Step-by-Step How to Terminate Cat 6 Properly

Can you terminate Cat 6 cable yourself? Yes, you absolutely can terminate Cat 6 cable yourself with the right tools and a bit of patience. This guide will walk you through the entire process of network cable termination for Cat 6, ensuring a solid connection every time. Proper Ethernet cable termination is crucial for achieving the high speeds and reliability that Cat 6 cabling promises. Whether you’re setting up a new home network or upgrading an existing one, knowing how to do this is a valuable skill. We’ll cover everything from preparing the cable to making the final connection, including Cat 6 connector installation and RJ45 termination.

Essential Tools for Cat 6 Termination

Before you begin, gather all the necessary tools. Having everything ready will make the process smoother and more efficient. Think of this as your toolkit for wiring Ethernet cable.

Cat 6 Cable Stripper: This tool is specifically designed to remove the outer jacket of network cables without damaging the inner wires.
Wire Cutters/Crimpers: A good quality crimping tool is essential for attaching the Cat 6 connector and ensuring a secure connection. Many crimpers also have built-in wire cutters.
RJ45 Connectors (Plugs): Make sure you have connectors designed for Cat 6 cable. These often have guides or larger openings to accommodate the thicker wires of Cat 6.
Cat 6 Cable: Of course, you’ll need the cable itself. Ensure it’s genuine Cat 6, which typically has a thicker jacket and tighter twists than older categories.
Punch Down Tool (Optional, for wall jacks): If you’re terminating wall jacks or patch panels, a punch-down tool is necessary for seating the wires into the IDC (Insulation Displacement Connector) terminals.
Cable Tester: This is highly recommended to verify your termination is correct and the cable is working before you put it into use.

Preparing the Cat 6 Cable

Proper preparation is key to a successful RJ45 termination. This involves carefully stripping the outer jacket and untwisting the pairs.

Stripping the Outer Jacket

Measure and Mark: Decide how much of the outer jacket you need to remove. For an RJ45 termination, you typically want to expose about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) of the inner wires.
Use the Cable Stripper: Place the Cat 6 cable into the adjustable blade of your cable stripper. Rotate the stripper around the cable jacket. You should feel it cut into the jacket but not the inner wires.
Remove the Jacket: Once you’ve made a complete cut, gently pull the stripped section of the jacket off the cable.

Untwisting and Straightening Wires

Cat 6 cables have four pairs of twisted wires. These twists are vital for reducing crosstalk and maintaining signal integrity. You’ll need to untwist them, but only as much as necessary for termination.

Locate the Rip Cord: Many Cat 6 cables have a thin, non-conductive rip cord running lengthwise under the jacket. This can help you cut the jacket more easily.
Untwist Pairs: Carefully untwist each of the four pairs of wires. Do this gently to avoid damaging the insulation.
Straighten Wires: Once untwisted, straighten out each individual wire as much as possible. This will make arranging them in the correct order easier for Cat 6 plug installation.

Arranging Wires According to T568 Standards

There are two common wiring standards for Ethernet cables: T568A and T568B. T568B is more commonly used in North America. For a standard patch cable, both ends of the cable must use the same standard.

T568B Standard Color Code

This is the most prevalent standard for wiring Ethernet cable in most installations.

Pin 1: White/Orange
Pin 2: Orange
Pin 3: White/Green
Pin 4: Blue
Pin 5: White/Blue
Pin 6: Green
Pin 7: White/Brown
Pin 8: Brown

T568A Standard Color Code

While less common for general use, it’s important to be aware of it, especially if you encounter older installations.

Pin 1: White/Green
Pin 2: Green
Pin 3: White/Orange
Pin 4: Blue
Pin 5: White/Blue
Pin 6: Orange
Pin 7: White/Brown
Pin 8: Brown

Arranging for Termination

Once you know the standard, lay out the wires in the correct order. Hold them flat against each other. For Cat 6 connector installation, you’ll want the wires to be as parallel and straight as possible.

Terminating with an RJ45 Connector (Plated)

This is the most common method for creating patch cables. The process of installing RJ45 on Cat 6 requires precision.

Step 1: Trim the Wires

After arranging the wires in the correct T568A or T568B order, you need to trim them to an even length so they fit neatly into the Cat 6 connector.

