HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PATCH LEADS

Firstly, ensure you have a copy of the correct wiring diagram, you can find guidance for straight through and crossover diagrams here.

  1. Strip off about half an inch off the outer insulation, taking care not to damage the twisted pairs within, untwist the wires.

  2. Arrange the individual wires in the following order: orange-white, orange, green-white, blue, blue-white, green, brown-white, brown.
  3. Use small flush side cutters or a pair of scissors to trim the ends to the right length, ensuring that you get a clean, straight flush cut.
  4. Insert the wires such that each follows its internal channel all the way up, under the metal fingers of the jack.
  5. Crimp the plug using a modular crimp tool to lock it in place. It's ready to plug into your computing equipment.

The best way to learn is to watch someone do it. For this purpose there are a variety of videos on the internet showing how to make a patch lead correctly, some good, some bad. This is not our video - but it certainly is our favourite, very clear instruction and great quality.

If for any reason the video above does not work, you should be able to access it via this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AijuC8Nb_E