RJ45 connectors – Cat5e and Cat6 plugs – how to wire:
RJ45 connectors – Cat5e and Cat6 plugs – how to wire was the question I needed to answer.
Background.
I have always been nervous of the envisioned complications in wiring up those very very small plugs with the pretty coloured wires. Its something I needed to master since moving out to the new wood workshop.
I have a small Chinese CNC router table and I was/am/have relocated it to the new facility. Rather than just sitting on a Bench with the resulting dust getting into the computer and control electronics I wanted a custom built bench on caster wheels. Mobility in the workshop is a way to maximise the space I have. My lathe proved the concept was correct so I designed and built the mobile CNC router base. However it became obvious that to have it connected to the internet I could not have a long training cable.
The obvious solution would be to use a smaller ‘patch’ cable, served by say 4 or 5 sockets strategically placed. To do so though meant I either got someone in to carry out the network or do it myself. Before paying anyone to do it I decided to research just how difficult it was.
So how difficult is it?
Thats when I got my first surprise. If you have the right tools its simpler (or as simple) as wiring up a domestic plug. Therefore the horrendous costs that the special tools would cost would let me escape doing it myself.
After surfing for these highly technical and therefore expensive items, I found the opposite was true. All the tools you will need cost me under £10 (UK Sterling). In fact it cost me £8.45 for a set that included the special crimp tool/10 RJ45 plugs and a super dooper testing meter including postage (shipping to our American cousins).
At those prices how could I not try? When they arrived I set about cutting a spare lead in half. Then using the multi faceted tool stripped the outer cable off. Next the resulting 8 wires were trimmed to length, inserted into a plug, crimped and tested in less than a minute(compared to the hours spent editing the video and writing this article!).
Why I have never investigated this before is a crime. It also has got me thinking about what I can do to improve the wifi indoors. Also telephone extensions are now in the future jobs to do.
See what you think of the video and if you like it please give it the thumbs up(mumble mumble….If you don’t well…..you get the idea). Adding comments also tells me there is someone out there!
I am including links to the tools below. These are what are called affiliate links. That means (at no cost to yourself) I get a few pennies towards running the website. In no way is it a fortune, but every little helps. You don’t have to. All you need to do is to look at the terms used and go to eBay direct without clicking the adverts below. As I say though it doesn’t cost you anything either way.
