| It can be real handy to have one or two additional | | | | out what is wrong with their computer network |
| Ethernet cables handy -- when you are | | | | connections, when the problem can be traced to |
| rearranging components, or have to hook up a | | | | a bad patch cord. |
| brand-new component. Pre-made cat 5 patch | | | | If you look inside of your cat 5 cable, you will see |
| cables are sometimes expensive to buy, | | | | four pairs of smaller wires -- two wires twisted |
| however, so it can be cheaper to learn to make | | | | together -- it is very important that you do not |
| your own. But if you don't do it correctly, your | | | | untwist these wires any more than is necessary |
| patch cable will be useless. | | | | in order to expose enough wiring to attach your |
| One of the most common mistakes that many | | | | connector. The reason for this is that each pair of |
| people make when trying to make their own cat | | | | twisted wires has been designed to work |
| 5 patch cables is that they try to use the wrong | | | | together, to minimize interference with the other |
| tools. For example, they may have a crimping | | | | sets of wires inside the cable. If you untwist |
| cool designed for use with telephone system | | | | these wires more than necessary, this dampening |
| modular connectors -- they try to use this tool to | | | | effect is lost, and it could affect the performance |
| crimp the connectors for their cat 5 cable wiring | | | | of your patch cable. |
| -- but it just will work properly, because telephone | | | | Another area where people get messed up is that |
| connectors are a different size from those used | | | | they handle cat 5 cable improperly. A common |
| on 5 wires. | | | | mistake is to staple this cable to the bottom of a |
| Another common mistake is in not purchasing | | | | wall or on a baseboard. This can crimp or crush |
| enough cable. You can generally purchase cat 5 | | | | the wires inside your cable. Instead, use only |
| patch cable wiring in 1000-foot rolls -- if that will | | | | manufacturer-recommended supplies to hold your |
| be too much for your wiring project, you can | | | | cat 5 cable in place. As well, make sure that you |
| keep the rest of it in storage, in case your | | | | do not lay your cable near any existing wiring -- it |
| installed cable goes bad in the future. Or, you can | | | | may interfere with the signal transmission through |
| pass along the extra cabling to a friend or family | | | | the cable. |
| member so they can do their own home | | | | A final mistake that many people make when |
| computer wiring. | | | | constructing their own cat 5 patch cables is not |
| In addition to these materials, you will also need a | | | | testing the cable once the connectors have been |
| good-quality stripping tool -- don't try to use a pen | | | | attached. It is always a good practice to use your |
| knife or something like that to strip off the outer | | | | testing device to verify the quality and integrity |
| insulation from the cat 5 patch cable. When used | | | | of your connections before you began using your |
| properly, a stripping tool will strip away the | | | | patch cord. If your testing device indicates there |
| outside covering, without cutting or nicking the | | | | is a problem, cut off one end of the cable and |
| smaller, inside wires -- and it's very important that | | | | attach a new connector -- then test it again. If |
| you don't. | | | | there is still a problem with your cat 5 patch |
| Another very important item to have on hand is | | | | cable, flip it over and cut off the other end and |
| a cable tester. This device will allow you to check | | | | attach a new connector there as well. Now test it |
| the integrity of your cable connections, before | | | | -- once you get a green light from your testing |
| you actually try to use it with your computer | | | | equipment, then you can begin putting that patch |
| equipment. Many people struggle, trying to figure | | | | cable to good use. |