Ethernet cables can be wired as straight-through or crossover. The straight-through is the most common type and is used to connect computers to hubs or switches. They are most likely what you will find when you go to your local computer store and buy a patch cable. Crossover cables are more commonly used to connect a computer to a computer and may be a little harder to find since they aren’t used nearly as much as straight-through cable. Then, what’s the difference between them? Difference between straight-through and crossover cables will be introduced in this blog.
T568A And T568B Wiring Standard Basis
A RJ45 connector is a modular 8 position, 8 pin connector used for terminating Cat5e or Cat6 twisted pair cable. A pinout is a specific arrangement of wires that dictate how the connector is terminated. There are two standards recognized by ANSI, TIA and EIA for wiring Ethernet cables. The first is the T568A wiring standard and the second is T568B. T568B has surpassed 568A and is seen as the default wiring scheme for twisted pair structured cabling. If you are unsure of which to use, choose 568B.
What Is Straight-Through Cable?
A straight-through cable is a type of twisted pair cable that is used in local area networks to connect a computer to a network hub such as a router. This type of cable is also sometimes called a patch cable and is an alternative to wireless connections where one or more computers access a router through a wireless signal. On a straight-through cable, the wired pins match. Straight-through cable use one wiring standard: both ends use T568A wiring standard or both ends use T568B wiring standard. The following figure shows a straight-through cable of which both ends are wired as the T568B standard.
What Is Crossover Cable?
An Ethernet crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable used to connect computing devices together directly. Unlike straight-through cable, crossover cables use two different wiring standards: one end uses the T568A wiring standard, and the other end uses the T568B wiring standard. The internal wiring of Ethernet crossover cables reverses the transmit and receive signals. It is most often used to connect two devices of the same type: e.g. two computers (via network interface controller) or two switches to each other.
Choose a Straight-Through or Crossover Cable?
Usually, straight-through cables are primarily used for connecting unlike devices. And crossover cables are use for connecting unlike devices alike devices.
Use straight-through cable for the following cabling:
- Switch to router
- Switch to PC or server
- Hub to PC or server
Use crossover cables for the following cabling:
- Switch to switch
- Switch to hub
- Hub to hub
- Router to router
- Router Ethernet port to PC NIC
- PC to PC
Conclusion
Straight-through and crossover cables are wired differently from each other. One easy way to tell what you have is to look at the order of the colored wires inside the RJ45 connector. If the order of the wires is the same on both ends, then you have a straight-through cable. If not, then it’s most likely a crossover cable or was wired wrong. At present, the straight-through cable is much more popular than crossover cable and is widely used by people. FS.COM provides a full range straight-through Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and Cat7 Ethernet patch cables with many lengths and colors options. Look for Ethernet patch cables, just come to FS.COM!
Source://www.cables-solutions.com/difference-between-straight-through-and-crossover-cable.html
An Ethernet cable is a common type of network cable used with wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices such as PCs, routers, and switches within a local area network.
These physical cables are limited by length and durability. If a network cable is too long or of poor quality, it won't carry a good network signal. These limits are one reason there are different types of Ethernet cables that are optimized to perform certain tasks in specific situations.
An Ethernet cable resembles a traditional phone cable but is larger and has more wires. Both cables share a similar shape and plug, but an Ethernet cable has eight wires, while phone cables have four. Ethernet cable connectors are also larger.
LifewireEthernet cables come in many different colors, but phone cables are usually grey.
Ethernet cables plug into Ethernet ports, which are larger than phone cable ports. An Ethernet port on a computer is accessible through the Ethernet card on the motherboard. This port is usually on the back of a desktop computer, or on the side of a laptop.
Ethernet cables support one or more industry standards including Category 5 and Category 6. Most technicians refer to these standards as CAT5 and CAT6, respectively. Because of this, many online stores that sell network cables use this abbreviated language as well.
Ethernet cables are manufactured in two basic forms:
- Solid Ethernet cables offer slightly better performance and improved protection against electrical interference. They're also commonly used on business networks, wiring inside office walls, or under lab floors to fixed locations.
- Stranded Ethernet cables are less prone to physical cracks and breaks, making them more suitable for travelers or in-home network setups.
A crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable that connects two computers to each other. By contrast, most Ethernet cables connect one computer to a router or switch.
A single Ethernet cable has a maximum distance capacity, meaning the cable has an upper limit as to how long it can be before there is a signal loss (called attenuation). This problem results because the electrical resistance of a long cable affects performance.
Both ends of the cable should be close enough to each other to receive signals quickly, and far enough away from outside electrical interference to avoid interruptions. However, this precaution doesn't limit the size of a network, because hardware like routers or hubs can join multiple Ethernet cables together on the same network. This distance between the two devices is called the network diameter.
The maximum length of a CAT5 cable, before attenuation occurs, is 100m (328ft). CAT6 can go up to 700 feet. Ethernet cables can be longer but may suffer from signal loss, especially if they pass near large electrical appliances.
A short cable may suffer from signal reflection. However, some people have reported no problems with cable lengths as low as 4 inches.
Different types of RJ-45 connectors serve different purposes. One type, designed for use with stranded cables, is incompatible with solid cables. Other types of RJ-45 connectors may work with both stranded and solid cables.
Wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have replaced Ethernet in many home and business networks. Most tablets and other mobile devices don't have a network port.
These wireless technologies are advantageous if the cable runs outside or in locations with a heightened risk of wire damage.
FAQ
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How do I connect an Ethernet cable?
Look for an Ethernet port on your device. It has a square build that fits the standard RJ45 connector. Insert one end of the cable into an available port in your computer and connect the other end to a router or another network device.
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Which type of Ethernet cable do I need?
If your network supports Gigabit Ethernet, you may want to select Cat5e or Cat6 cables over prior generation Cat5 cables.
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Can I run Ethernet cables outside?
Yes, you can wire Ethernet cables outside between buildings or over exterior walls. Choose cables with a protective coating or weatherproof wires explicitly designed to provide more durability against the elements.
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