Anyone good with Cat5 cables?

[Josh42]

Does anyone know how to and have any advice on how to take apart/assemble Cat5 (patch cables) without crimping tools? I'm trying to make a crossover cable tonight but don't have access to network tools. Could I do this with tools found in a 'normal' household? Thank you!

[Nick CPU]

no

[golfcart]

I have, in a bind, cut cat5 cable right in the middle with a pair of scissors to make a x-over cable. I used electrical tape to put it all back together. It was very sloppy, but it did work. I don't recommend it unless you are really hard up for a crossover cable.

[Josh42]

Golfcart, could you be a little more specific. What tools did you use, and how exactly did you connect the wires after you cut them? Thank you!

[CoNeSsIuS]

For the most part NO! However I do agree with the idea of using scissors to cut a cat5 cable and using electrical tape. However I wouldn't recommend it for important data transfer. Only gamming.


Good possibility to currupt data if you use a compromised wire.

[Nick CPU]

Do you have a complete cat 5 cable. If so you will just have to remember what wires you are connecting because in order to make the crossover you will have to change the colors.

and remember you don't need to use all the wires. That might help a little.

[superraton01]

this is very do-able.=)
cut the cable in the middle with any tool you have - even a kitchen knife or
sissors. strip 1/2 to 1 inch of each wire
with any tool avail - a razor blade
will work if u dont have wire strippers.
connect - by twisting the exposed
copper parts- the green and one side to the
orange on the other side. connect the white with a green stripe on one side to the
white with orange stripe on the other side.
all the other wires connect back to themselves (brown to brown,etcetera). finally, cover all the exposed copper, one wire at a time, with any tape-
even scotch tape or masking tape will work.
this will work - im an electrician. if you dont have any tape, spread the exposed
copper parts of the wires apart at least1/4 inch so they dont short each other out.
if you dont have wire strippers and using a razor blade to strip the wires is difficult 4 you, you can use a match to burn 1/2
to 1 inch of the plastic off, one wire at a time. been there done that. good luck.

[Josh42]

Yes, I have a 10 foot Cat5 cable sitting next to me. However, I don't have any Cat5 connector heads. Will that be a problem?

[Dash]

Try not to untwist the pairs anymore than necessary though, that can have some bad effects.

[NDC]

Here's a wiring diagram for making a crossover cable just incase you need to know how...

Making a Crossover Cable (http://forums.digitalmntsnow.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15&FORUM_ID=7&CAT_ID=5&Topic_Title=Making+A+Crossover+Cable%2E%2E%2E&Forum_Title=Tips+%26+Tricks)

[DVNT1]

This may not apply to your current situation but there are RJ45 ends that don't require a special tool to crimp, only plyers.

[RustyGT]

It is also possible, to unpick an RJ connector.
Depends how desperate you are and how much time you have.
I have in the past dug out the conductors from an RJ.
You'll need sharp small s/driv tips and a good small flush cut side cutter.
Can be done!
Altering a std patch cable to a xover means only changing a few, not all.
Follow the plans above, make your joins close to one end or other.
Bend the budget to a crimping tool!
Better yet, convince the boss!
After that, you have the power!
R.

[struggles]

A cable with no rj45 ends already crimped on means your sh*t out of luck. Go grab a crimper!

[Marc04]

Josh,
Not sure if you got your crossover cable made yet or not. I live in the same city as you and have a RJ45 tool and ends. Otherwise there is a local business that would do it for you too. E-mail me with any questions

Marc

[superraton01]

this is what i love about sysopt, tons of friendly help =) david in san diego

[Josh42]

Thanks everyone for your very friendly and timely responses. My friend and I were able to make a cross over without any crimping tools, etc last night. We cut the Cat5 in half with a scissors, then pulled back the coverings and crossed the wires. After taping it all up with some electrical tape, voila, a cross over! We were able to get some hard core multiplayer in last night. Plan on doing it again tonight, heh heh. Thanks again everyone!

- J. Ciolkosz

[CoNeSsIuS]

Ok I do cabling. I do have one question though. Why is the crimpers cheaper than the punch down. It would seem vise versa.

[TCWolffe]

well, it really depends on which punch down tools, and from which manufacturers. 66 and 110 are getting older, bix is not widespread, and krones are just now coming out (sheesh what a waste of space, easy to manage the cables, but take up so much more space per cable!).

my .02