Cat 5 Cable

Cat 5 cables consist of four twisted pair of wires that are connected with RJ 45 connectors. Cat 5 stands for Category 5 and supports networks with frequency 100 Mhz and a speed of 1000 Mbps. Cat 5e is an advanced version of Cat 5. Cat 5e does not support long distance cables.

To connect two devices and to communicate the signals, patch cables are used. These patch cables are basically copper wires or fiber optic cables. These are a type of electrical cables and are also known as patch cords. Patch cables are normally shorter in length (approximately two meters) and are available in many different colors. Due to this they are distinguished easily. The type of patch cables like microphone cable, headphone cable, XLR connector cable, RCA connector cable and TRS connector cable. Circuits are connected through patch cord on the patch panel. The patch cord are used to connect the components that are arranged in a stacked manner. They are also used for passing signals through patch panel. They are also used to prevent attenuation and signal loss.

It is also used to connect the computer to a router through a switch while a crossover cable is normally used to directly connect two computers. This connection is also called a peer-to-peer connection. It is always advised to use cables whose maximum length is 100 meters. You should always prefer a switch over a hub as the former supports signals.

How to make Cat 5e patch cable

* Strip off or pull out the outer covering of the cable, exposing about one fourth of the entire portion. While exposing make sure that the internal wiring does not get affected. If somehow the outer sheath of any wire is affected, it will result into crosstalk. * Untwist the pairs so that you can hold them easily. * Arrange the wires according to the specified method. Two commonly used methods are 568A and 568B. * Hold the wires together and make sure that they are arranged according to the specified color scheme. Then cut the wires evenly. * Insert the wires inside the RJ-45 plug. Make sure that all the wires are inserted properly inside the plug. * Crimp the plug by using crimping tool. * Finally test for proper connectivity using cable tester.