Preparing a straight Cable

Preparing a straight cable, typically an ethernet cable, involves assembling the cable with
RJ45 connectors on each end. Here's a breakdown of the procedure:

Tools and Materials:

 Bulk ethernet cable (Cat5e or higher recommended)

 RJ45 connectors
 Crimping tool
 Wire cutters or scissors
 Wire stripper (or sharp knife)
 Cable tester (optional)

Steps:

1. Measure and Cut the Cable: Determine the desired cable length and add a couple of inches
for maneuvering and connector placement. Use the cutters or scissors to make a clean cut.
2. Strip the Cable Jacket: Use the stripper or knife to carefully remove about an inch of the
outer jacket, exposing the insulated wires inside. Be cautious not to nick or cut the internal
wiring.
3. Untwist and Straighten the Wires: Inside the cable, you'll find four twisted pairs of colored
wires. Carefully unwind about 1/4 inch (30mm) of each pair, maintaining their color order.
4. Arrange the Wires in the Connector: There are two common wiring schemes for ethernet
cables, T568A and T568B. For a straight cable, both ends will follow the same scheme. Here
are resources to find the chosen wiring scheme (https://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-
Ethernet-Cable).
5. Insert Wires into the Connector: Hold the RJ45 connector with the tab facing down.
Carefully insert the wires into the designated slots, ensuring each wire reaches the end of the
slot and maintains the correct order.
6. Crimp the Connector: Place the connector into the crimping tool and crimp according to the
tool's instructions. This secures the wires in place.
7. Repeat for the Other End: Following steps 2-6, prepare the other end of the cable with
another RJ45 connector.
8. Optional: Test the Cable: If you have a cable tester, you can verify that each wire is
connected correctly and the cable is functional.

Preparing a Cross Cable

A crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable used to directly connect two devices without
needing a network switch. Here's what you'll need to prepare one:

Materials:

 Standard Ethernet cable (Cat5e or Cat6 is recommended)

 RJ45 connectors (2)
 Cable cutter/stripper
 Crimping tool
 Instructions:

1. Inspect the Cable: Check for any damage to the outer jacket of the Ethernet cable.
2. Cut and Strip the Cable: Choose one end of the cable and use the cable cutter to make a
clean cut about 1.5 inches (4 cm) from the end. Carefully strip off the outer jacket to expose
the inner wires.
3. Separate the Wires: Untwist the colored wires inside the cable. You'll see four twisted pairs
with different color combinations.
4. Choose a Wiring Scheme: There are two common wiring schemes for crossover cables:
T568A and T568B. T568B is more widely used, so we'll focus on that. You can find the
pinout diagrams for both online.
5. Arrange the Wires: Following the T568B standard, untwist each pair and arrange the wires
in the following order (from left to white/orange on the clip side):
o White/Orange
o Orange
o White/Green
o Blue
o White/Blue
o Green
o White/Brown
o Brown
6. Trim the Wires: Once arranged, use the cable cutter to trim the wires to an even length,
leaving about ½ inch (1.25 cm) exposed.
7. Prepare the RJ45 Connector: Take one RJ45 connector and carefully insert the wires
according to the pinout diagram, ensuring each color goes into the designated slot. The little
plastic tab on the connector should be facing down.
8. Crimp the Connector: Place the connector into the crimping tool and crimp it down firmly.
Make sure you hear a satisfying click to ensure a secure connection.
9. Repeat for the Other End: Following steps 2-8, prepare the other end of the cable using the
T56A standard. This creates the crossover functionality.
10. Test the Cable (Optional): If you have a cable tester, you can test the continuity and
functionality of your newly created crossover cable.