TIA/EIA-568-A, T-568B RJ45 Wiring Standard

For wiring straight-through and cross-over RJ-45 cables

RJ-45 conductor data cable contains 4 pairs of wires each consists of a solid colored wire and a strip of
the same color. There are two wiring standards for RJ-45 wiring: T-568A and T-568B. Although there
are 4 pairs of wires, 10BaseT/100BaseT Ethernet uses only 2 pairs: Orange and Green. The other two
colors (blue and brown) may be used for a second Ethernet line or for phone connections. The two
wiring standards are used to create a cross-over cable (T-568A on one end, and T-568B on the
other end), or a straight-through cable (T-568B or T-568A on both ends).

To create a straight-through cable, you'll have to use either

T-568A or T-568B on both ends of the cable. The diagram
depicted on the left and right shows clip of the RJ-45
connector down.

To create a cross-over cable, you'll wire T-568A on one end

and T-568B on the other end of the cable.

The straight-through cables are used when connecting Data

Terminating Equipment (DTE) to Data Communications
Equipment (DCE), such as computers and routers to modems
(gateways) or hubs (Ethernet Switches). The cross-over cables
are used when connecting DTE to DTE, or DCE to DCE
equipment; such as computer to computer, computer to router;
or gateway to hub connections. The DTE equipment
terminates the signal, while DCE equipment do not.

More on straight-through and cross-over connections

The RJ45 data cables we use to connect computers to a Ethernet switch is straight-through cables. As
noted above, the RJ45 cable uses only 2-pairs of wires: Orange (pins 1 & 2) and Green (pins 3 & 6).
Pins 4, 5 (Blue) and 7, 8 (Brown) are NOT used. Straight-through cable, as its name suggests, connects
pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, pin 3 to pin 3, and pin 6 to pin 6. Cross-over cables are used to connect
TX+ to RX+, and TX- to RX-, which connects pin 1 to pin 3, pin 2 to pin 6, pin 3 to pin 1 and pin 6 to
pin 2. The unused pins are generally connected straight-through in both straight-through and cross-over
cables.

To network two computers without a hub, a cross-over cable is used. Cross-over cable is also used to
connect a router to a computer, or ethernet switch (hub) to another ethernet switch without an uplink.
Most ethernet switches today provide an uplink port, which prevents a use of cross-over cable to daisy
chain another ethernet switch. Straight-through cables are used to connect a computer to an ethernet
switch, or a router to an ethernet switch.

Pin Number Designations

There are pin number designations for each color in T-568B and T-568A.

T-568B T-568A
-------------------------- ------------------------
Pin Color Pin Name Color Pin Name
--- ------------- -------- ------------- --------
 1 Orange Stripe Tx+ Green Stripe Rx+
2 Orange Tx- Green Rx-
3 Green Stripe Rx+ Orange Stripe Tx+
4 Blue Not Used Blue Not Used
5 Blue Stripe Not Used Blue Stripe Not Used
6 Green Rx- Orange Tx-
7 Brown Stripe Not Used Brown Stripe Not Used
8 Brown Not Used Brown Not Used

RJ45 Color-Coded Scheme

RJ45 cables have 8 color-coded wires, and the plugs have 8 pins and conductors. Eight wires are used as 4 pairs,
each representing positive and negative polarity. The most commonly used wiring standard for 100baseT is T-
586B stanrard described above. Prior to EIA 568A and 568B standards, the color-coded scheme was used to wire
RJ45 cables. The table below depicts pin and color schemes used in traditional and standardized setup.

Pin Colored Scheme T-568B (Common) T-568A

1 Blue Orange Stripe Green Stripe
2 Orange Orange Green
3 Black Green Stripe Orange Stripe
4 Red Blue Blue
5 Green Blue Stripe Blue Stripe
6 Yellow Green Orange
7 Brown Brown Stripe Brown Stripe
8 White (or Grey) Brown Brown

RJ-45 Wiring FAQ

1. What are T-568A and T-568B wiring standards, and how are they different?

T-568A and T-568B are the two wiring standards for RJ-45 connector data cable specified by TIA/EIA-
568-A wiring standards document. The difference between the two is the position of the orange and
green wire pairs. It is preferable to wire to T-568B standards if there is no pre-existing pattern used
within a building.

2. What is RJ stands for?

RJ stands for Registered Jacks. These are used in telephone and data jack wiring registered with FCC.
RJ-11 is a 6-position, 4-conductor jack used in telephone wiring, and RJ-45 is a 8-position, 8-conductor
jack used in 10BaseT and 100BaseT ethernet wiring.

3. What is the Category Rating System?

Electronic Industries Association (EIA) developed the TIA/EIA-568-A standard, which specifies wiring
and performance standards for Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cabling. Category Rating System
specifies the definition of performance categories for 100 ohm UTP cabling system.

Category 3 specifies the twisted pair cable and connecting hardware that can support transmission
frequency up to 16MHz, and data rates up to 10Mbps. This is primarily used in telephone wiring.

Category 4 specifies cables and connectors that supports up to 20MHz and data rates up to 16Mbps.
With introduction of category 5, this is a rarely used category.

Category 5 specifies cables and connectors that supports up to 100MHz and data rates up to 100Mbps. With
100BaseT Ethernet today, Category 5 is a widely used cabling system that matches todays high-speed data
requirements.

