tools necessary for future network expansions, security camera installations, and smart home upgrades.
Making your own cables pays off big
Don’t let crimping Ethernet cables scare you off—the money you’ll save and control you’ll gain make it worth tackling on any major network project. Get yourself some basic tools, spend a little time practicing, and you’ll be making cables that fit your setup perfectly while keeping serious cash in your pocket. If you can’t run Ethernet throughout your home without a major demo, powerline adapters are a great alternative.
