LAN Wire & Connectors
Local Area Networks (LAN) use Ethernet cables and RJ-45 connectors to connect two or more computers on the same network. Ethernet cables are plugged into a hub, router or switch to make up the LAN.
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LAN Cables
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Ethernet cables are used to connect computers and networking devices to a LAN. These cables vary by category, usually shortened to just "Cat," such as in Cat 5 or the highest, Cat 7. The higher the category number, the better the shielding used in the cable to prevent data loss. Ethernet cables are made up of four pairs of twisted wires that are color-coded into green, blue, orange and brown.
RJ-45 Connectors
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An RJ-45 connector terminates each end of an Ethernet cable. These connectors look like large phone connectors, and they use the same type of clear plastic and clip. On the connector are eight contacts corresponding to the eight wires in the cable, and these match the eight contacts of the RJ-45 port on your computer or network device. When network engineers and cable runners make Ethernet cables, they use a crimper to fasten the RJ-45 connector in its place.
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LAN Cable Making
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Once a cable type is chosen, the cable maker uses a pair of wire strippers to strip about 2 inches of the cable's end to expose the wires. The wires are trimmed down to about a 1/2-inch, uniform length. How the wires are arranged within the connector end depends upon its future use. Patch cables, for example, use a cross-over wiring arrangement. Once arranged, the wires slide into an RJ-45 connector, and the connector is crimped down.
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