Scribd
Upload
69 views6 pages

Making Ethernet Cables

Step in making straight through and crossover

Uploaded by

John Patrick Guigue
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
69 views6 pages

Making Ethernet Cables

Step in making straight through and crossover

Uploaded by

John Patrick Guigue
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Making Ethernet Cables - Tricks of the Trade

HOW TO MAKE AN ETHERNET CABLE


Purchasing fully made Ethernet cables from the store can be quite
expensive. It is far easier to simply buy a box of bulk Category 5e
Ethernet cable and then attach your own RJ-45 connectors to the
cut ends of your preferred cable length.


Bulk Ethernet Cable - Category 5e or CAT5e

(You may also use Category 6 or CAT6 cabling which has higher
performance specifications and is about 20% more expensive
than CAT5.)

Bulk RJ45 Crimpable Connectors for CAT-5e
or
Bulk RJ45 Crimpable Connectors for CAT-6





RJ-45 Crimping tool
There are two kinds of Ethernet cables you can make, Straight
Through and Crossover.

STRAIGHT THROUGH Ethernet cables are the standard
cable used for almost all purposes. It is highly recommend you
duplicate the color order as shown on the left. Note how the
green pair is not side-by-side as are all the other pairs. This
configuration allows for longer wire runs.


CROSSOVER CABLES - The purpose of a Crossover
Ethernet cable is to directly connect one computer to another
computer (or device) without going through a router, switch or
hub.

Here's how to make a standard cable:

cut into the plastic sheath about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end of
the cut cable. The crimping tool has a razor blade that will do the
trick with practice.

Unwind and pair the similar colors.

Pinch the wires between your fingers and straighten them out as
shown. The color order is important to get correct.

Use scissors to make a straight cut across the wires 1/2 Inch (1.3
cm) from the cut sleeve to the end of the wires.

Push the wires into the connector. Note the position of the blue
plastic shielding. Also note how the wires go all the way to the
end.


A view from the top. All the wires are all the way in. There are no
short wires.


WRONG WAY - Note how the blue plastic sleeve is not inside the
connector where it can be locked into place. The wires are too
long. The wires should extend only 1/2 inch from the blue cut
sleeve.


WRONG WAY - Note how the cables do not go all the way to the
end of the connector.

CRIMPING THE CABLE ... carefully place the connector into the
Ethernet Crimper and cinch down on the handles tightly. The
copper splicing tabs on the connector will pierce into each of the
eight wires. There is also a locking tab that holds the blue plastic
sleeve in place for a tight compression fit. When you remove the
cable from the crimper, that end is ready to use.

For a standard "Straight Through" cable, repeat all steps and wire
color order on the other end of cable. For a cross-over cable, the
other end will have a different color order as shown by the
crossover picture above.

Make sure to test the cables before installing them. An
inexpensive Ethernet cable tester does this quite well.
NOTE - The maximum cable length of CAT-5, CAT-5e or CAT-6 Ethernet cable is 328 feet or 100 meters.

You might also like