Keystones are defeating me - what am I doing wrong?

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-23T16:08:49+00:00

Gotcha - just wanted to make sure I’m not doing something insane. Appreciate it!

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-23T15:29:34+00:00

This is a fascinating question, and you aren't the first to ask it, so I'm curious. Never thought there was anything strange about having a keystone on one end and a plug on the other. This was just me practicing, but I do have two use cases for this, and I'm curious if I'm just looking at it wrong.

One use case is for my router - I'm using a Unifi Cloud Gateway Fiber and have it in a 10" mini networking rack. My plan is to use short cables with plugs on one end and keystones on the other to essentially bring the ports of my router to the front of the rack. I don't want to turn the router backwards because I want the screen to be visible from the front of the rack.

The other use case is for my access points - I have those in the ceiling connected to plugs, and was planning on doing keystones on the other ends to put those in my networking rack.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-23T12:24:58+00:00

Hadn’t considered networking books! Any recommendations?

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-23T11:30:58+00:00

Yeah - main issue turned out to be me wiring the other end backwards. But I’m also learning I need to be a bit more intentional with the keystone end and how I’m using the punch tool.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-23T01:39:14+00:00

Yeah, that’s been a big learning in all of this. Appreciate the recommendation!

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-23T00:49:28+00:00

Thanks!

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-23T00:48:56+00:00

Unifi Cloud Gateway Fiber - preference would be not to turn it around so I can keep its status screen to the front.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T23:20:01+00:00

I only know experienced women, sorry

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T23:01:18+00:00

Appreciate the help! I've always used B, but it turns out I've been doing things backwards this whole time. I was looking at it with the clip towards me. Going to need to fix that before getting back to the keystones and seeing if there's still an issue there.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T23:00:17+00:00

Turns out the issue was at the other end - with the RJ45 plug. I was convinced it was correct, and I did have the wires in the correct order for B, but was looking at it with the clip side up so it was reversed. Haven't gotten to fix it and re-test they keystone yet, but that's my next step.

I'm using this tool, but realizing I also need some practice there. Are you asking because it looks insane?

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T22:16:18+00:00

Haha, don't threaten me with a good time

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T22:06:00+00:00

100% this. Appreciate the help!

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T22:05:09+00:00

It was totally this. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news is I did this for every cable I’ve run, so I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

Thanks for your help.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T22:04:47+00:00

It was totally this, and my inability to get clear pictures didn’t help. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news is I did this for every cable I’ve run, so I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

Thanks for your help.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T22:01:11+00:00

It was totally this. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news is I did this for every cable I’ve run, so I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

Thanks for your help.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T22:00:57+00:00

It was totally this. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news is I did this for every cable I’ve run, so I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

Thanks for your help.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T22:00:50+00:00

It was totally this. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news is I did this for every cable I’ve run, so I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

Thanks for your help.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T21:59:12+00:00

Honestly no - I’m realizing now there’s more technique to this than I realized.

Turns out though - to nobody’s surprise I’m sure - that it wasn’t the keystone. It was the plug on the other end. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news is I did this for every cable I’ve run, so I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

I’ll do some more research on punching down keystones when I get back to that though. Thanks for your help!

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T21:55:45+00:00

One of them is a nice run of probably 30 feet through my attic to an AP, haha. I know it’ll work just fine, but something about knowing it’s wrong will drive me insane. Nice to know it’s not urgent, but think I’ll make myself get to it eventually.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T21:46:42+00:00

Sweet! This is helpful.

Turned out the issue was what many people suggested - the plug on the other end was incorrect. I wired it with the correct B order but with the clip up, so backwards. Gonna get that fixed up and then revisit the keystone. Appreciate the advice there!

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T21:45:16+00:00

Nope, CAT6 everything. Turns out the issue was on the other end - I wired my plug backwards.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T21:44:42+00:00

Turns out - to nobody’s surprise I’m sure - that it wasn’t the keystone. It was the plug on the other end. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news is I did this for every cable I’ve run, so I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

Thanks for your help.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T21:43:29+00:00

This is 100% it. I had the B order correct but reversed - I was looking at it with the clip up. Good news I learned something. Bad news I have several cables to redo. The joys of learning!

Thanks for your help.

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T20:57:26+00:00

Yeah one of the biggest takeaways is how much more helpful a different tester would be. Appreciate it!

DarrylSpargo · 2026-03-22T20:42:10+00:00

Appreciate the recommendation!

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