This is a guide that could be written 10 years ago, but since it is never too late to learn, let's see here how to cut an ethernet cable to create a LAN cable to be connected to a computer or modem / router . Even if today wifi networks are the most popular, knowing how to cut, or rather "crimp" an Ethernet cable and having the tools to do it is still very useful when you want to shorten a long cable in order to obtain a customized length or to save money, by buying a 10 m long non-crimped cable, in order to create the bindings when needed.
For example, you can buy a 100m roll of Ethernet cable and a bag of connectors at a price of around 50 Euros, so that you can prepare as many cables as you want, even very long ones.
READ ALSO: Cat5 and Cat6 Ethernet cables, which ones to use
Going to Amazon I found that you can buy a roll of 100 meters, with RJ45 connectors included and already the crimping tool (the tool used to fix the connectors) with a price of 43 Euros.
Alternatively, you can also buy a 50-meter cable that can be cut to have two or more cables.
In this case, however, you also need to buy a 10 Euro crimp tool and a bag of RJ45 connectors or the tool kit to create 20 Euro Ethernet cables, which also includes a tester.
It would also be good to have a wire cutter or wire stripper to remove the sheath and separate the wires, even if scissors can still be used.
Once you have all the tools available, to cut and crimp an Ethernet cable you have to work in this way:
1) Measure the required length of the Ethernet cable and cut the cable.
2) Unsheath the cable, cutting it off with an external sheath so that the wires can then be separated inside which will then be inserted into the RJ45 connector.
Ideally, this operation would be done with a wire cutting pliers, but if you are precise enough, you can use a normal scissors, being careful not to touch the small internal threads.
3) Separate the internal wires
Once you have unsheathed the ethernet cable, you will notice four pairs of wires braided together.
These pairs are made of 8 cables, 4 with full colors and 5 whites with color stripes.
Divide the pairs so as to have eight separate strands and arrange them flat by spreading them out as best as possible.
The eight wires must be ordered in a standard order which can be T-568A or T-568B. T-568A follows this order: white-green, green, white-orange, blue, white-blue, orange, white-brown, brown.
T-568B follows this order: white-orange, orange, white-green, blue, white-blue, white-brown, brown.
The difference between the two standards is that the pairs of orange and green wires change places.
The result of this exchange is the crossover cable, which is used in a network to connect two computers together without the need for a router.
One end of the cable uses the order T-568A and the other end instead has the wires exchanged according to the order T-568B.
In a normal Ethernet cable used to connect to a router or modem, both ends have the same wiring sequence, and in this article we are going to make this type of cable. Then order the eight wires in order according to table T-568A (visible on the left) and prepare them for crimping.
Once put in order, join them as close as possible, without overlapping them and spread them well holding them between your fingers.
4) Next, and this is perhaps the most difficult part, you have to use scissors to cut the eight threads, so that they are all the same length.
5) Slide the wires into the RJ45 connector, always keeping them in the right order, so as to let the exposed parts enter the slots at the bottom of the plug.
In this operation, plan slowly and look closely to make sure that none of the wires come out or end up in the wrong position.
If you make a mistake, take them out, lay them out well and try again.
Push the cable until all eight wires touch the end of the connector.
6) Crimp
Once the wires have been inserted, take the crimp in your hand, insert the connector into it and crush it like a nutcracker, with force, but without exaggerating hindsight the plastic breaks.
Once done, remove the cable from the tool and check if it works by attaching it to a computer or router.
Finally, if it is true that an ethernet cable can be very long, the limit is 300 meters in length.
To review all this process, I found a perfect Youtube video, in Italian, short and concentrated, which can be helpful.
