Communications: Voice, Radio and Data - Splitting and Splicing category 5 wire?

I am in the process of finishing my basement and before I close up my ceilings, I am running category 5 wire to serve some rooms upstairs. I have 2 larger rooms and I was considering splitting one line so that I can have 2 outlets in the room, rather than running 2 home runs for one room. What is the proper way to split the line and is it recommended?

Also, I have a long run of wire and, after I cut it, I realized that I want to put the outlet on a different wall, so now my wire is too short. Is there a way connect 2 wires (a coupling?) so I can use the existing wire?

Thanks.

The answer to your question depends on what you are using the cable for.

If you are using the cable for telephones then you can spit it to your hearts content. However, you should make any and all splits where the cable is accessible. It will be nearly impossible for someone to understand what you did if you split it in the wall, and if your connection fails then you have to find and fix your repair.

If you are using this for a computer connection then you cannot split it. I also recommend that you NOT split it. If you goofed, replace the cable with a larger one. Or leave this one in place, add a new one to where you want it, ending up with two cables to the room.

If you're using the Cat5 for phone lines, do yourself a favor and use white B-connectors (a.k.a. "Beanies") to make the connections. They're fast & easy. You don't need to buy the special crimper. Any crimper or even pliers will crush 'em for a solid connection.

Example: http://www.dolphincomponents.com/catalog-1.asp

Thanks. I'm running the wires so I can have a wired computer network.

Regarding the splicing of wires: Once a wire terminates with a connector at a wall plate, adding a patch wire extends the run the lenght of the patch. How is that different that coupling 2 wires before it reaches the wall outlet? Just curious.

Electrically there is no difference.

Physically, there is a a big difference. A patch at a wall plate ia a known patch and can be repaired if the connection fails. A patch buried in a wall somewhere will be quickly forgotten and when it fails will be hard to find.

Make all of your runs continuous from a central location to each location.

The twist patterns of the individual pairs inside the Cat 5 are critical. If those twists are disrupted by splicing -- even by as little as 1/2 inch -- it can interfere with the transfer of data. RJ connectors keep those disruptions as short as possible.

I once had to troubleshoot a CobraNet system that was reporting severe data errors. Finally found an RJ coupler that someone had installed to extend the line when they moved the data rack. The worst part was they had taped it in place to the top of a beefy rack-mounted power supply -- right above its power transformer. All was well when I replaced the line with a direct run and rerouted it to keep it away from the power supply.