How to Make Your Own Cat5e Network Cable

Rob Williams · 08-08-2012, 08:20 PM

Despite their simplicity, pre-made networking cables are expensive - especially if you're in need of outfitting your entire house. Luckily, making your own cables isn't only far less expensive, but easy, and perhaps even a little bit fun. If you're still unsure, read on as we explain the entire process from start to finish.

Read through Greg's tutorial on building your own network cables and then discuss it here!

I can't believe I'm getting a hankering to go make some cables...

Greg King · 08-08-2012, 09:01 PM

Full disclosure... I never paid BlackAndy. I essentially stole his spool.

RainMotorsports · 08-08-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg King

Full disclosure... I never paid BlackAndy. I essentially stole his spool.

NICE. Anyone knows what the deal is with the plastic inside cat 6 cables? At least the premade ones?

I needed to do about 90 feet from one room to another. Instead of buying a spool i would never use I bought a 100 foot cable and cut it up for my needs. Inside was a + sign shaped clear plastic strip going the full length. Had to cut it at the sleeve cut, makes it difficult to put connectors on.

Greg King · 08-08-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMotorsports

NICE. Anyone knows what the deal is with the plastic inside cat 6 cables? At least the premade ones?

I needed to do about 90 feet from one room to another. Instead of buying a spool i would never use I bought a 100 foot cable and cut it up for my needs. Inside was a + sign shaped clear plastic strip going the full length. Had to cut it at the sleeve cut, makes it difficult to put connectors on.

That + shaped piece of plastic is called a longitudinal spacer. I'm not entirely sure what purpose it servers but I assume it has to do with signal integrity.

GrimResistance · 08-09-2012, 05:04 PM

I'm a cable guy so I get all the free cat-5 I want

I have a picture of the B-pattern on my phone that I use for reference but I pretty much have it memorized now.

Rob Williams · 08-09-2012, 07:26 PM

See, this is why I like articles like this. It brings people out of the woodwork

Nice to see you around Grim, sit a spell!

Greg King · 08-10-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimResistance

I'm a cable guy so I get all the free cat-5 I want

I have a picture of the B-pattern on my phone that I use for reference but I pretty much have it memorized now.

You can never have too many cheat sheets

jreagan · 08-13-2012, 07:02 PM

The "how to" didn't specify whether orientation of the RJ45 connector. While it wouldn't matter if you are doing both ends as long as you are consistent, it does matter if the other end is in a punch-down block in a wall plate or a patch panel.

I would update the "how-to" to number the wire color diagram (1 thru 8, left to right), draw up a plug (male and female) also with number; and say to hold the RJ45 connector with the locking tab in the downward position.

BlackAndy · 08-15-2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg King

Full disclosure... I never paid BlackAndy. I essentially stole his spool.

Wait, I actually think I got that spool for free...
The first thing I did when I bought my house in 2006 was to hardwire and install network wall plates in every room. BEST THING EVER! (house tech related.) It allows for fast, stable streaming and gaming, and I keep my router and modem out of the way in the garage.
-BlackAndy

08-08-2012, 08:20 PM	#1
Rob Williams Editor-in-Chief Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 13,246	How to Make Your Own Cat5e Network Cable Despite their simplicity, pre-made networking cables are expensive - especially if you're in need of outfitting your entire house. Luckily, making your own cables isn't only far less expensive, but easy, and perhaps even a little bit fun. If you're still unsure, read on as we explain the entire process from start to finish. Read through Greg's tutorial on building your own network cables and then discuss it here! I can't believe I'm getting a hankering to go make some cables... __________________ Intel Core i7-990X EE @ 3.43GHz, GIGABYTE X58A-UD5, Kingston 12GB DDR3-1333, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD, WD VR 1TB, WD 2TB, Seagate 2TB, LG BD-ROM, ASUS DVD-RW, Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H60 Cooler Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.10, 3.7 Kernel) "Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter <Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.

08-08-2012, 09:01 PM	#2
Greg King I just kinda show up... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,081	Full disclosure... I never paid BlackAndy. I essentially stole his spool. __________________ "It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." - Carl Sagan System: Intel i5 2500K \| Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4 \| 16GB G.Skill DDR3 \| Crucial M4 128GB SSD WD 1TB Black x1 \| WD 2TB Green x 1 \| XFX Radeonn HD 6850 \| Corsair H80 Water Cooler Fractal Design R3 \| Windows 7 Ultimate x64 \| Dell 2410 x 3 @ 1920x1200 ESXi Host: Intel i7 920 @ 3.0 GHz \| Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P \| 24GB Patriot DDR3 \| WD 1TB Black x 2

08-09-2012, 07:26 PM	#6
Rob Williams Editor-in-Chief Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 13,246	See, this is why I like articles like this. It brings people out of the woodwork Nice to see you around Grim, sit a spell! __________________ Intel Core i7-990X EE @ 3.43GHz, GIGABYTE X58A-UD5, Kingston 12GB DDR3-1333, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD, WD VR 1TB, WD 2TB, Seagate 2TB, LG BD-ROM, ASUS DVD-RW, Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H60 Cooler Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.10, 3.7 Kernel) "Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter <Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.

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08-09-2012, 05:04 PM	#5
GrimResistance Obliviot Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	I'm a cable guy so I get all the free cat-5 I want I have a picture of the B-pattern on my phone that I use for reference but I pretty much have it memorized now.

08-13-2012, 07:02 PM	#8
jreagan Obliviot Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1	The "how to" didn't specify whether orientation of the RJ45 connector. While it wouldn't matter if you are doing both ends as long as you are consistent, it does matter if the other end is in a punch-down block in a wall plate or a patch panel. I would update the "how-to" to number the wire color diagram (1 thru 8, left to right), draw up a plug (male and female) also with number; and say to hold the RJ45 connector with the locking tab in the downward position.