Building 10/100 Patch & Crossover Cables
Source: http://www.seawall.com/utp.html
Ethernet 10Base-T and 100Base-TX UTP wiring specifies an eight position
interface with two pairs reserved for the connection. The RJ-45 pin
positions one and two (TX+/-) must share a cable pair, as well as
positions three and six (RX+/-). A patch-cable built in the
following fashion with proper CAT-5 cable and RJ-45 should meet both 10
and 100Base-TX requirements. One way to remember RJ pin-position
identification is to look at the modular connector with the lock-tab up,
as if you were going to plug it into your mouth. Pins are then ordered 1-8,
left to right. Here is what the connector and interface look like:
 |
RJ45 Connector |
|
 |
RJ45 Interface |
|
Building a cable is hard on the fingers, but becomes easier with practice.
Strip about 11/2 inches of the outside PVC jacket, then trim any excess
cord that accompanies the cable pairs. Un-twist the pairs to the edge of
the stripped PVC jacket. As you go, mold each pair into a parallel, flat
shape, like the tines of a fork, ordering the color-pairs as necessary.
Trim the un-twisted pairs into a flat straight end no longer than a 1/2
inch, preferably. While holding the cable firmly, insert the wires into the
RJ, taking great care that the pairs remain properly ordered. The PVC jacket
should pass into the RJ giving the entire assembly some stress relief once
it's crimped. Double check the pair ordering. Look at the plug end of the
cable assembly. The copper core of each wire should be visible and pressed
tightly against the interior end of the RJ. You should see a glint of copper
from each wire clearly. Insert the cable assembly into your RJ crimper.
Keep consistent pressure on the assembly forcing the cable into the RJ,
insuring the cable pairs remain in their intended location. Firmly squeeze
the crimp tool twice. Double check pair-ordering. Look for the glint of
copper from the end of each wire again insuring they're fully inserted.
Repeat at the opposite end of your cable.
10/100B-T(X) Patch/Drop Cable
(EIA/TIA 568B spec)
Twisted-Pair Color to RJ45
Pin Assignments
|
Pin
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
|
Color
White/Orange
Orange
White/Green
Blue
White/Blue
Green
White/Brown
Brown
|
Signal
TX data +
TX data -
RX data +
unused
unused
RX data -
unused
unused
|
|
|
10/100B-T(X) Crossover Cable
(Interface to Interface)
Twisted-Pair Color to RJ45
Pin Assignments
|
End 1 Color
White/Orange
Orange
White/Green
Blue
White/Blue
Green
White/Brown
Brown
|
Pin
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
|
End 2 Color
White/Green
Green
White/Orange
Blue
White/Blue
Orange
White/Brown
Brown
|
|
