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Module One - Activity 4a: Patch or Crossover?

In the next activity, you will learn how to use cable termination techniques to create Patch and Crossover cables. The diagram below shows you what each is used for, and why.

How Do I know if I need a Crossover or a Patch cable?

SAME DEVICES? DIFFERENT ENDS.
CROSSOVER.
 A Crossover cable has different wiring standards on each end of the CAT5 cable, which is made up of four pairs of wires.

This allows the devices to agree upon which pairs of wires each device will talk on, and which pairs each device will listen on.

This is important as if the devices are the *same* type of device, they’ll both be wanting to “talk” on the same pair at the same time, so a patch cable WON’T WORK.

Therefore, if the devices are the SAME, you need a CROSSOVER, and if the devices are different, you can use a patch cable.

Why wouldn’t a patch work with same devices? Think of it as either everyone talking and nobody listening, or everyone listening, and nobody talking. See below.
DIFFERENT DEVICES? SAME ENDS.
PATCH.