Quick and Easy Crossover Cable...

[HaRuMaN]

Can't I just take a normal Cat5e ethernet cable, cut it in half, and rearrange some of the wires?  I recall someone doing this, but I can't find it anywhere...

[JMB]

http://www.littlewhitedog.com/content-8.html

[saint]

Can't I just take a normal Cat5e ethernet cable, cut it in half, and rearrange some of the wires?  I recall someone doing this, but I can't find it anywhere...

No nononono don't cut it in half. Blecho. Bad. You *can* cut the end and reterminate the end to make a cross over cable, but don't snip it in half and twist tie or electrical tape the wires together. Not if you actually want to get any kind of reliable data across the cable.

[HaRuMaN]

I don't have the tools to terminate the ends, but I do have plenty of normal cables on hand...

  I was planning on soldering and shrink-tubing the wires (check my custom title ).

[Zero_Hour]

Frys and the like should have RJ-45 connectors that don't require tools to crimp. I've used them before with no problems. I'm sure you already have wire strippers which is the only other thing you should need. You are definitely making more work than you need to if you go the soldering route. Besides, the solder point will still be a weak spot if there's any flex in the cable.

[HaRuMaN]

Boo... all you people raining on my parade...  I guess I'll be stopping by Fry's on my way home... 

[Zero_Hour]

Don't sweat it man, your reign as Solder should continue without issue.

[ChadTower]

You don't want to try soldering all of the wires inside a cat5e sheath.  You just don't.  Buy a $10 crimper and put a new end on.  You'll be really glad you did.  Even for a strong solderer you're talking 5x the amount of work of cutting and recrimping.

[JMB]

Frys and the like should have RJ-45 connectors that don't require tools to crimp.

I've one seen tool free keystone jacks? Is there something else? Probably be cheaper just to buy a crossover cable.

[saint]

I don't have the tools to terminate the ends, but I do have plenty of normal cables on hand...

  I was planning on soldering and shrink-tubing the wires (check my custom title ).

Ethernet's not like farming cattle boy (or some other StarWars quote mangle). I wouldn't do it. Let us know how that works out

(saint is a network engineer)

[Zero_Hour]

Frys and the like should have RJ-45 connectors that don't require tools to crimp.

I've one seen tool free keystone jacks? Is there something else? Probably be cheaper just to buy a crossover cable.

I used a slightly different (cheaper looking) type, but here they are:
http://southernhillscomputer.com/rjcautptopl.html

[Ed_McCarron]

Yes.  You can, but it'll work like sheeeit.

For 10 meg, just swap the orange and green pairs - IF its a standard 568B cable.

Even cheapo leviton jacks like HD carries can be terminated with the stuffer cap it comes with.

Saint - in an emergency, I've had customers ask me to splice Cat5E cable -- which I've done by soldering -- preserve the pairing and twist count, and 9 out of 10 will still pass testing at 100M speeds.  So sayeth my Pentascanner.

[saint]

Saint - in an emergency, I've had customers ask me to splice Cat5E cable -- which I've done by soldering -- preserve the pairing and twist count, and 9 out of 10 will still pass testing at 100M speeds.  So sayeth my Pentascanner.

Yeesh. I believe it, but it still gives me the willies. 

[Vanguard]

(saint is a network engineer)

I thought you guys only know how to break networks.   I didn't know you knew how to fix them.   

[J_K_M_A_N]

http://www.littlewhitedog.com/content-8.html

I've always used the following for a regular cable:

Orange/White - Orange - Green/White - Blue - Blue/White - Green - Brown/White - Brown

I use that on both sides and it works fine. Is that not the way to do it now a days? I would hate to have to re-memorize a new layout. (But I would like to make them right)

J_K_M_A_N

[testicle187]

http://www.littlewhitedog.com/content-8.html

I've always used the following for a regular cable:

Orange/White - Orange - Green/White - Blue - Blue/White - Green - Brown/White - Brown

I use that on both sides and it works fine. Is that not the way to do it now a days? I would hate to have to re-memorize a new layout. (But I would like to make them right)

J_K_M_A_N

That is standard 568b wiring for a straight through patch cable.  That is what you want.  If you wanted a crossover you would want this:

[saint]

(saint is a network engineer)

I thought you guys only know how to break networks.   I didn't know you knew how to fix them.   

Breaking them is what we do for fun when we're bored so we can then come in and "fix" them and convince you how indispensable we are. 

[dafelandry]

If your going to buy anything

http://www.cables4computer.com/Networking_Products/Couplers_UTPComponents_Cat6_Crossover_Adapter.html