So I get cat5 to DB9 adapters from a manufacturer. I open the newest ones that I've received and realize that instead of being screen printed with descriptions like male, female, and null, they now have stickers. But the stickers only have model numbers on them.

Yeah, the techs in the field are going to memorize 7 digit numbers to know which piece is the right one!

WTF?

Put your own labels on them.

Yeah, that sucks.
Did you let them have it?

Who do you use?

I haven't called them yet. I'm venting before I call someone

That's a good idea as someone here might or might have had a solution. Probably somebody in China decided to save $0.0003 per unit by changing the designation. Looking at a couple of things in my junk box I have to say "cool, so they have a designation, do they?"

This mfr (you can expand that to either word you like) should be told that everything electronic from the tiniest resistors on up, which can externally appear to be one of many different things, has a designation customized to its users. That last bit is to get around "sure, you have to memorize all those numbers."

Also be smart: see if maybe the last two or three digits, alone, might distinguish the different parts that you use.

Well name the manufacturer!

I looked at some of the older ones when I got back to the shop tonight. They had the sticker with the model number also, along with the printed description. Maybe I should be glad they didn't get rid of both

If you do those a lot, sometime try terminating your own DB9 with m/f kits and closed barrel crimper and pins. Clean.

Electronics: you get what you pay for.

I either use the ones from savant or from elan. 90% of the time they work every time.

(plusI've pinned them all out myself, 568a and 568b and just have a list somewhere in case).

It's not like you couldn't crack the db9 portion off to see the 8 colored wires beneath, right?

I pin them myself. Whenever i order from some place new i test pins and make a chart so i can compare it with the last batch. From time to time the pinout/color changes.

[Link: easyadapters.com]

10000% worth it.

My new favorite quote:

Not always your suppliers fault (in fact rarely).
China will change things (for their benefit or just because) and not notify their pardner.

We are dealing with an issue now where they changed the fuze mfgr. in a product.
Same electrical specs but ever so slightly smaller in diameter, this new (smaller) diameter does not fit as tight in the clamps and will allow for arcing which will damage the terminal.

So for a possible savings of .0000 something or just because their supply ran dry and they bought what was easily available (we don't know yet) we had to issue a stop shipping order until we get the correct fuze.

I only say that because I was using a db9 to rj45 (straight) to connect my chasis to a honeywell security panel, as both the panel and the chasis called for that connector, only to find out that I need a null modem. Fortunately, It was an easy swap, as Savant makes db9 adaptors in four flavors.

My new favorite quote:

We can't give you a good answer, or maybe any, without the make and model of everything.