*Cat5 & Cat6 Ethernet Cables *
Do these things have a 'Shelf Life' ? / I ask this question for a very good reason.
Over the past 7 to 8 years I've been collecting Cat5e Cat6 cables from internet providers, or when buying a new router etc..
Before you know it, you have 10 or 15 cables spooled up in a closet somewhere over the years.
All of these cables of course are terminated RJ45 connectors.
My Issue Is This::
Half of these Cables Do-Not Work when I plugged them into a Tester and the Computer's ..
They simply have No Connectivity / No Data / No Flow.. (very strange) I say..
These cables are Not damaged, the RJ45 ends appear normal non corroded etc..
All these cables came from different suppliers such as Comcast/Dlink/DSL Company/ etc..
All the RJ45's are of course Factory Crimped with Strain Relief etc.. But They Just Don't Work.
Are Cables supposed to be stored in a certain manner? Plastic Bag? Heck I Am Befuddled over this.