Create RJ45 Patch Cables
568B At&T Standards

Tools & Materials

(1) Using the wire stripper, remove the outer insulation from the Cat-5 wire, exposing about 3/4 inch of the eight inner wires. (Make sure not to slice insulation on any of the  8 tiny wires inside.)

Note that each color wire is wrapped with a white (or in some cases a white striped) wire---these pairs must remain side-by-side throughout this process. (Except the green wire -- see below.)

(2) Take the white wire and place it to the right of its respective colored wire in the following order from right to left:

1. White orange / orange wire
2. White green / blue wire
3. White blue / green wire
4. White brown  / brown wire

Notice that the green pair has to be separated before crimping on the RJ45 plug.  If this is not done, the Receive Data will split between two pairs and performance will be degraded!

Pins 1 & 2 are the Transmit Pins

Pins 3 & 6 are the Receive Pins

Pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are not used

(Note: 568A Standard switches the orange pair with the green pair)

(3) Keep the wires straight and as close together as possible.  Cut the wires using a straight edge wire cutter.  Cut them evenly and straight across.  These wires should be about 1/2 inch long.

(4) Making sure the wires remain in the above order and insert them into the RJ45 plug. (The copper threads of the plastic plug should be facing up.) The 8 wires must slide into the 8 tiny channels until they press against the top of the RJ45 plug.  Check the top of the plug to see each wire.  The plug is now loaded and ready to be permanently attached.

(5) Insert the loaded plug into the appropriate slot of the RJ45 crimper tool.  Making sure that the plug is inserted into the tool all the way.

(6) Squeeze down on the crimper tool sufficiently to allow the copper prongs in the tip to cut through each wire's insulation and contact the copper of each wire.

(7) Repeat steps 1-6 on the other end of your wire.

(8) Test your wire before installing it on your network using a cable tester.  Insert each end of the patch cable into its appropriate slot on the cable tester.  Your test should reveal that all 8 wires are open.

Crossover Cables use the same format except on one end they are configured (White Green / Green, White Orange / Brown, White Brown / Orange, White Blue / Blue)