network cables. =\

[evilcow]

I've got the proper tools to build a network cable + I know how to arrange the wire pairs etc. The only problem I'm having is that.. how can I efficiently put the little wires all the way.. inside the connector? They never go in all the way! =( No matter how hard i try! :[

 

[Techwhore]

Isn't that what you use a crimper for? You just need to have the wires lined up and in place, then crimp...

 

[ojai00]

make sure that all the wires are the same length...and then just hold it together and push it all the way in...i shouldnt be that hard, because the teeth of the RJ-45 connector aren't down. before you crimp it, just take a look at the end of the connector to make sure you see all the copper wires against it. hope this helps.

 

[Hisumi]

As long as the wires are all lined up, shouldn't be a problem. (The crimper has a blade to cut the wires) Make sure all the wires are as straight as possible (not bent). Then just use abit force and push it into the RJ-45 jack and make sure the wires are touching the copper. Just use the crimper and crimp the jack tightly to the cable after. If you have a cable tester, then you can use it to check whether your cable is working. Hope I answered your question.

-------------------------
- Hisumi -

 

[Wik]

Maybe you do not have enough of the jacket stipped off either, or you are pushing the jacket out instead of pushing the wires in. When you are pushing the wires into the plug, make sure you squeeze the wire hard enough in your hand so that you are pushing everything into the plug, not just the jacket. What I like to do when I make cables is to grabg the wire after I strip the jacket back, then pull them out a little bit farther from the jacket. Then I put them in order and stick them in the plug to help straighten them. Then I pull them out of the plug and trim them all to the same length and then put them in the plug for the final time. I have never had a bad cable yet after doing this method.

 

[evilcow]

do i need to strip the small wires? ;\

 

[ScottMac]

OK! Quick lesson.....

First, you need the right connectors. There are four basic types (I'm talking RJ45 here): For Round cable (Solid or Stranded) and Flat cable (solid or stranded). Under NO circumstances do you want any connector made for flat cable. None, Nil, Zero, Zip, Nada...flat cable connectors are evil!Evil!!EVIL!!!.

OK, so now you have connectors for round cable types: the next step is to make sure they are Category-rated for your intended use (presumably data networking). If you are going to run 100BASE-T, then you should have AT LEAST Category 5 rated connectors (for either solid or stranded wire whichever you intend to use).

Now you got the right connectors, time to start.

Strip off about two or three inches of the outside cable jacket. Now you are looking at four twisted pairs: orange, green, blue, and brown. If you have any other colors, throw away the cable; it's evil and wants to make you frustrated and mad....it doesn't want you to communicate at full speed....it wants to make you look foolish in the faces of your peers....bad cable....send it away.


Untwist the first pair back to the edge of the outer jacket. Lightly pull and straighten the individual wires, holding them in order between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand (they are nice & straight & parallel, right?).

Continue by untwisting the next pair, straighten and order them next to the preceeding pair(s) in your left hand.

Do the next two pair (one at a time), same way. Untwist, straighten, order, and hold 'em.

When you got 'em all done, hold the collection of straight & parallel wires such that they are perpendicular to the tip of your left index finger (which, in the average adult American, averages one half of an inch) with the inside aspect of your index finger touching the edge of the outer cable jacket.

Using any suitable straight cutting device (diags, scissors, crimper cutter...) cut off the extra length (that would be the outside edge of your finger). Now you have straight, parallel wires, properly ordered, about a half of an inch long (exposed from the cable jacket).

Pick up your properly-classified RJ45 connector with the clip down, ass-end facing you, and gently insert and push the straight, parallel, properly-ordered wires into the connector until you see "eight bright copper dots" on the nose-end of the connector. You do not have to strip any of them. RJ45 is an "Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC)."

After confirming the vision of eight copper dots, carfully insert the properly-classified connector, complete with the straight, parallel, properly-ordered-wires-fully-inserted into the crimping device. Check at this time to see that the outer cable jacket is also inserted into the connector far enough that the "Dent" in the top of the connector will crimp the outer jacket (this is for strain relief).

Crimp it.

Now go do the other end.


OR, you could just go buy some pre-made jumpers....stranded is recommended for jumpers, and it's the hardest to do 'cause the lil' wires are so whippy...I hate stranded. I'll eat liver before I do stranded. It sucks.

So there ya go. Sorry for the verbosity, it's been kinda slow at work lately.

Have fun, good luck

Scott

 

[ojai00]

<<do i need to strip the small wires? ;\ >>

you do not need to strip the copper wires, just the outside jacket.

 

[evilcow]

Hey scottmac, i love your sense of humor lol. You made that more entertaining to read =) GJ
Everyone else, thanks! -- you guys helped me too. thanks