Linksys EtherFast® Series
Twisted-Pair Cabling
There are different grades, or categories, of twisted-pair cabling. Category 5 is the most reliable and is highly recommended. Category 3 is a good second choice. Straight-through cables are used for connecting computers to a hub.
Crossover cables are used for connect- ing a hub to another hub (there is an exception: some hubs have a built-in uplink port that is crossed internally, which allows you to link or connect hubs together with a straight-through cable instead).
You can buy pre-made Category 5 cabling, or cut and crimp your own. Category 5 cables can be purchased or crimped as either straight-through or crossover. Inside a Category 5 cable are 8 thin, color-coded wires inside that run from one end of the cable to the other. All 8 wires are used. In a
straight-through cable, wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 at one end of the cable are
also wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 at the other end. In a
crossover cable, the order of the wires change from one end to the other: wire 1 becomes 3, and 2 becomes 6. See the diagrams on the next page for more detailed information on straight-through and crossover cabling.
To determine which wire is wire number 1, hold the cable so that the end of the plastic RJ-45 tip (the part that goes into a wall jack first) is facing away from you. Face the clip down so that the copper side faces up (the springy clip will now be parallel to the floor).When looking down on the copper side, wire 1 will be on the far left.
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