Question : How to attach an RJ45 connector

I am new to network wiring, but I will be running wiring for about an eight workstation network.  I have my network installation tool kit as well as, a switch, wall plates, jacks, connectors and cat5 wire.  The network install kit did not come with directions on crimping the RJ45 connectors.  Any advise would be helpful.  Otherwise I'll have to go and buy a book--I've already bought two $50 networking guides but they don't cover wiring installation in any detail.

Thanks,
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Answer : How to attach an RJ45 connector

You will need an RJ45 crimping tool to connect the RJ45 connectors to the Cat5 cable to make your fly-leads. These rnage in cost from very cheap to astronomically expensive depending on how long you want them to last... You might find it cheaper to just buy the required fly-leads already made up.

To attach the Cat5 to the wall sockets it rather depends on the type of socket and the method of securing the wiring. The ones I use have a "punch-down" type block on the rear of the socket and I use a Krone tool to make the connections, this is a standard tool used by Telco techs to punch wiring for phone systems. I would talk to your equipment supplier regarding this.

The cable arrangement depends on ythe colour scheme for your Cat5 cabling, the primary requirement is to make sure each cable is wired straight-through (i.e pin 1 to pin1 , pin 2 to pin 2 etc.) In my wiring I use the following layout (looking at the connector side of the RJ-45 plug) from left to right (Orange/White - Orange - Blue/White - Blue - Green/White - Green - Brown/White - Brown)

Only 4 of the pins are used for Ethernet but you should connect all 8 conductors in case you want to use splitters at each end of a cable at some stage in the future (these allow you to use 4 of the 8 wires for one connection and the other 4 for a second connection)

I hope this helps - Cheers - Gavin