How to Make a Crossover Wi-Fi Access Point Cable
Crossover cables generally are used for older network equipment, since newer equipment has features that handle the crossover within a port as needed. Wiring a crossover Wi-Fi access point cable is very similar to wiring a straight-through cable. The difference is one end will have pairs "2" and "3" switched.
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Things You'll Need
- RJ45 plugs
- Cat5e or Cat6 cable
- Wire cutters
- RJ45 crimper
- Cable tester (optional)
Instructions
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Wiring the T568B end
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1
Determine the length of cable required. Add three inches and cut the cable with wire cutters.
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2
Use the wire cutters carefully to cut away the wire jacket on one end of the cable, lengthwise. Be careful to avoid nicking any of the wires.
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3
Separate the pairs back to the point where the jacket was cut away. Do not separate the pairs farther than this.
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4
Hold the cable up and adjust the pairs so they appear in this order, left to right: White-Orange, Orange-Orange, White-Green, Blue-Blue, White-Blue, Green-Green, White-Brown and Brown-Brown.
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5
Straighten the wires as much as possible, as this will help them slide into the RJ45 jack. Hold the ordered set of wires tightly between your thumb and forefinger. You should have just over 1/2-inch of cable from the tip of your thumb to the wire jacket. Ensure again that they are held tightly in line.
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6
Use the wire cutters and cut straight across where your thumb and forefinger are holding the cable. Do not let go of the wires. With the tab of an RJ45 jack facing away from you, slide the wires into the jack. They should go in as straight as possible. Plastic guides within the jack should keep the wires separate from one another.
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7
Continue pushing the wires into the jack. The cable jacket should be about 3/8-inch inside the jack. The wires should be all the way to the front of the jack, and be positioned just below the gold-plated terminals.
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8
Ensure once again that the sequence is still correct, once the wires are pushed all the way to the front of the jack, and none of them are jammed into the wrong cable guide,
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9
Hold the cable tightly in the jack and use the crimpers to clamp the terminals to the wires. This also will clamp the jacket to the jack, allowing for strain relief. Squeeze the crimpers tightly until they stop clicking or until you cannot squeeze anymore. Remove the wire with the crimped end and inspect your work.
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10
Look at the jack from the front, and you should see the copper shining in the light. This is a good indicator that you have all the wires far enough in the jack, and that they crimped correctly. Verify again that the sequence of wires is still correct.
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11
Use the cable tester to verify you have no broken wires.
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12
Connect your cable to the network equipment that needs the uplink, and verify operation.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you are in a hurry, and have a regular straight-through cable handy, simply cut one end off and follow the process above. Verify whether the remaining end starts with White-Orange or White-Green, and do the opposite for the end you are going to modify.
Do not cut the wires much more than 1/2 inch from the cable jacket. This will cause the jacket to not be crimped, and cause your wires to pull out of the jack over time due to the lack of strain relief.
Make sure to maintain the wire twist as close as possible to the jacks. This helps with electrical noise and ensures that the finished cable is closer to specifications.
References
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
