straight cable cat5

How to Make a Category 5 / Cat 5E Patch Cable

LANshack.com was the very first ecommerce website to offer free online tutorials for cable connections. To say that our articles have been popular over the span of many years would be an understatement. But time marches on and we now have three major updates. For one, we have updated this very popular tutorial, and two, we now have a video tutorial to go with it. But most importantly, we have now developed a totally new system for termination cables called the “Quick-Cat™ System”

Wow! After over 10 Years of working with cables, tools and connectors, and after keeping on top of our tool, cable, and connector suppliers, we have put it all together to formulate this system for the present a future of cabling components. What does all this mean to the consumer? Compatibility, Reliability, Dependability, ease of use and virtually fool-proof and repeatable results.

Due to an overwhelming response to our category 5 & 6 tutorial, and many requests for information and wiring diagrams of "straight through" and "crossover" (cross-pinned) patch cords, I have made this informational page and technical video. On this page, we will cover making patch cords, and other technical and non-technical issues relating to category 5 and 6 patching and connectivity from device to device. Below, you will find the diagrams for 568A, 568B, and crossover patch cables. I suggest that you read on, past the diagrams for some very useful and important information.

As always, there continues to be Controversies over standards and practices regarding the use and making of patch cords, and UTP cable in general. Please see our section below titled: "Controversies and Caveats : Category 5, 5E, and Cat 6 Patch Cables". I hope that you will find it interesting and informative.