Terminating an Ethernet or CAT5e/CAT6 cable is a simple and essential skill for anyone interested in networking equipment or working in the networking industry.
When you learn how to terminate cables yourself, you can save money, space and irritation by cutting them to the exact length you need rather than having to rely on cables made by a business. Almost anyone can measure and complete the ends of a cable in about 15 minutes.
So let's start with the ethernet cable termination guide. It includes a definition of cable termination, color coding, standards and how to terminate ethernet.
What does terminating an Ethernet cable mean?
Cable termination involves connecting a wire to a device that allows the cable to connect to other devices, such as equipment, panels, or a wall outlet.
It includes sorting the cables by destination, shaping, wrapping the cables, correctly labeling and connecting to a copper or fiber conductor.
Ethernet Cable Termination Standards
When it comes to terminating copper cables, you have two options. The two models are the T568A and the T568B. These are two different termination standards. So you choose one and stick to that termination standard throughout your cable installation.
Each of these standards has slightly different pinouts. Pin 1 of the 568A standard is white and green, and pin 2 is green. As you can see in the 568B standard, it's white and orange, with orange for pins 1 and 2.
Color coding of Ethernet cable terminations
The pairs of your Ethernet cable will always be the same color: blue, orange, green and brown. UTP and shielded Category 3 to Category 8 cables feature four twisted pairs of insulated copper conductors. Cable color has no performance attributes that would cause you to choose one color over another. Outdoor cable is one of the cables where you have few options.
Ethernet Cable Termination Guide
Step 01: Tools
- Stripping pliers
- Wire cutters
- Ruler/Scale
- 2 Wire Boots
- RJ45 crimping tool
- 2 – Modular RJ45 data plug (ends)
- Bulk CAT6 Network Cable
Step 02:
Pull the necessary amount of wire from the spool for the connection you need to make. Be careful to leave 2 inches extra on both ends of the cable for the data jack.
Step 03:
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Step 07:
Repeat the stripping, preparation and crimping processes for the opposite end of the cable in the “Strip the Cable” phase.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you have completed the ethernet cable termination guide and learned how to do it. Now you can do it yourself. The steps may seem long, but we've simplified them to help you. For review, cable termination is the process of attaching a wire to a device that allows the cable to connect to other devices and has two standards. Color coding is only for matching and correcting the connection, but has no performance-related function.