The Best Way To Connect A Cat 6 Cable To A RJ45 Plug
RJ45 plugs have existed in the market since a very long time, and many people
think that these are the standard plugs for all kinds of cables, i.e. Cat 3,
Cat 5, Cat 5e and Cat 6 cables. In fact, they are not much mistaken, because
physically, all cables are similar and hence the plug can be safely used for
all kinds of cables in the market. But then there are also complaints that it
is difficult to fit in a Cat 6 cable to an RJ45 plug. This is not an unexpected
complaint at all. Though the wires are similar, there are marked differences
in the Cat 6 cable, which might make it difficult to be fit into the standard
RJ45 plug.
Let us see what these main problems are, and how to solve them.
- 1. The size of the Cat 6 cable is the first issue. These cables are thicker
than the other cables prevailing in the market. That makes it difficult for
them to put in the other RJ45 plugs that are available, i.e. the plugs that
were originally designed for the earlier versions of the cables that are thinner.
If you ask around, you will find an RJ45 plug that has been custom designed
for the Cat 6 cables.
- Once you have got the proper Cat 6 RJ45 cable plug, you have to see that
the fitting in is done in the right manner, because this will also determine
how easy it is to fit in the plug. There is a particular procedure you need
to adopt.
This is explained in the following sub points:-
a) The first step is to unsheathe the Cat 6 cable. You will need a bit
of length of unexposed cable to work with, and to insert them properly into
the plug. Hence, you must carefully uncover some part of the wire. Ideally,
about 1 to 1.5 inches of one end of the cable must be uncovered.
b) The Cat 6 cable is thicker than the other cables in the market due to
the presence of a plastic core inside it, around which the four twisted
pairs of wires are placed. This plastic core is itself quite thick. Its
purpose is to reduce the crosstalk interference within the cable. But while
crimping into the plug, you will need to remove the plastic core from the
unsheathed region.
c) The right way to remove the plastic core is thus: Bend down the twisted
pairs of wires till the plastic core is fully exposed. Then, with the help
of a sharp clipper, remove the plastic core, taking great care that none
of the inside twisted pairs are damage.
d) The next thing you have to do is to untwist the four pairs of wires that
have been unsheathed. Do it with a pair of tweezers.
e) Then, taking care that the right combination of colors is laid out, insert
the cable into the RJ45 plug.
- Once these preliminary steps are done with, you have to take further precautions
with the Cat 6 RJ45 cable plug so that unwanted interference is not carried
into the transmission. Crimping properly will ensure that this will not happen.
When crimping a Cat 6 RJ45 cable plug, the following precautions are necessary:-
a) Take care to first cut off the eight exposed and laid out wires in
the right color combination that they have to be connected.
b) Then, introduce this region of the Cat 6 cable into the RJ45 plug.
You have to keep the RJ45 plug in the jacket up position so that the wires
of the cable will enter the plug properly. See that the colored wires
make the right contact with the metal contacts inside the RJ45 plug.
c) Also, see that at least a quarter of an inch of the sheathed region
is into the plug.
d) When this is in order, make a fast and snappy crimping process. Ensure
that the color coordination is right once again. When you have satisfied
yourself, pull the jacket in the up position.
The Cat 6 RJ45 cable plug is surely different from the others available in the
market. Do not be fooled into buying a wrong kind of plug, or it will be too
difficult to connect your cable to it. And once you get the right plug, do all
the connections in the right manner.
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