forcing my kids to make Ethernet cables // FREE CCNA // EP 11

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About this video

A CCNA episode (covering exam objective 1.3 in the creator’s framing) where the creator teaches his daughters to terminate Ethernet cable and explains how it works. He recommends Cat5e UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cable, RJ45 heads, a crimper and an optional cable tester, arguing custom lengths for home or business runs are the main reason to make your own. Twisting the pairs fights EMI and crosstalk; shielded STP is for high-EMI settings like factories, and plenum jackets are for fire-risk spaces. History runs from 10BASE-T (10 Mbps, Cat3, circa 1990) and 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps, Cat5, 1995), both using one pair to transmit and one to receive, to 1000BASE-T gigabit over all eight wires, where each pair can send and receive simultaneously. Devices transmit on pins 1-2 and receive on pins 3 and 6, switches do the reverse, straight-through cables use 568B on both ends, crossover cables pair 568B with 568A for like-to-like links, and Auto-MDIX largely makes crossover unnecessary. The full 568B order, 100-metre limit, and newer Cat6a (10 Gbps) and Cat8 (40 Gbps) are also covered.

Key takeaways

568B pinout order for a straight-through cable: white-orange, orange, white-green, blue, white-blue, green, white-brown, brown — same on both ends
End devices transmit on pins 1 and 2 and receive on pins 3 and 6; switches reverse this, which is why straight-through works PC-to-switch
Crossover cables (568B one end, 568A the other) were needed for like-to-like links, but Auto-MDIX in gigabit Ethernet largely removes that need
Twisted pairs in UTP cable reduce EMI and crosstalk; use STP in high-interference environments and plenum-rated cable where fire codes require it
Do not exceed 100 metres on copper Ethernet — longer runs degrade the signal and can cause problems such as late collisions

Episode details: published February 27, 2021 · 43:37 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are NetworkChuck’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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