Tools, Equipment, and Materials
Tools, equipment, and materials should match the task and the cable category. For copper work, typical hand tools include a cable stripper, flush cutters, punch-down tool with the correct blade, RJ45 crimper, tone generator and probe, and a certification or qualification tester. Pathway tools include fish tape, glow rods, pulling grips, lubricant approved for the cable jacket, J-hooks, and supports. Labeling equipment and a vacuum for dust are part of a professional kit. Safety gear belongs in the kit too: eye protection, gloves, and voltage/utility scanner.
Traps in exam questions include using a 66 blade on a 110 jack, using a crimper on a modular jack, using a continuity tester as a certification tester, using dull or nicked cutters, applying incompatible lubricant, and using staples or tight ties on UTP. Also watch for using the wrong category of jack or patch cord, or a plug designed for stranded cord on solid horizontal cable.
Worked example: terminating a Cat6 modular jack requires a 110 punch-down tool and matching jack; an RJ45 plug crimper is for a plug, not the jack. Verify the blade and connector type before starting. Rule: use the tool designed for the termination and the cable; if a tool mars the conductor or jacket, stop.