Align Wires: Hold the wires tightly together in their sorted order.
Trim Evenly: Use your wire cutters or the cutting edge of your crimping tool to trim the ends of the wires. You want about 0.5 to 0.75 inches (1.2 to 1.9 cm) of the insulated wires remaining from the outer jacket. A clean, straight cut is important for proper seating in the connector.

Step 2: Insert Wires into the RJ45 Connector

This is a critical step for successful Ethernet cable termination.

Orient the Connector: Hold the RJ45 connector with the metal pins facing upwards and the clip (the part that latches into the port) facing away from you.
Carefully Insert: Gently insert the sorted and trimmed wires into their corresponding channels within the connector. Ensure that each wire goes into its own channel and reaches the very front of the connector.
Check Wire Order: Double-check that the wire order inside the connector matches the T568A or T568B standard you are using. This is where Cat 6 connector types can differ; some have internal guides to help maintain the twist.
Ensure Jacket Contact: It’s important that the outer jacket of the cable extends slightly into the rear of the RJ45 connector. This allows the crimper to clamp down on the jacket, providing strain relief and securing the connection. If the jacket isn’t far enough in, you may need to re-strip the cable slightly.

Step 3: Crimp the Connector

This is where the actual Cat 6 cable crimping happens.

Place Connector in Crimper: Insert the RJ45 connector (with the wires inside) into the designated slot on your crimping tool. The slot is usually marked for 8-position connectors.
Squeeze Firmly: Close the crimping tool handles firmly and completely. You should feel a distinct click or resistance as the tool seats the pins and secures the cable jacket. The crimper forces the metal pins through the wire insulation, creating the electrical connection, and it also crimps a strain relief clamp onto the cable jacket.
Remove and Inspect: Carefully remove the terminated cable from the crimper. Visually inspect the connector. The metal pins should be pressed down, and the strain relief should be securely holding the cable jacket.

Step 4: Test the Cable

This is a vital step often overlooked. A cable tester ensures your network cable termination is correct.

Connect to Tester: Plug one end of the cable into the master unit of the cable tester and the other end into the remote unit.
Run Test: Activate the tester. It will cycle through the pins, indicating if each wire has continuity and is in the correct order. Most testers will light up sequentially for a correctly wired cable.
Troubleshoot: If the tester shows an error (e.g., a crossed wire, open circuit), you’ll need to cut off the connector and start again. It’s better to fix it now than to have network issues later.

Terminating with a Punch Down Connector (Wall Jacks & Patch Panels)

This method is used for connecting cables to wall plates or patch panels. This involves Cat 6 punch down operations.

Step 1: Prepare the Cable

Similar to connector termination, but with a slight difference in exposed wire length.

Strip the Jacket: Use your cable stripper to remove about 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5 cm) of the outer jacket from the Cat 6 cable.
Untwist and Separate Pairs: Untwist each pair as needed to arrange them. For punch-down blocks, you can often leave the pairs twisted longer, only untwisting the last 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) or so before punching down.

Step 2: Arrange Wires for Punch Down

The key here is to maintain as much of the original twist as possible up to the point of connection.

Identify Punch Down Block: Look at the wall jack or patch panel. It will have color-coded terminals for each wire, usually following either T568A or T568B.
Match Colors: Arrange the wires according to the color code on the punch-down block. The goal is to match the wire colors to their corresponding positions.

Step 3: Use the Punch Down Tool

This is the core of the Cat 6 punch down process.

Position the Tool: Place the punch-down tool over the wire terminal. Ensure the cutting blade of the tool is positioned on the side of the terminal where you want the excess wire to be cut. Most punch-down tools have a “cut” side and a “no-cut” side.
Punch Down: Press down firmly on the punch-down tool. This action forces the wire into the IDC slot, piercing its insulation and making contact. The tool also cuts off any excess wire on the side with the blade.
Repeat for All Wires: Continue this process for all eight wires, ensuring each wire is punched down into its correct terminal.

Step 4: Inspect and Secure

After punching down all wires, a quick inspection is necessary.

Visual Check: Make sure all wires are fully seated in their respective slots and that the insulation is cleanly cut.
Secure Dust Covers: Many wall jacks have plastic covers that snap over the punch-down terminals. These help protect the connections and maintain the wire twists. Snap these into place.