Category TIA/EIA Standard Description

Cat 1 None POTS, ISDN and doorbell wiring
Cat 2 None 4 Mbps token ring networks
Cat 3 TIA/EIA 568-B 10 Mbps Ethernet - frequency up to 16MHz
Cat 4 None 16 Mbps token ring networks - frequency up to 20MHz
100 Mbps Ethernet - frequency up to 100 MHz
Cat 5 None
Not suitable for GigE (1000BaseT)
Cat 5e TIA/EIA 568-B 100 Mbps & GigE Ethernet - frequency up to 100 MHz
Cat 6 TIA/EIA 568-B 2x Performance of Cat 5 & 5e - frequency up to 250 MHz
Cat 6a None Future specification for 10Gbps application
Cat 7 ISO/IEC 11801 Class F Designed for transmission at frequencies up to 600 MHz

4. What is UTP Cable?

UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair. It is the cabling system with one or more pairs of twisted
insulated copper wires contained in a single sheath. It is the most widely used cabling system in
telecommunications and data communications environment today.

Crossover Cable

An Ethernet crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable used to connect computing devices together directly. Normal
straight through or patch cables were used to connect from a host network interface controller (a computer or similar
device) to a network switch, hub or router. A cable with connections that "cross over" was used to connect two devices
of the same type: two hosts or two switches to each other. Owing to the inclusion of Auto-MDIX capability, modern
implementations of the Ethernet over twisted pair standards usually no longer require the use of crossover cables.

Straight-through cable

Straight-through cable is also commonly referred to as patch cable. However, this might be confusing in some
situations because patch cable also has a broader definition that emphasizes the fact that there is a connector on
each end rather than the equality (or lack thereof) of the pinouts.

Straight-through cable is used to connect computers and other end-user devices (e.g., printers) to networking
devices such as hubs and switches. It can also be used to directly connect like devices (e.g., two hubs or two
switches) if the cable is plugged into an uplink port on one (but not both) of the devices. Crossover cable is used
to connect two like devices without the use of an uplink port.
Ethernet Cable - Color Coding Diagram

The information listed here is to assist Network Administrators in the color coding of
Ethernet cables. Please be aware that modifying Ethernet cables improperly may cause
loss of network connectivity. Use this information at your own risk, and insure all
connectors and cables are modified in accordance with standards. The Internet Centre
and its affiliates cannot be held liable for the use of this information in whole or in part.

T-568A Straight-Through Ethernet Cable

The TIA/EIA 568-A standard which was ratified in 1995, was replaced by the TIA/EIA
568-B standard in 2002 and has been updated since. Both standards define the T-568A
and T-568B pin-outs for using Unshielded Twisted Pair cable and RJ-45 connectors for
Ethernet connectivity. The standards and pin-out specification appear to be related and
interchangeable, but are not the same and should not be used interchangeably.

T-568B Straight-Through Ethernet Cable

Both the T-568A and the T-568B standard Straight-Through cables are used most often
as patch cords for your Ethernet connections. If you require a cable to connect two
Ethernet devices directly together without a hub or when you connect two hubs
together, you will need to use a Crossover cable instead.

RJ-45 Crossover Ethernet Cable

A good way of remembering how to wire a Crossover Ethernet cable is to wire one end
using the T-568A standard and the other end using the T-568B standard. Another way
of remembering the color coding is to simply switch the Green set of wires in place
with the Orange set of wires. Specifically, switch the solid Green (G) with the solid
Orange, and switch the green/white with the orange/white.

Ethernet Cable Instructions:

1. Pull the cable off the reel to the desired length and cut. If you are pulling cables
through holes, its easier to attach the RJ-45 plugs after the cable is pulled. The total
length of wire segments between a PC and a hub or between two PC's cannot exceed
100 Meters (328 feet) for 100BASE-TX and 300 Meters for 10BASE-T.
2. Start on one end and strip the cable jacket off (about 1") using a stripper or a knife. Be
extra careful not to nick the wires, otherwise you will need to start over.

3. Spread, untwist the pairs, and arrange the wires in the order of the desired cable end.
Flatten the end between your thumb and forefinger. Trim the ends of the wires so they
are even with one another, leaving only 1/2" in wire length. If it is longer than 1/2" it will
be out-of-spec and susceptible to crosstalk. Flatten and insure there are no spaces
between wires.

4. Hold the RJ-45 plug with the clip facing down or away from you. Push the wires firmly
into the plug. Inspect each wire is flat even at the front of the plug. Check the order of
the wires. Double check again. Check that the jacket is fitted right against the stop of
the plug. Carefully hold the wire and firmly crimp the RJ-45 with the crimper.

5. Check the color orientation, check that the crimped connection is not about to come
apart, and check to see if the wires are flat against the front of the plug. If even one of
these are incorrect, you will have to start over. Test the Ethernet cable.

Ethernet Cable Tips:

 A straight-thru cable has identical ends.

  A crossover cable has different ends.

 A straight-thru is used as a patch cord in Ethernet connections.

 A crossover is used to connect two Ethernet devices without a hub or for connecting
two hubs.

 A crossover has one end with the Orange set of wires switched with the Green set.

 Odd numbered pins are always striped, even numbered pins are always solid colored.

 Looking at the RJ-45 with the clip facing away from you, Brown is always on the right,
and pin 1 is on the left.

 No more than 1/2" of the Ethernet cable should be untwisted otherwise it will be
susceptible to crosstalk.

 Do not deform, do not bend, do not stretch, do not staple, do not run parallel with
power cables, and do not run Ethernet cables near noise inducing components.

Basic Theory:

By looking at a T-568A UTP Ethernet straight-thru cable and an Ethernet crossover

cable with a T-568B end, we see that the TX (transmitter) pins are connected to the
corresponding RX (receiver) pins, plus to plus and minus to minus. You can also see
that both the blue and brown wire pairs on pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are not used in either
standard. What you may not realize is that, these same pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are not used
or required in 100BASE-TX as well. So why bother using these wires, well for one
thing its simply easier to make a connection with all the wires grouped together.
Otherwise you'll be spending time trying to fit those tiny little wires into each of the
corresponding holes in the RJ-45 connector.