Lab - Building Straight-Through and Crossover UTP Cables

Introduction
In this lab, you will build and test straight-through and crossover Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) Ethernet network
cables.

Note: With a straight-through cable, the color of wire used by pin 1 on one end is the same color used by pin 1
on the other cable end, and similarly for the remaining seven pins. The cable will be constructed using either
TIA/EIA T568A or T568B standards for Ethernet, which determines the color wire to be used on each pin. Straight-
through patch cables are normally used to connect a host directly to a hub or switch or to a wall plate in an office
area.

With a crossover cable the second and third pairs on the RJ-45 connector at one end of the cable are reversed
at the other end. The pin-outs for the cable are the T568A standard on one end and the T568B standard on the
other end. Crossover cables are normally used to connect hubs and switches or can be used to directly connect
two hosts to create a simple network.

Recommended Equipment
  Two 0.6 to 0.9m (2 to 3 ft.) lengths of cable, Category 5 or 5e
  A minimum of four RJ-45 connectors (more may be needed if mis-wiring occurs)
 An RJ-45 crimping tool
  Wire cutters
 Wire stripper

Wire Diagrams
 T568A Standard
Pin No. Pair No. Wire Color Function
1 3 White/Green Transmit
2 3 Green Transmit
3 2 White/Orange Receive
4 1 Blue Not used
5 1 White/Blue Not used
6 2 Orange Receive
7 4 White/Brown Not used
8 4 Brown Not used

T568B Standard
Pin No. Pair No. Wire Color Function
1 2 White/Orange Transmit
2 2 Orange Transmit
3 3 White/Green Receive
4 1 Blue Not used
5 1 White/Blue Not used
6 3 Green Receive
7 4 White/Brown Not used
8 4 Brown Not used

Build and test an Ethernet straight-through patch cable

Step 1: Obtain and prepare the cable

a. Determine the length of cable required. This could be the distance from a computer to a switch or
between a device and an RJ-45 outlet jack. Add at least 30.48 cm (12 in.) to the distance. The
TIA/EIA standard states the maximum length is 5 m (16.4 ft.). Standard Ethernet cable lengths are
usually .6 m (2 ft.), 1.83 m (6 ft.), or 3.05 m (10 ft.).

b. Cut a piece of cable to the desired length. Stranded UTP cable is commonly used for patch cables
(the cables between an end network device such as a PC and an RJ-45 connector) because it is
more durable when bent repeatedly. It is called stranded because each of the wires within the cable is
made up of many strands of fine copper wire, rather than a single solid wire. Solid wire is used for
cable runs that are between the RJ-45 jack and a punch-down block.

c. Using wire strippers, remove 2 in. of the cable jacket from both ends of the cable.

Step 2: Prepare and insert the wires

a. Determine which wiring standard will be used. [T568A | T568B]
b. Locate the correct table or figure from the “Wire Diagrams” based on the wiring standard used.
c. Spread the cable pairs and arrange them roughly in the desired order based on the standard chosen.
d. Untwist a short length of the pairs and arrange them in the exact order needed by the standard
moving left to right starting with pin 1. It is very important to untwist as little as possible.
The twists are important because they provide noise cancellation.

e. Straighten and flatten the wires between your thumb and forefinger.
f. Ensure the cable wires are still in the correct order as the standard.
g. Cut the cable in a straight line to within 1/2 to 3/4 in. from the edge of the cable jacket. If it is longer
than this, the cable will be susceptible to crosstalk (the interference of bits from one wire with an
adjacent wire).
h. The key (the prong that sticks out from the RJ-45 connector) should be on the underside pointing
downward when inserting the wires. Ensure the wires are in order from left to right starting with pin
1. Insert the wires firmly into the RJ-45 connector until all wires are pushed as far as possible into
the connector.
Step 3: Inspect, crimp, and re-inspect
a. Visually inspect the cable and ensure the right color codes are connected to the correct pin numbers.
b. Visually inspect the end of the connector. The eight wires should be pressed firmly against the end of
the RJ-45 connector. Some of the cable jacket should be inside the first portion of the connector. This
provides strain relief for the cable. If the cable jacket is not far enough inside the connector, it may
eventually cause the cable to fail.
c. If everything is correctly aligned and inserted properly, place the RJ-45 connector and cable into the
crimper. The crimper will push two plungers down on the RJ-45 connector.

d. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.

Step 4: Terminate the other cable end

a. Use the previously described steps to attach an RJ-45 connector to the other end of the cable.
b. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.
Build and test an Ethernet crossover cable

Step 1: Obtain and prepare the cable

a. Determine the length of cable required. This could be from a hub to a hub, hub to switch, switch to
switch, computer to router, or from one computer to another computer. Add at least 30.48 cm (12 in.)
to the distance.

b. Cut a piece of cable to the desired length and, using wire strippers, remove 2 in. of the cable
jacket from both ends of the cable.

Step 2: Prepare and insert the T568A wires

a. Locate the T568A table at the beginning of the lab.
b. Spread the cable pairs and arrange them roughly in the desired order based on the T568A standard.
c. Untwist a short length of the pairs and arrange them in the exact order needed by the standard
moving left to right starting with pin 1. It is very important to untwist as little as possible. Twists
are important because they provide noise cancellation.
d. Straighten and flatten the wires between your thumb and forefinger.
e. Ensure the cable wires are in the correct order based on the standard.
f. Cut the cable in a straight line to within 1.25 to 1.9 cm (1/2 to 3/4 in.) from the edge of the cable
jacket. If it is longer than this, the cable will be susceptible to crosstalk (the interference of bits from
one wire with an adjacent wire).
g. The key (the prong that sticks out from the RJ-45 connector) should be on the underside pointing
downward when inserting the wires. Ensure the wires are in order from left to right starting with pin
1. Insert the wires firmly into the RJ-45 connector until all wires are pushed as far as possible into
the connector.

Step 3: Inspect, crimp, and re-inspect

a. Visually inspect the cable and ensure the right color codes are connected to the correct pin numbers.
b. Visually inspect the end of the connector. The eight wires should be pressed firmly against the RJ-45
connector. Some of the cable jacket should be inside the first portion of the connector. This provides
for cable strain relief which can eventually cause the cable to fail.

c. If everything is correctly aligned and inserted properly, place the RJ-45 connector and cable into the
crimper. The crimper will push two plungers down on the RJ-45 connector.

d. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.
Step 4: Terminate the T568B cable end
a. On the other end, use the previously described steps (but use the T568B table and standard) to
attach an RJ-45 connector to the cable.
b. Visually re-inspect the connector. If improperly installed, cut the end off and repeat the process.