NET102: Networking with Lab 1

Wiring a Twisted Pair Ethernet Network

Laboratory Exercise # 1

GRADE

Group No. : ____ Signature

Leader : SURNAME, First Name Middle Initial. ___________________

Members :
SURNAME, First Name Middle Initial. ___________________
SURNAME, First Name Middle Initial. ___________________

Date Performed : Day Month Year

Date Submitted : Day Month Year

Engr. Ricrey E. Marquez, CpE, MSCS

(Lab Instructor)
OBJECTIVES AND MATERIALS

Objectives:

After this laboratory, students should be able to:

1. Understand the difference between a straight through cable, crossover

cable, and rollover cable.
2. Build straight through cable, crossover cable, and rollover cable, and
3. Test the functionality of different UTP wiring configuration.

Materials:

QUANTITY PART DESCRIPTION

NUMBER
6m - Category 5 UTP cable
1 - Crimping Tool / Wire stripper
9 - RJ-45 Connector
1 - UTP Cable Tester
PROCEDURES

Background

EIA/TIA wiring standards were first published in 1991 and has been
evolving ever since. The EIA/TIA-568 standard defines the specification of the
cable to be used as well as some installation rules. The latest version of the
EIA/TIA standard is 568B, which contains some minor enhancements to the
original 1991 standard. The most popular is Category 5, the highest-quality UTP
cable. It is tested at 100 MHz, allowing it to run high-speed protocols such as 100
Mbps Fast Ethernet and FDDI. Category 5 cable also uses either 22 or 24 AWG
unshielded twisted pair wire with impedance of 100 ohms.
The IEEE has defined three new physical layers for 100 Mbps Fast
Ethernet. By far, the 100Base-TX is the most popular one. However, the IEEE
also demands rigid compliance of how the cable is installed with RJ-45
connector. Otherwise, you will have high-speed data transmission problem -
NEXT. NEXT is the coupling of signals from one twisted pair to another. NEXT is
undesired because it represents unwanted spillover from one pair to other. The
result is corrupted data or no connection at all. Even you are using Cat 5 cable
with 4 twisted pair wires, it doesn't mean that the cable is 100% compliant with
EIA/TIA standard if it is not connected to RJ-45 in the way it should be.
An UTP cable (category 5) is one of the most popular LAN cables. This
cable consists of 4 twisted pairs of metal wires (that means there are 8 wires in
the cable). Adding RJ45 connectors at both ends of the UTP cable, it comes a
LAN cable they usually use.
 (a) (b)

Figure 1 – (a) Internal Structure of UTP (Category 5), (b) UTP Cable with RJ-45
Connector

A. Straight Through (ST) - Used for connecting dissimilar devices (workstations to

hubs, switches to routers, hubs to switches, etc.). The cables are wired with the same
wiring pattern on each end.

Figure 2 - T-568A Straight-Through Ethernet Cable

Figure 3 - T-568B Straight-Through Ethernet

Cable
 Figure 4 – Basic Theory of Straight-Through Cable

B. Crossover (xo) - Used for connecting similar devices (workstations to workstations,

switches to switches, hubs to hubs, etc). The cables are wired with pairs 2 and 3
“crossing over” from one end to the other (see also Figure 3).

Figure 5 – Cross-Over Ethernet Cable

 Figure 6 – Basic Theory of Cross-Over Cable

C. Rollover (ro) - Used for connecting communication ports to other communication

ports (workstation com ports to router console ports, etc). It does not matter which colors
are used here as long as the pattern “rolls over” from one side to the other.

Figure 7 – Cross-Over Ethernet Cable

Figure 8 – Basic Theory of Rolled-Over Cable

PROCEDURES

1. Pull the cable off the reel to the desired length and cut. If you are pulling cables
through holes, it’s easier to attach the RJ-45 plugs after the cable is pulled. Note:
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 is incorrect, you will have to start over. Test the Ethernet
cable.
DATA RESULTS

Figure 1.1 – LED pattern of straight-through cable in cable tester.

Figure 1.2 – LED pattern of cross-over cable in cable tester.

Figure 1.3 – LED pattern of roll-over cable in cable tester.

DATA ANALYSIS AND OBSERVATIONS

NOTE: Discussion must be based on the data gathered from data results or
observation supported by review of literature with proper reference or author in-
text citation in APA format. Do not copy-paste instead paraphrase it. Data
analysis must be minimum of 2 pages.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Questions:

1. Give and explain three (3) cases or applications for each, where straight-
through and cross-over cables are used.
2. Give and explain two cases or applications, where rolled-over cable is
used.
3. Give the cable category (from Cat 1 to Cat 7) details including their rated
frequency in MHz, UTP standards, and uses.

Answers:

1.
CONCLUSION

NOTE: Discussion must be based on the lab objectives supported by review of

literature with proper reference or author in-text citation in APA format. Do not
copy-paste instead paraphrase it. Discuss the implication of findings per
objective (per paragraph). Conclusion must be minimum of 2 pages.
REFERENCES

NOTE: Sample APA format for reference cited only!

Books:

Andreasen, N. C. (2001). Brave new brain: Conquering mental illness in the era
of the genome. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Copstead, L., & Banasik, J. (2005). Pathophysiology (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA:
Saunders.

Electronic Books:

Atkin, M. (Reporter). (2008, November 13). Bermagui forest disputed turf. The
Hack Half Hour. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/

Cooper, D. (2009, March 31). Native ant may stop toad in its tracks. ABC
Science. Retrieved August 15, 2017 from http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/
2009/03/31/2530686.htm?site=science&topic=latest

Print Journals:

Potente, S., Anderson, C., & Karim, M. (2011). Environmental sun protection and
supportive policies and practices: An audit of outdoor recreational settings in
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Electronic Journals:

Jackson, D., Firtko, A., & Edenborough, M. (2007). Personal resilience as a

strategy for surviving and thriving in the face of workplace adversity: A literature
review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 60(1), 1-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-
2648.2007.04412.x