There are numerous grades, referred to as categories, of RJ45 cable sold online. They are collectively known as Ethernet or network communication cables and are used to achieve high-speed data transfer connections. Ethernet couplers are devices used to connect ethernet cable connections from one type to another. There can be various reasons to use a coupler such as to extend network cabling, split a signal allowing for two cables to be connected to a single port or to allow for different network cable types to be connected. Types of Ethernet Couplers Cat5e cable spec dictates that it can carry data over a wired connection at speeds of either 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or 1000 Mbps (equal to 1 Gbps, and thus usually referred to as Gigabit Ethernet). You will often see this written as 10/100/1000 Ethernet. This means that if your local network (or incoming internet connection) runs at between 10-1000 Mbps/1 Gb (also known as a 1000BASE-T network), Cat5e Ethernet cable should be able to handle the required data throughput at full speed, with no loss or delay. Crossover Ethernet cables are used to connect two devices of the same type, for example, if you want to connect two routers or two PCs. Most modern IT equipment can auto-detect that a crossover needs to be made and change the signal. This is called MDI-X. A crossover LAN cable will connect the receive at one end to the transmit at the other. Care must be taken to clearly identify a crossover cable so it is not used by mistake, which may cause network outages. These cables are sometimes made with a cable that has a red outer sheath. Cross-over Ethernet Cable Pinout RJ45 Pinout for a Crossover LAN Cable

Cat5 and Cat5e are two common classifications of Ethernet or network cabling. The Cat5e specification came into widespread use after 2001, before which Cat5 had been the latest standard. See patch cables for the details of making a crossover cable; if you make one, mark it so clearly that you'll never confuse it. F/FTP (Foil/Foil Twisted Pair): Both the individual twisted pairs and the cable have an added layer of foil shielding around them Hub-to-hub interconnects need a special crossover cable, as does a hub-to-DSL-router connection, or a 2-node hubless network. U/UTP (Unshielded/Unshielded Twisted Pair): Neither the individual twisted pairs nor the cable has any additional shielding built-in. Only the basic protections - the standard insulation around each twisted wire, and the cable sheath itself - are presentCat5 Cable or Category 5 Cable is the type of networking cable made by twisting the internal wires. That is why it is also known as Twisted pair networking cable. The most commonly used form of Cat5 cable is Cat5e cable which supports the network bandwidth of up to 100MHz. The cable transfers data with the speed of 1000 BASE-T, i.e., gigabit ethernet speed. If you intend to make lots of cables, wiring them yourself can also be a considerable cost-saving measure And if you want straight-through transmission, then you must align those colored wires using the diagram below. Mainly differing in how many ports they have. Couplers may have between one and six ports, allowing them to connect up to six cables at one time. They can also differ in their wiring configuration and there are many different types of couplers, from in-line connectors to junction boxes, depending on what you need to convert between. Cat5 Ethernet cable is widely used for connecting all manner of devices on local networks. It is also commonly found supporting incoming internet or broadband connections.

Cat5 and Cat5e cables are available in a wide variety of different lengths. In most cases, Cat5 patch cables tend to be chosen for reasonably short runs (100ft or less), especially if they are stranded core wires. Cat5 cable is designed to carry data over a wired network connection at speeds of 10 Mbps (Ethernet) or 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet). You will often see this written as 10/100 Ethernet when shopping for Cat5 cable online. This means that if your local network or incoming internet connection runs at between 10-100 Mbps (also known as a 100BASE-T network), Cat5 Ethernet cable should be able to handle the required data throughput at full speed, with no loss or delay. These are the cables commonly used in large data centers, computer networking offices, and homes. What Is Included in a Cat5 Cable? For years, if you asked any geek which was the best cable, the response was often Cat5 (although they were mostly referring to the subsequent variant Cat5e. More on that later).Numbering the different categories all started when copper telephone cable was then repurposed to carry both voice communication data. These older cables were unshielded in a twisted pair configuration, designated as Cat1. They have a data rate that maxed out at a pokey 1 Mbps, although nobody would use this for a data connection for decades after. (Good ol' '90s dial-up.) Ethernet connectors are used for Ethernet networking such as telecommunications or data equipment. The ethernet connectors are connected to each end of an Ethernet cable. Ethernet connections between devices provide a reliable, stable and interference free connection with fast data transfer speeds and are sometimes more preferred than wireless or Wi-Fi networks.

Ethernet cable is constructed using a set of four twisted pair wires (eight wires in total). Some are shielded, but many Cat5 and Cat6 cables are unshielded. Generally speaking, the higher the category number, the greater the potential speed and capacity (data transfer rate) of the cable will be between directly-linked servers, switches, and network devices.

U/UTP is, therefore, the most susceptible to interference, signal noise, return loss, and attenuation, although the cable will be considerably cheaper to buy. F/FTP will offer the greatest protection against performance-limiting factors like crosstalk, but it will also be the most expensive type to buy. Wiring your own male RJ45 plugs to the end of a suitable network communication cable requires just a few simple tools. Fixing a new connector is usually cheaper than replacing an entire Ethernet cable. Other reasons you may want to wire them yourself include: In basic construction terms, there are two main types of Cat5 and Cat5e cable, namely stranded core and solid core. These terms refer to how the data-carrying wires, or conductors, that make up the inner core of the cable are arranged. Cat5 stands for Category 5 cable, while Cat5e stands for Category 5 Enhanced (or Enhanced Category 5). Cat5e specs offer a significant upgrade in terms of general performance and faster data transfer speeds than the earlier Cat5 versions.

Types of RJ Connectors

Cat5 and Cat5e cables support speeds up to 100Mbps and have four twisted pairs of internal cables. Ethernet cable uses two of the four wires for its function, one for transferring data and the other for receiving data. When these two wires are wired incorrectly, the ethernet is smart enough to use the other two pairs from the four pairs. Never untwist the 2 wires in a single pair for more than 1/3-1/2" to make a connection (the twists are critical to cancel out interference between the wires). The standard assembly for basic Cat5 cable is often U/UTP, while many high-quality Cat5e Ethernet cables are manufactured with at least some form of additional shielding built-in. This shielding helps to protect the carried signal from several forms of interference, minimising the risk of data corruption or network connection loss. You should be aware that there are two types of electrical connection you can make when wiring an RJ45 plug to an Ethernet cable. The types that you make will depend on which wiring standard you use – T568A or T568B.

Now, insert these wires inside the RJ45 plug at its front to ensure that the cable is fully inserted, and the sheath is extending the plug for about ½," and this area will be put inside the crimp tool. Here, wire white/blue and blue/white are in pins 5 and 4. The wires green/white and white/green are in pins 1 and 2. The orange/white and white/orange wires are in Pins 3 and 6. At the same time, pins white/brown and brown/white are in pins 7 and 8. Alternatively known as an Ethernet cable or LAN cable, a Cat 5 or category 5 is a network cable that consists of four twisted pairs of copper wire terminated by an RJ-45 connector. The picture shows an example of a Cat 5 cable.However, there are valid use cases for choosing longer runs of Cat5e wiring, in which case you can easily buy reels in lengths of 1000ft or more. Common pre-cut lengths you will see on sale at UK suppliers include 30cm/300mm, 50cm/500mm, 1m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 10m, 30m, 100m, 152m, and 305m. Cat5 and Cat5e cable prices vary according to brand, quality, length, and materials, as well as the type and amount of any additional shielding included in the manufacture. The cheapest Ethernet cables in this category will generally be unshielded solid Cat5 varieties, while more expensive versions will usually be stranded and shielded Cat5e leads.