Step 5: Test the Connection

Just like with RJ45 plugs, testing is crucial.

Use Cable Tester: Connect the cable tester to both ends of the installed cable (one end at the wall jack, the other at a patch panel or another terminated end).
Verify Connectivity: Run the test to confirm all wires are correctly connected and have continuity.

Understanding Different Cat 6 Connector Types

While the RJ45 connector is standard for Ethernet, there are variations that can affect the Cat 6 connector installation.

Standard RJ45 Connectors: These are the most common. For Cat 6, it’s important to use connectors designed for solid copper wires and to ensure they can accommodate the thicker gauge of Cat 6 wires. Some have split pins or larger entry holes.
Pass-Through RJ45 Connectors: These are becoming increasingly popular for installing RJ45 on Cat 6. With pass-through connectors, the wires exit the front of the connector after crimping. This makes it easier to ensure the wires are in the correct order before crimping, as you can see them pass through. It can simplify Cat 6 cable crimping and reduce errors.
Shielded RJ45 Connectors: If you are using shielded Cat 6 cable, you will need shielded RJ45 connectors and proper grounding. This adds complexity to the network cable termination process.

Common Issues and How to Solve Them

Even with careful work, you might encounter problems. Here are some common ones and solutions for Ethernet cable termination.

Issue	Cause	Solution
Slow Network Speeds	Poor termination, incorrect wiring standard, damaged cable, using wrong cable category.	Double-check your T568A/B wiring. Re-terminate if unsure. Ensure you are using Cat 6 cable and connectors. Test the cable with a tester.
Intermittent Connectivity	Loose connection at either end, damaged wires, incorrect crimp.	Re-terminate the affected end. Ensure the cable jacket is properly secured by the crimp. Check for physical damage to the cable.
No Connectivity	Open circuit (broken wire), short circuit (wires touching), completely wrong wiring.	Use a cable tester to pinpoint the exact issue. Re-terminate the cable, paying close attention to wire order and ensuring no insulation is captured by the metal pins incorrectly.
Wires Not Seating in Connector	Wires not straight enough, jacket not stripped far enough into the connector, wrong connector type.	Ensure wires are as straight as possible before insertion. Re-strip the cable to expose more wire if the jacket isn’t reaching the strain relief. Use connectors specified for Cat 6 or pass-through connectors.
Crimp Tool Not Working Properly	Tool is damaged, worn out, or not the correct type for the connector.	Ensure you are using a quality crimp tool designed for RJ45 connectors. If the tool seems loose or doesn’t apply even pressure, it might need replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between Cat 6 and Cat 5e termination?
A1: Cat 6 cable has tighter twists and often a spline (separator) between pairs, making it slightly thicker and harder to work with. You need connectors and tools specifically rated for Cat 6 to ensure optimal performance, as the tolerances for signal integrity are tighter.

Q2: Can I use Cat 5e RJ45 connectors on Cat 6 cable?
A2: While it might physically fit, it’s not recommended. Cat 6 connectors are designed to accommodate the thicker wires and maintain the critical pair twists, which are essential for achieving Cat 6 speeds. Using the wrong connectors can degrade performance and cause errors.

Q3: What does “punch down” mean in network cable termination?
A3: “Punch down” refers to the method used to connect wires in wall jacks and patch panels. A punch-down tool forces the exposed wire into a slot on an Insulation Displacement Connector (IDC), piercing the wire’s insulation to make a reliable electrical contact.

Q4: How long can an Ethernet cable run be?
A4: The maximum standard length for an Ethernet cable run (including Cat 6) is generally 100 meters (328 feet) for both patch cables and horizontal cabling. Exceeding this limit can lead to signal degradation and performance issues.

Q5: What is the purpose of the twists in Ethernet cables?
A5: The twists in pairs of wires are crucial for reducing crosstalk (interference between adjacent wire pairs) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external sources. Tighter twists, as found in Cat 6, offer better performance at higher frequencies.

By following these steps, you can confidently perform Cat 6 termination for your network needs. Proper Ethernet cable termination ensures you get the most out of your Cat 6 cabling.