SAT 0400

Computing and Digital Technology

Part 4
Networking

Student Name: ………………………………………………………………………..

Student ID : ………………………………………………………………………………
 LAB 1: CONSTRUCTING A NETWORK CABLE
OBJECTIVES
After completing this lab you should be able to do the following:

 Describe TIA/EIA-568-B cabling and termination standards

 Build a Category 5 UTP patch cable

CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 2

Part One: Cable Building Basics ................................................................................. 2

Questions .................................................................................................................. 3

Part Two: Building a Cable ........................................................................................ 4

Submitting your Lab Report ...................................................................................... 6

HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND COMMUNICATIONS

REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS LAB
 A Windows-based computer
 Access to the Internet
 One 6 foot section of CAT 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable
 Two RJ 45 connectors
 One wire stripping tool
 One cable-end crimping tool
 One cable tester

USEFUL LINKS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T568B
LAB 1

Figure 1: 8-Position modular jack wire pair assignments for UTP

Introduction
Most organizations hire wiring contractors to design and install the cabling systems
required for their internal networks. For new construction special unshielded twisted
pair cabling is typically used for this purpose. This cabling is composed of four wire
pairs (8 separate insulated wires) wrapped in plastic sheathing to create a wire
bundle. The cabling can be purchased in bulk, cut to the desired lengths, and then
terminated by installing special connectors to the ends of the cable. This process
involves inserting individual wires in the bundle into slots in specially designed
connectors. Wiring patterns defined by the Telecommunications Industry Association
specify the alignment of the wires in the connectors (Figure 1). In this lab you will
build and test your own network cable to gain a better understanding of the
procedures required and problems encountered during this process.

Part One: Cable Building Basics

Cable Standards
This section provides you with information regarding wiring standards. Standards are
essential so that cables transmit data in a consistent manner regardless of the
manufacturer of the cable. Besides learning about wiring patterns you will also learn
about the history and origins of the standards organizations.

Proceed as follows to learn more about the TIA/EIA cable standards:

1. Double-click the Internet Explorer icon on the Windows Desktop. An Internet
Explorer browser window appears (Figure 2).

2. Enter the URL, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T568B, into IE’s Locator text box and
click the Go to button (Figure 2).

3. A Wikipedia page displaying historical and technical information about the

TIA/EIA-568-B wiring standards appears.

Figure 2: The Windows Internet Explorer showing the URL to the Wikipedia page on
cable wiring standards in the Locator text box and the Go to button to the right of
the text box

4. Review the information on the Wikipedia page and answer the questions that
follow:

Questions
1. In which year were the TIA/EIA-568-B standards were first published?
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 2. What types of organizations were involved in developing the TIA/EIA-568-B
standard?
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3. The development and popularization of what type of cabling drove significant

changes in the standards?
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4. Under TIA/EIA-568-B standard, what is the range of allowable horizontal

cable distances for twisted-pair cable types?
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5. What is the widest known and most discussed feature of TIA/EIA-568-B.1-

2001 standard?
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6. What is the correct specification for RJ 45 connectors?

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7. What is the correct sequence of wire colour assignments to connector pins 1-

8 using the T568B standard?
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8. What type of cable standard would need to be used to support 10GBase-T

connections?
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9. What is a crossover cable?

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10. You decide to convert a TIA/EIA 568-B straight-through cable into a crossover
cable. What changes do you have to make?
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Part Two: Building a Cable

Tools and Materials Required

The following is a list of tools and materials that are needed to build a short
Category 5e (CAT 5e) network cable.

 One 4 foot section of CAT 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable (Figure 3)
 Two RJ 45 connectors (Figure 4)
 One wire stripping tool (Figure 5)
 One cable-end crimping tool (Figure 6)
 One cable tester (Figure 7)

A Category 5e cable meets the requirements for transmitting data on an IEEE 802.3
computer network at speeds of 100 Mbps or less. According to specifications
published by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) these cables may
vary in length from a minimum of about 3 feet to a maximum of 100 meters (about
328 feet).
 Figure 3: A short section of CAT 5 cable

Figure 4: An RJ-45 connector

Figure 5: A combination wire stripping/crimping tool

 Figure 6: Cable testers

The tools and materials needed to build a CAT 5 patch cable will be available during
your regularly scheduled lab session. Follow the steps shown below to build. Your
instructor will assist you in testing the cable and will assign credit for completing this
part of the lab when your cable passes testing.

1. Strip about 1 inch of cable housing off of each end of a section of CAT 5 cable.
2. Align the individual wires in the correct pattern according to the T568B
standard.
3. Trim the individual cable straight across until only about ½” of each cable
remains
4. Insert the cable ends into the connector.
5. Check the alignment of the individual cables to determine if the colour
pattern is in accordance with the standard.
6. Crimp the connector ends using the cable-end crimping tool.
7. Pull on the cable to determine that the connectors are firmly crimped. Crimp
loose ends again if necessary.
8. Have your instructor test your cable to determine if it functions properly.

Submitting your Lab Report

Your answers to the questions above must be handed in to your laboratory tutor on
the following week. Any late work will not be accepted.