Basic lesson in cat5 cables please?

tobybowes

Also incase you dont know....there are several different ways of wiring up cat5 cables (putting the connectors on each end) and they all have different uses.

Been a long time since i studied this so please correct me if im wrong but the following are the different types of cables and some of there uses - - - - >

Rollover - Used for configuring equipment such as a router from a pc
Cross Over - Used to connect a pc directly to another pc (a Peer2Peer Network)
Straight Through (aka Patch) - Used to connect a pc directly to a router or switch (for connection to network) and is commonly used to patch you laptop/pc to the network through a wall socket

Joe_Bloggs

If you are keen to explore the depths of cat5 you can enter a speed untangling contest
I was going to call the connectors on the end of the cables RJ45 but further wikipedia 'research' classifies them as 8P8C . You can get a tool to crimp the plugs onto the wires. It does require a knack as short lengths of the twisted pairs have to be repositioned in a strict colour sequence. A good view of the subject matter often helps.
J_B.

EyeFellOva

Hi Aliasojo, and everyone else!

I was trawling the internet for something completely unrelated when I happened across this topic!

I just thought I'd help clear up a few points that some people are a little unclear on if no-one minds

Firstly, solid core Cat5e UTP is perfectly adequate for any home network installation. It's flexible, versatile and unless you are trying to use a Gigabit LAN you should be fine. Cat6 is still too expensive and is slightly harder to use.

Second, don't get caught up on symantics. If you walk into Maplins and ask for 8P8C connectors and wall-plates most people will look at you with a blank stare! I know that's what they're called, but most don't. Most people know them as RJ45 so stick with that name.

Finally (I know, you thought I'd never finish!), There are only 2 cabling standards you need to worry about these days. They have silly names but they're best referred to as:

Stright Through: Used for just about anything that uses Cat5e. This will connect PCs, Laptops, LAN Hard Drives and anything else with a network port to your Router or network Switch.
Cross-over: This is only used for connecting PCs/Laptops to other PCs/Laptops directly, without using a Router or Switch. Or for Daisy Chaining switches (although new switches automatically cross-over for you!)

One end of your cable always starts the same:
White/Orange
Orange
White/Green
Blue
White/Blue
Green
White/Brown
Brown

For Straight Cables do exactly the same on the other end!
For Cross-Over Cables Switch the Green and Orange pairs:
White/Green
Green
White/Orange
Blue
White/Blue
Orange
White/Brown
Brown

That's it! You only need 2 tools to make Cat5 cables, an RJ45 Crimp Tool and a cable stripper. There are plenty of guides on the interenet to help you with actually making the cables too. But if you need any more guidance just ask, I'm sure there are people far more knowledgable thatn me who can help