How to Wire a Crossover Cat 5 for My PC
Hard-wired data transmission still offers faster transfer rates with less noise than wireless if you buy the right cable, so networking your machines together via an Ethernet connection is a wise choice if the computers on the network need to share large files. Direct connections between two computers require a different cable than connections that work through a hub like a router; so if you have standard Cat5 Ethernet cable, you'll need to rewire it to cross over between the two machines.
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Things You'll Need
- Ethernet cable
- RJ-45 connector
- Load bar assembly
- Crimping tool
- Wire stripper
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Check the Ethernet adapter in both machines. Newer adapters support gigabit data throughput. For that, you'll need a Cat5e cable. If your adapter is an older one rated at 100Mb, standard Cat5 is enough. Also, some adapters automatically cross over if they detect a straight through connection so ensure that you actually need a crossover. Crossover cable can be purchased; but if you want to wire your own from an existing straight through cable, you'll need a standard RJ-45 connector (like an oversized phone connector) for the cut end.
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Cut your existing Ethernet cable to the proper length and leave plenty of slack to prevent undue pressure on the wire when it's connected. This will leave you with a length of wire with a connector at one end and a loose wire with no connector at the other.
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3
Strip the insulation away from the loose end. You'll see four, color-coded twisted pairs or a total of eight wires. Each pair consists of a solid-colored wire and one that is striped with the matching color and white. There are two configurations for Ethernet cabling; 568A uses one set of pin assignments, and 568B uses the opposite. Since you're turning your straight through 568A cable into a crossover, you simply need to reverse the pin assignments for the loose end compared with the end you've left attached to its connector. Check the printing on the sheath to be sure the cable you're using is 568A.
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Connect the loose wires to your new RJ-45 connector according to 568B pin assignments. It might be helpful to draw out the assignments on a piece of paper. Your 568A side (the existing connector) assigns pins one and two to white/orange and orange respectively. Pins three and four are white/green and blue. Pins five and six are white/blue and green, and pins seven and eight are white/brown and brown. Use pins one and two (the slots in the new connector from left to right) for the white/green and green wires. Pins three and four are white/orange and white/brown. Pins five and six are brown and orange, and pins seven and eight are blue and white/blue. If you sketch this out on paper first, it will be much easier to visualize the crossover.
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Cut the arranged wires on a bias to help them slip into the load bar assembly. The load bar holds the wires in place in the proper order. When you cut the wires at an angle, it allows you to push one wire at a time into the load bar. Slip the load bar down so that about an inch of wire is exposed on the other side then square off the angle cut so all the wires are the same length. Be very careful here to maintain the order of the wires as you slip it through.
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Cut the wire ends perfectly straight across after the load bar is in place. Slip the RJ-45 connector onto the wires with the crimping tabs on the top. If you flip the tabs down, the wires will be in the wrong order.
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Use the crimping tool to lock the wires in place. You'll need a special crimper which you can find at any computer supply or hardware store with the rest of your supplies.
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Tips & Warnings
Scrutinize the wire order in the new connector if your cable has problems. If necessary, clip off the connector, check the order and attach a new connector. Don't reuse a connector that has already been crimped.
Ensure all the wires seat fully in the connector. The straight line cut, after the load bar is attached, is essential.
