Can I convert a FastCat5e network cable into a crossover cable?

[Sherri & Garry January]

I ran a 10Base2 home network (2 computers) for several years but recently
bought new network adapters and decided to switch over to 10BaseT at that
time. A friend told me I could wire the PC's together directly thereby
avoiding the need for a hub. However, he neglected to tell me I would need
to use crossover cable, so I bought FastCat5e networking cable. I couldn't
understand why my network wasn't working until I read this (or another)
newsgroup yesterday and discovered I needed to use a crossover cable if I
wasn't using a hub. Aggghhh! Ok, no big deal except that now I'm a little
strapped for cash and won't be able to afford a hub and more networking
cable for a couple of weeks, and I'm really needing/wanting to get this
network running before then.

Here's my question: Can I convert a FastCat5e network cable into a
crossover cable by removing then rewiring/replacing the RJ45 connector at
one end of the cable?

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer.

Sherri J.

 

[AWM]

I ran a 10Base2 home network (2 computers) for several years but recently
bought new network adapters and decided to switch over to 10BaseT at that
time. A friend told me I could wire the PC's together directly thereby
avoiding the need for a hub. However, he neglected to tell me I would need
to use crossover cable, so I bought FastCat5e networking cable. I couldn't
understand why my network wasn't working until I read this (or another)
newsgroup yesterday and discovered I needed to use a crossover cable if I
wasn't using a hub. Aggghhh! Ok, no big deal except that now I'm a little
strapped for cash and won't be able to afford a hub and more networking
cable for a couple of weeks, and I'm really needing/wanting to get this
network running before then.

Here's my question: Can I convert a FastCat5e network cable into a
crossover cable by removing then rewiring/replacing the RJ45 connector at
one end of the cable?

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer.

Sherri J.

You can do it with a bit of chocolate block connector or buy a cross over
adaptor , or use an oridinary extension adpator with a short crossover patch
cable you can get these from Maplin or even the big B&Q megastores.

However you can buy a 4 or 5 port switched hub with DHCP for about 15
pounds these days and a quick look under computer networking on ebay might
turn up one for less than that --- A bit of a culture shock I can
remember when a dumb 8 port hub cost hundreds of pounds.

 

[Ted]

For startes just click the following links & you'll be HALF way to your
goal:

http://www.littlewhitedog.com/reviews_other_00009.asp
http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm
http://mreriksson.net/miscdocs/tpcable/
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6255-5028202.html

There thta's about all you need...go get youself a couple of RJ-45 plugs &
you're home...

 

[Cisco_Kid]

Here's a quick fix for you...

Take your cat5 pacth cord and cut it in half. Then you can re-wire the pairs
together to make it a cross-over cable without the need to re-terminate an
RJ45 (although that is the best way to do it). Do you know your color codes?
If not, here's how you would re-wire your cable...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (pin numbers)
w/o o/w w/g bl/w w/bl g/w w/br br/w re-wire these colors to these
colors...
w/g g/w w/o bl/w w/bl o/w w/r br/w

All you are doing is swapping pins 1&2 with pins 3&6

Cheers,

Cisco_Kid

 

[Steven Campbell]

£3.99 from Maplin for crossover adaptor

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=03102720355385&moduleno=32423&Products=1

 

[Anonymous Joe]

£3.99 from Maplin for crossover adaptor

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=03102720355385&moduleno=3
2423&Products=1

If you have cable making tools, a crimper and a plastic RJ45 end is really
all you need, along with a razor blade to take off the plastic cover, then
yes, you can cut the end off of a straight cable and rewire it into a
crossover cable.

You would normally wire a straight-thur as 12345678 & 12345678. The
crossover has one end the same, so one side doesnt need to be changed. The
other you have to rewire as 36145278. You can see that 4,5,7,8 stay the
same, as they aren't actually used.

If you dont have a crimper, and still dont feel like waiting for a crossover
adaptor, you could try this:

http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm

 

[CJT]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=03102720355385&moduleno=3
2423&Products=1

If you have cable making tools, a crimper and a plastic RJ45 end is really
all you need, along with a razor blade to take off the plastic cover, then
yes, you can cut the end off of a straight cable and rewire it into a
crossover cable.

You would normally wire a straight-thur as 12345678 & 12345678. The
crossover has one end the same, so one side doesnt need to be changed. The
other you have to rewire as 36145278. You can see that 4,5,7,8 stay the
same, as they aren't actually used.

If you dont have a crimper, and still dont feel like waiting for a crossover
adaptor, you could try this:

http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm

With drop cables (including crossover) as cheap as they are, it rarely
pays to homebrew, IMHO.

 

[Chuck]

With drop cables (including crossover) as cheap as they are, it rarely
pays to homebrew, IMHO.

I'd second that. If you need the high performance of Cat5e, you need
a reliable network connection. I roll my own sometimes for custom
length cables, but if you're talking about a $10 crossover, just buy
it. Much more reliable.

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Mal]

You can, if you like to wire your own. But the amount of time you'll spend getting it right, plus the amount of trouble you'll
experience when you fsck it up (which will happen) (FastCat5e are very close tolerance), doesn't equal the amount of money you'll
save by not buying a ready made and tested unit in the store.

How long does it take you to earn $10 (5 pounds?)??