Network tools let you create connections to link the electronic systems in your home, including multiple computers, a home theater system, Internet access, telephone lines and even a fax machine. Having the right tools on hand makes installation faster and allows you to easily resolve any problems that crop up along the way. You may have some of these tools on hand already. For those you need to buy, a good rule of thumb is to choose high-quality tools you can depend on for safety and durability, like those you’ll find at The Home Depot.

Below you’ll find a list of network tools you can expect to use, paired with an easy-to-follow guide to the tools you’ll need for four networking projects you can do yourself. Read our Networking Cables Buying Guide to learn more about network cable and wiring.

Network Tools You May Need

Cable f-Connector - Used for inserting stripped coaxial cable into an f-connector.

Pliers

• Cutting Pliers – Commonly used in networking, these pliers have a cutting blade on one side and come in long, short-nosed and curved types. Look for a spring in the handle that automatically opens the jaws after each use, making your work easier.

• Lineman’s pliers – These are heavy-duty side-cutting pliers with gripping jaws as well as cutting edges. With lineman’s pliers, you can cut wires and easily twist them together. Buy a high-quality pair—it should feel somewhat heavy in your hand and operate smoothly.

• Long Nose Pliers – Also called needle-nose pliers. The jaws are long and pointed, useful for working in hard-to-reach places and twisting tight loops of wire that attach to screw terminals. Be sure to buy a pair strong enough for handling household wiring, as some models are made for finer electronics wires.

Drill Bits

• Spade Bits are used for drilling holes in wood, such as clearance holes for wire in floor beams. A spade bit has a flat paddle with cutting edges and a point on one end. The other end is sized to fit a 1/4–in. drill chuck.

• Flex Auger Bits make drilling through walls quick and easy with a flexible spring steel shaft that drills through wood studs and other materials, and a tapered back that allows easy removal of the bit from the hole.

• Ship Auger Bits drill long holes quickly through wood, heavy timber, vinyl and plastics.

Drywall Saw – Used to cut holes in drywall for installing a new wall jack or outlet.

Gender Changer – Also called a male-to-female adapter; use it to change a connection from male to female.

Level/Torpedo Level – Levels measure true horizontal and true vertical, using an air bubble in liquid-filled vials. Electronic levels perform the same function using sensors. Use a shorter torpedo level when working in tight spaces.


Utility Knife – If you’re like most DIYers, you’ll find a number of uses for a utility knife when performing electrical work. For example, with practice, a utility knife may be used to slit cable insulation so it can be stripped away from insulated wires.


Power Drill – Used to drill holes for wire and cable. The higher the motor’s amperage, the more powerful the drill is. Power drills come in various sizes according to the size of the largest bit you can insert into the chuck.


Punch-Down Tool – Ideal for installing a network panel, this spring-mounted tool pushes wires into punch-down terminals or jacks at the same time it trims away excess wire. Look for a unit that allows one-handed operation to reduce fatigue and leave your other hand free for a different task.


Screwdrivers – When working on or around a live electrical circuit, use only screwdrivers with composite shafts and electrical insulations rated for protection against shock from energized sources with voltage up to 1000 volts.


Signal Splitter – Lets you split existing cable to multiply the number of electronic devices it serves.

Testers

• Use a cable tester to troubleshoot connection problems such as an open circuit, an electrical short or other malfunction.
   
  
• Use a tone-and-probe cable tester to find wiring faults and measure voltage and polarity in both net work and modular telephone lines.
  
  
• Use a continuity tester to check the reliability of fuses, switches and sockets with the power off.
  
  
• Use a digital multi-tester to perform the tasks of both a continuity tester and a voltage tester.
  
  
• Use a GFCI receptacle analyzer to quickly tell you whether a standard or GFCI receptacle is safe.
  
  
• Use a single- or four-level voltage tester to indicate if the power is on or off.
  
  

Wire/Cable Crimpers – Essential tools for wiring connectors in place.

Wire/Cable Strippers – Similar to wire cutters with the addition of a center notch, which makes it easier to cut and strip insulation without cutting the wire.



Wire Cutters – Match the wire cutter you need to the thickness of the wire that needs cutting.



Fish Tape – A strip of rigid, flat metal or nylon on a spool used to guide wires and cables through walls and conduit. Fish tape can be used for installing both telephone wiring and coaxial cable. Look for fish tape with laser-etched calibrations at 1-ft. intervals that make it easy to measure the depth of conduit runs and the amount of cable needed for a run.

Tools for 4 Common Projects
Refer to the table below for tools that are typically used for 4 common home networking projects. Be sure to refer to equipment manufacturers’ instructions or your project guide for a list of the specific tools you may need.