You would generally find that you need a crossover cable if you want to connect two devices together without the use of a network router, network hub, or network switch. In other words, you would be directly connecting two devices, such as network computers, directly together using an Ethernet crossover cable.

For this to work properly, you will need to have two things: the first being an RJ45, or Ethernet cable, that can receive as well as transmit data. This is called a crossover cable. The second thing that you need is to make sure that both your computers are discoverable to each other, which basically means that they should both be on the same network group and can “see” each other.

There are a couple of methods for you to get your hands on a crossover cable, with the first method being to simply set foot inside your local computer store, or browse around in an online computer store, to find your desired crossover cable.

The other method while being more time-consuming is to make the crossover cable yourself. To do this, you will need a few RJ45 connectors (not many since you will only be stripping one end of your cable – the extra is just in case you make a mistake the first time!); a UTP-Cat5 network cable; a pair of pliers; two screwdrivers, one normal size, and one small size; and a lot of patience!

The first thing that you need to do is to measure the length of cable you will be needing. Once this is done add about an extra 6-8 inches to the length so that you comfortably make mistakes without having a short cable that won’t connect your desired two devices!

Next, you need to cut off one end of your network cable, but before you do, lay both connector ends on the table with the internal wires facing upwards. There are eight pins in the RJ45 connector with different colored wires running through it. The whole purpose of the crossover cable is for some of the wires on one of the RJ45 connectors to be crossed over from what the wiring looks like on the other connector.

At the moment you will notice that all the internal wires are in the same order. In order to create an Ethernet crossover cable, you will need to cross over the wires in pin numbers 1, 2, 3, and 6.

To do this, you will need to strip one end of your cable, (up to about 1 inch is generally acceptable – no more as you will end up with exposed wiring). Next, you will need to carefully trim the eight small wires – these should be of a length enough to fit solidly into the base of the RJ45 connector.

Keeping your pre-assembled connector as your reference, you will need to cross over your wires. Wires 1,2,3 and 6 on the pre-assembled connector will now be changed in the second connector to the pin sequence of 3,6,1, and 2. So in the RJ45 connectors, the first pin will have originally the colored wire of 1 and the other connector will have the colored wire of 3; the second pin on connector one will have wire 2, and connector two will have wire 6 etc.

Once you have finished connecting your internal wires to your new RJ45 connector, you can then set about seating the cables in properly and locking it in. You have now successfully created an Ethernet crossover cable.

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