Cat 5 Cable

The crossover cables map input signals of one connector to the output signals of other connector. Thus allowing two devices to communicate in a full-duplex manner through their network adapters. The terminal devices are connected to a hub or a switch through cat 5 crossover cables and it is required that transmit pair of the device is connected to the receiving pair of the other device. Each pin of the connector at one end is connected to the corresponding pin of the other connector.

Normally this crossover cabling is done internally (inside a hub or a switch), but the devices can also be connected directly (without a switch or hub), but that should be done externally in cable. The Cat 5 Crossover Cable can also be used to connect two hubs by using modular crossover adapter.

A two computer network called a peer-to-peer network may also be formed using Cat 5 Crossover Cable. Each computer is assigned a unique IP address and the other machine reflects the same IP address. The crossover cables reverse and transmit the signals. The reverse color coded wires are seen at both the ends of the cable. The 1st and 3rd as well as the 2nd and 6th wires are crossed in the crossover wires. These cables follow a particular sequence of wires at each end. The crossover cables should be used for only direct connections.

If you try to connect a computer to a hub through a crossover cable, the link may not function properly. However, some home broadband routers are exceptions to the rule. They automatically detect the crossover cables and let them function with other devices.

Solid Cat 5 cables have some really good electrical properties and hence give a better performance. The offices that uses the system of wiring under the floor or inside the walls normally prefer solid Cat 5 cables. The RJ-45 connectors used for solid Cat 5 cables may be different than those of standard cables.

The Cat 5 cables can even run outside to connect the computer in one building to that in another building. It is very difficult for an ordinary Ethernet cable to run outdoors as their condition may deteriorate when exposed to the elements outside such as extreme temperature. To avoid this condition, the Cat 5 cable should be covered by some conduit, like a PVC pipe with some waterproofing. Therefore it is advisable that special direct burial CAT 5 cables should be used for outdoors.