Make ur own crossover cable from an RJ-45A??

[kitkit201]

Do I need a hub to connect to two so me and my brother can play HL?? or a direct connection would work?? Is there a way around this??? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[Russ]

If it's just two systems, you can use a crossover cable and connect them directly.

Russ, NCNE

 

[kitkit201]

Thanks RUSS: im an idiot when it comes to networking stuff.. what is an crossover cable?? is there a number for it, like rj 45???

 

[Russ]

Yes, it's also RJ45, but the wires are configured so that they "cross" over, thus eliminating the need for a hub or switch. When you buy one, just ask for an ethernet crossover cable and, assuming you haven't encountered an idiot, they'll know what you mean.

Russ, NCNE

 

[kitkit201]

word up!! thanks RUSS !!~!! =)

 

[lumberg]

The wiring in the rj45 jack is like this, from left to right looking from the contact side:
(Known as rj45A)
pin1-white/green ->transmit+
pin2-green ->transmit-
pin3-white/orange ->receive+
pin4-blue
pin5-white/blue
pin6-orange ->receive-
pin7-white/brown
pin8-brown
the other end of the crossover looks like this:
(known as rj45b)
pin1-white/orange
pin2-orange
pin3-white/green
pin4-blue
pin5-white/blue
pin6-green
pin7-white/brown
pin8-brown
As you can see, pins1 and 3 switch, and pins 2 and 6 switch. This alows the transmit pins to connect to the receive pins on the other machine, and vis versa. Hubs have the opposite pin configuration of network cards. Meaning that pin1 on a pc is transmit+, and pin1 on a hub is receive+. Making the crossover cable unnecessay with hubs. Just remember: When connecting like machine (two pc's, or two hubs, or two switches) you must use a crossover cable so the data will go to the right pins on the other end.
Simple analogy: You wisper into someone's ear, not their mouth.

Hopefully this will shed some light on the subject for you.

 

[kitkit201]

hey lumburg:

i have a long 50ft rj-45 non crossover cable.. can i simply mod both ends of a rj-45a jacks and thus I would create a 'cross over' cable in theory correct??not too hard? is their a way i can get thestupid jack out of the cables, it's really stuck in there!!

edit: btw thanks for shedding some light on the cables!! Appreciated

 

[pdo]

there is an adapter that can that can make a standard RJ45 cable into a crossover cable. I forgot where I got them before but I think either BUY.COM or Onvia should have them. Do a search on crossover and see what you can come up with. And yould need a special tools to make your own crossover cable so it's not worth it if you don't make them regularly.

 

[lumberg]

Paldo has the right idea. Unless you know someone with the right tools to get the job done, don't re-wire the existing cable. You can buy a crossover adapter for like a buck, but it may also require another small piece of wire. You can get them at electronic stores like Frys or computer outlet stores. Buying a hub would be less expensive than buying the wiring tool. You can get a 4 port hub for under 50 bucks. And if you're like the rest of us, you'll eventually want to network even more pc's, and with the hub you'll just need to plug them in.

 

[coopa]

i just bought the stuff at compusa. No problemo. was like $12 bucks for extra wire and adapapter.

 

[kitkit201]

coopa:

I'll go and investigate wire tomorrow at compusa. do you know what the adapter is called?? and what wire are you speaking of?

 

[coopa]

i think that it was called a an rj45 coupler or something, i dont remember. lol i took it back becasue im going to go with a router. But anny way if you already have the untwisted pair cable then there are these male female adaptor things that you can buy that reverses the cat 5 cable. i will try to draw a pic with hyphins and stuff (this will be fun )

KEY:

------- = 50 ft. untwisted wire (that you already have)
---> = wire with rj54 connector (that you already have)
>< = adaptor
<~~~~~~~ = crossover cable.

your network would look like this:

Comp. 1 nic <~~~>><<-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->Comp. 2 nic


i think thats it correct me if im wrong. I think that the adapter was like, ummmmm i forget, i think like 6 bucks, and then get the smallest crossover cable you can buy. that should do it, but check with somone smarter than me.

The hopefully smart person working at compusa will be able to explain farther if need. talk to the &quot;on site tech specialist&quot;

 

[coopa]

so.... whatdaya think?

 

[kitkit201]

coopa! Thanks fer the wonderful diagram about the cable configs. appreciated!!

yet when i went to compusa today, they didn't have shorter crossover wires, smallest one was 10'. So ill pass until i go to frys next time and pick up one of those. also witht he adapter u are talking about.. is it a special kind of adapter or just one that links two rj-45 cables together?? thanks in adavance!!

 

[coopa]

i was looking around to see if you had any other options and looki looki what i found.

this page tells how to modefy a regular rj45 coupler (adaptor)so that it connects 2 utp cables and makes them crossover. it woul work like so:
nic 1 <------------->><<------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> nic2
The above coupler^ would be the modified one as shown below
making a crossover coupler- a cheaper alternative to a crossover cable



i got that from this page of homepclan.com:
check it out.- a oage on crossover cables w/ links- this entire is a great site for networking
-these guys don't like nic to nic untwisted cat 5 networks, but whatever.
hope that helped. they are clearer than i am...

 

[pdo]

just take a look at this one.. Save yourself some trouble man.

 

[coopa]

hehe- that would be to easy,
Dang- i didnt realizr that it was that cheap. besides,

coupler meathod: $2 for coupler, $5 for small cable (if you dont already have)
Paldos meathod (BTW you were the first to say coupler!!): $10

Con's of getting a crosover cable (pauldos meathod):
Another thing to consider is that if you are planning to have a hub (more comps) it would be a good idea to do the coupler meathod because you wouldent have to rewire. also coupler meathod is still cheaper. Also the shipping takes a while.


Pro's of getting crossover cable:
*dont have to worry about doing the coupler wrong. it would be alot less trouble to use the cable, especially if you are the kind of person like me that whenever you try to do something like that you always run into technical difficulties.
*free shipping right now at buy.com

 

[kitkit201]

I think ill buy those cables from buy.com.. thanks for the posts everyone and esp coopa for his/her mass knowledge of network cables and paldo for the link to the cables. .. now does anyone want to buy 30ft of rj-45 regular cables?? =P I mean it!

 

[kitkit201]

you can also buy them for outpost.com for free overnite delivery if someone just needs cable and are too lazy to go down to frys to buy them. good prices too! just search for them 'crossover cables'

 

[coopa]

his

<< mass knowledge >>


no problem i learned alot to.