Networking Concepts

I love to see “green lights”! From the green lights of the Aurora Borealis witnessed during our military assignment in Alaska to the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock in F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (my favorite novel), the color of these objects tend to make us think of moving forward, power, success, hope, and connection.  “I send you love and all green lights” – Wayne Dyer.

My husband and I recently renovated our home, we installed a wired home network with CAT 6 ethernet cable. Instead of purchasing a patch cable from a retail or online store, I made my own. As I completed the task, I tested the final product only to see “green lights,” a positive sign of a successful connection!

A patch or straight-through cable is an ethernet cable that terminates with  RJ45 connectors on both ends. They connect two electronic devices within a computer network. These computer network cables often allow signal and data transmission through twisted copper wires, such as CAT 5e or CAT 6 cables. A straight-through cable connects two different types of devices, such as a hub, router, switch, or computer.

Cross-over cables are similar, except they connect devices that are the same (for example, two computers or switches to each other).

Anyone can assemble a network patch cable. It requires a few tools, but it is primarily a straightforward process. Many techno newbies may wish to create their own – to say they did.

However, computer networking students benefit from making their patch cables. It allows dissecting the cord and practice using a crimper tool and memorizing the proper color-coded order of the copper wires.

In addition, home network DIYers can expand their computer knowledge. They can repair ethernet cables themselves,  especially if they lose ethernet functionality, say late at night, when a store purchase is not feasible.

Of course, in my opinion, this is a much-needed skill for IT networking workers!

Most probably ask, “Why would I make a patch cable?”

Advantages include making custom-length cables to avoid excess and unsightly appearance, repairing a damaged existing line, or expanding your networking knowledge and capabilities.

Assembling a patch cable does take a little bit of time and patience. You are duplicating the process many times to become proficient. However, a purchased cable costs about the same or a few cents cheaper than constructing your own: the networking knowledge to create a patch cable outweighs the time and cost.

• Cut the ethernet cable to the length needed, plus 3-6 inches.
• Score the end of the cable sheath with a stripper tool about 2 inches from the end.  Be careful only to cut the outer sheath and not the cables inside.
• Strip off the outer sheath, exposing the four twisted pairs of colored coded copper wires.

• Separate the 4 twisted pairs and then untwisted them to reveal 8 individual colored wires. (**Note- as I accidentally damaged the brown wire as noted in the photo. Thus, at this point I started over.**)

• Straighten the wires as much as possible and put them in the correct order. Wiring standards exist for wired Ethernet: T-568A (A wiring) and T-568B (B wiring). Wiring is mainly found in Europe and Japan, while B wiring is prominent in the United States. Either will work if the patch cables terminate in the same order. I placed the wires according to the T-568B wiring standard.

• Please continue to work the wires so they are straight and easy to manage.
• Trim the copper wires to 1/2 inch, cutting straight across with sharp scissors.

• Place the ethernet cable with trimmed wires into an RJ45 connector with the latching tab (clip) down.
• Wires should slide into the slots in the connector. Ensure the wires slide to the end and the sheath is within the connector. Wires should not be exposed. Ensure you can visualize the copper wires on the end of the connector. I look at the sides of the connector as well.

• Crimp the ethernet cable with a crimper (I squeeze the crimper multiple times to ensure the line and RJ45 are connected and the wire cannot slide out).
• Repeat the steps for the opposite end of the cable.

• Once complete, connect both ends of the cable to the Cable Tester. Turn the tester on. If the cables are properly assembled, the GREEN LIGHTS travel to each number in sync- showing a functional working network patch cable.  ** Not all cable testers illuminate “green lights,” but you understand the concept!**

Hopefully, these straightforward instructions will help you make your patch cables!