Use scissors to make a straight cut across the eight wires to shorten them to half an inch (1.3 cm) from the cut sleeve to the end of the wires.Ĭarefully push all eight unstripped colored wires into the connector. The color order is important to get correct. Pinch the wires between your fingers and straighten them out as shown. The crimping tool has a razor blade that will do the trick with practice. This configuration allows for longer wire runs.Ĭrossover Ethernet cables directly connect one computer or device to another without going through a router, switch, or hub.Ĭut into the plastic sheath about one inch (2.5 cm) from the end of the cut cable. Note how the green pair is not side-by-side, like the other pairs.

It’s highly recommended you duplicate the color order as shown on the left.

Straight through Ethernet cables are the standard cable used for almost all purposes, and are often called ‘patch cables’. There are two kinds of Ethernet cables you can make: straight through and crossover. The two kinds of Ethernet cables you can make How to Make an Ethernet Cable – What You’ll Needīulk Ethernet Cable – Category 5e or CAT5e (You may also use Category 6 or CAT6 cabling, which has higher performance specifications and is about 20% more expensive than CAT5e.)īulk RJ45 Crimpable Connectors for CAT-5e or Bulk RJ45 Crimpable Connectors for CAT-6 Making Ethernet cables is easy with a box of bulk Category 5e Ethernet cables and RJ-45 connectors that are attached to the cut ends of your preferred cable length. Ethernet cables can be quite expensive and pre-made lengths are not always the length you need.

2 pair cat 5 cable