BYO Ethernet Cable
Time
1.3 hrs
Difficulty
Advanced
Prerequisites
Wiring A Plug
Departments
Human Technologies
Authors
Ross Parker
Groupings
Individual
Pairs
Pairs
Minimum Year Group
None
Blurb
Ethernet cables, also known as RJ45 cables, are used to build local area networks (LANs), which give much faster data speeds than WiFi. In this unit you will learn to build and test your own network cable.
License
This work is shared under the following license: Creative Commons BY-SA-NC
Outline
| Resources What is needed to run this unit?
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Cross-Curricular Links Do not try and force this. What areas of other subjects might this reflect and/discuss language. For IB, links with ToK.
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| Teacher Reflection What was successful? What needs changing? Alternative Assessments and Lesson Ideas? What other Differentiation Ideas/Plans could be used?
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20 mins
Using Ethernet
Try It
- In the "old days" before WiFi (which was invented in the late 1990s), computers connected to networks using Ethernet cables.
- An Ethernet cable is less convenient, but much faster than WiFi. For example:
- IEEE 802.11, the WiFi standard, currently offers speeds of up to 1.3Gb/s (gigabits per second)
- IEEE 802.3, the Ethernet standard, current offers speeds of up to 10Gb/s (gigabits per second)
- In addition, Ethernet offers a far more reliable connection than WiFi (it almost never drops out!)
- Your first challenge in this unit is to connect your laptop to an Ethernet port. The following information might be useful:
- Older laptops have Ethernet ports, but many newer ones don't (to make them thinner). If your laptop is too new, Mr. Parker has an adapter you can use.
- You need to connect to an empty wall port somewhere (lots in C108).
- Disable your WiFi to make sure you are using Ethernet.
- Check in > System Preferences > Network to see that your connection is working.
- Try and download a large file (like Ubuntu Linux Desktop edition) to see how fast it is: compare this to just using WiFi.
60 mins
Building Your Cable
Hard
- To build your cable, you will need a length of Cat5E cable, two RJ45 connectors and a crimping tool.
- Ask your teacher for these parts and tools.
- Now watch the video below to learn how to make your cable:
- The following pinout image can be used to remind you of the order of the various coloured cables:
Testing Your Cable
- Once your cable is complete, you can use a cable tester to make sure each individual cable is connected to each connector:
- Connect the two ends of your cables to the two sides of the tester
- Switch the tested on.
- Ensure that each light, from 1-8, on each side, lights up in sequence.
Finishing Up
Evidence
- As evidence of your learning, record a 1-minute video monologue in which you show your cable, and discuss the process of making it.
- Submit your video to the unit as evidence of your learning.
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