Cat 5 Crossover Cables -- What They Are And How To Use Them
Most of us with computer systems have seen a typical Ethernet cable -- these are usually called "straight" cables -- these are used to connect different types of computer devices. These are different from cat 5 crossover cables. The straight cables are typically used when you connect a computer to a cable modem or a router hub, or when connecting the LAN port of a router to the uplink port of a network hub when you expand your network.
At other times however, you want to use a cat 5 crossover cable -- for example if you want to connect to PCs to each other directly, without going through a hub; or when you want to connect a router's LAN port to the normal port on your switch or hub rather than the uplink port, when expanding your network.
How can you tell the difference between a straight cable and a crossover cable? It's actually very easy: pick up your Ethernet cable and look at the connectors on both ends. Examine the colors of wire going into the connectors. If the wire color in position one is the same on both plugs, you have a straight cable -- if the colors are different, then it is a cat 5 crossover cable.
As you can see, the advantage of using any type of the Ethernet crossover cable, including cat 5 crossover cables, is that you can connect your computer equipment together directly, without the need of additional (and costly!) routers, network hubs or switches. Cat 5 crossover cable is available in different lengths -- normally stranded cat 5 crossover cable is used for lengths no more than 25 feet in length; if you need 5 crossover cable and longer lengths, you should choose solid cable instead. Cat 5 crossover cable can be used in standard 100Base-TX networks. Many people do not understand why a crossover cable is necessary when connecting two computers together directly without a hub. Remember that when any computer is connected to a hub, the transmission and receiving function is handled by the hub itself -- but when two computers are connected directly, the hub is missing. A cat 5 crossover cable will allow the transmit wire on one PC to connect to the receive wire on the other PC, and vice versa -- in effect "crossing over." In this case, your cat 5 crossover cable is performing this "switching" function, in place of your network hub or switch. As always, when purchasing cat 5 crossover cable or any other types of cable, insist on new, unopened packages -- never accept a dealer's remnants or returned spools, as these may have been damaged by a previous owner. Always purchase your cat 5 crossover cable from a dealer with an established, professional reputation. Purchase your cable in as large a quantity as you can reasonably use, and afford, for maximum savings.
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