In order to make your own network cables, you will need some cable and some connectors, all of which is easily acquired. You will also need a crimping tool and ideally a tester so that you can make sure you've done the job properly. Most crimp tools also allow you to strip insulation and cut cables to length.
When you crimp a cable the metal contact pads inside the RJ45 head will "cut" into the isolated ethernet cable. Most one time used RJ45 connectors will also have a bit in the middle of the connector that will get crushed during crimping, ensuring that the cable doesn't get pulled out easily from the contact pads.
Crimping RJ-45 connectors onto CAT-5 cable can be frustrating. Some techniques make the process of installing RJ-45 connectors easier. Not all RJ-45 connectors are created equally. One reason why CAT-6 cable is much harder to work with than CAT-5 cable is that CAT-6 is quite a bit thicker.
Although T568B is the most widely used, the T568A wiring scheme is seen as the better wiring scheme for RJ45 modular plugs because it provides reverse compatibility to not only one, but also two-pair wiring setups. The government also requires that T568A be used for projects done under federal contract.
Requirements
- Fundamentals of Networking
Features
- Crimping RJ45
Target audiences
- Network Professionals
