How to Make a Network Patch Cable

Introduction

While it's often easiest to buy your network cable ready to go, sometimes you need to make your own for a custom length or installation. Also called CAT 5 cable, CAT 6 cable, ethernet cable, or just the thing that connects your computer to the internet or a netwok -- any way you say it, even a beginner can make their own.

By: eHow Computers Editor

Length: 2:21

Comments: 6

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Tips & Warnings:

You have made a patch cable, which is good for running from a switch or router to your PC. If you want to connect from a PC to a PC directly, you need to make a crossover cable, which has a different order of wires on one end. For crossover, do one end as stated above, and the other in this order: white with green stripe, solid green, white with orange stripe, solid blue, white with blue stripe, solide orange, white with brown stripe, solid brown.
For most purposed you should use cables of no more than 100 meters (approximately 300 feet) in length.
For most purposes it is better to use a switch or a router than a hub. A switch or router acts as a signal booster, while a hub does not.
Some modern switches and routers automatically detect whether the cable is a patch or crossover and adjust automatically, allowing you to use either. If your switch or router has a port called uplink, they have made that port specifically for you to use a patch cable when your really need a crossover, and the device will adjust automatically for you.

Step1

Purchase a high quality crimping tool that fits RJ45 connectors. Also purchase more RJ45 connectors than you actually need, as inevitably some will have to be re-done.

Step2

Choose between CAT 5, CAT 5e, or CAT 6 cable. For almost any purpose other than the fastest and newest networks, CAT 5 will be fine.

Step3

Strip 1/2" to 3/4" of the outer shielding on the cable end, being sure not to cut the insulation of the stranded wires inside. A good quality crimping tool should make this easy, otherwise you can gently use a knife or wire cutters.

Step4

Untwist the twisted pair wires just enough to line them up properly, and no more. Once untwisted, do not re-twist the wires yourself. There is no need to strip the insulation from the individual wires.

Step5

Arrange the wires from left to right in this order: white with orange stripe, solid orange, white with green stripe, solid blue, white with blue stripe, solid green, white with brown stripe, solid brown.

Step6

Clip the ends of the wires such that they are all the same length.

Step7

Slide the wires into the RJ45 connector with the prong facing downward (away from you). Ensure the wires have lined up in the order you intended, and that they push all the way to the end of the plug.

Step8

Insert the plug in the crimping tool, and squeeze hard to crimp the plug.

Comments

Climber said

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on 5/1/2007 When making a patch cable, the twist needs to be maintained as far as possible. There should be less then 1/2 inch untwisted cable at the end. Also, in the video you didn't press the cable all the way into the 8p8c connector. The outer shielding needs to go as fare in as possible.

Anonymous said

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on 2/16/2006 When choosing cable, buy stranded conductor cable for patch cords. It is more flexible and reliable for that purpose. If you don't want to buy a whole spool, you can buy a long patch cable and cut it to the desired length.

Solid conductor cable is used for permanent structured or premise wiring. Choose solid for any punch down application.

Be sure to purchase the correct connectors. Some are designed for stranded and some for solid. You can interchange them, but long term reliability may suffer.

makeinstall said

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on 1/22/2007 normally you guys have some pretty good stuff on here but this is NOT a good article, namely the part that says make sure you line up the strands in the order you intend, if someone knew what the order was they wouldn't need to know how to make a patch cable would they? don't mean to be critical but this i do believe this to be a duh moment.

yowser said

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on 12/18/2007 I agree with makeinstall. The first thing it says it 'purchase a high quality crimping tool', but it shows the cheapest one available, and having used one, I can see why they say you need to buy more connectors than you need! I make lots of cables up, and I never have any problems when using a good crimper (unless I screw the wiring order up because someone gave me a cup of coffee half way through!) Also, the video doesn't show the actual insertion - probably because it took ages. The ends of the strands need to be straightened (by running them through your fingers) just above the last twist on each pair (keeping the twists equal on each pair) to allow them to be inserted. Then trim the ends leaving just enough straight ends to insert. And the reason why the cable should be inserted into the connector housing is because there's a strain clamp to help stop the cable being damaged.

NetBlaise said

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on 10/16/2007 I have to say that this video was perfect. I'm a IT in the US Navy and i will be telling my subornates to vistit this howto site so that they can learn a thing or two.

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