Crimping your first patch or crossover cable for networking may seem hard. But with the proper technique and accurate knowledge, it should be easy as counting 1, 2, and 3. You don't have to memorize certain standard color patterns to be able to crimp your own network cable but we will be discussing about the standard later. There is a quicker way to be able to make a crossover cable fast and easy. I assume you know what a network cable is and decided to make or crimp the cable yourself. However follow the link if you want to have a clearer understanding about home networking. Crimping a patch or crossover cable for networking is an essential skill a computer hardware servicing technician must have. Sometimes, most common computer problems deals with network cables.
T568A and T568B Straight-Through Wiring Diagram
The basic Ethernet pinouts are straight through and cross over. When connecting to switches and hubs, straight through pinout is used. Crossover is used for peer to peer connections for two computers or bridging routers or switches. Relatively, we will be using T568A and T568B diagrams.
For cabling straight through, you can either use T568A or T568B for both ends of the cable. Here is the diagram for you to look as a reference.
This is a T568A Color Pattern | This is a T568B Color Pattern |
A patch or straight through is simply crimping two ends of the cable with the same color pattern. If you use one end with T568A color pattern, you must as well use T568A color pattern for the other end. So is the same if you will be using the T568B color pattern respectively. Meaning, there is no need to follow the standard color pattern.
If you will be crimping a crossover cable, just use the T568A on one end of the cable and T568B color pattern on the other end.
I want you to figure out how we crimp crossover cables. If we will be crimping straight-throughs, we use 1-2-3-6 modular connector pin pattern paired to the other 1-2-3-6 modular connector pin pattern.
On the other hand if we will be crimping a crossover cable, we use 3-6-1-2 pin pattern paired to a 1-2-3-6 pin pattern. This method will eliminate memorization of the color patterns which commonly adds confusion in crimping for beginners. Think and figure it out. The diagram provides a clear answer. :-)
Crimping a Network Cat5 Cable with Modular Connector
Materials :
A Length of Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cat5 Cable
Wire Stripper
Crimping tool (RJ45)
8P8C Modular Connector Plugs or Jacks ("RJ45")
Network Cable Tester
Procedure :
1. Observe computer safety.
2. Remove about 2 inches of the cable's sheath on one end of the Cat5 cable using the wire stripper.
3. Once the sheath is removed, untwist the paired wires. The eight solid wires should be straightened by pressing it down against the table and pushed with another solid material.
4. Align the solid wires and follow either of the color pattern diagrams above.
5. Cut or trim the exposed wires neatly aligned about half an inch.
6. Insert the trimmed wires of the UTP cable into the RJ45 jack following the diagram's direction of the pinouts.
7. Use the crimping tool to set the jack's contacts piercing the 8 strands of wires of the UTP cable. This sinking of the RJ45 "fingers" or "teeth" ensures connectivity for the wires to the jack itself.
8. For the other end, just repeat steps 1 to 6.
9. Verify if your newly crimped cable have perfect connectivity using a LAN cable tester.
If you want to crimp a crossover cable, crimp one end of the cable with the T568A color standard and the other end with the T568B color standard.