First strip the jacket from the cable, being very careful not to cut into the individual conductors. It is wise to take a few practice tries to make sure you are not stripping too deep before you end up cutting too much off.

The four twisted pairs.

Next untwist the pair to make them workable. Try not to untwist to far as the twisting helps eliminate crosstalk and provides for a better quality cable.

Next, arrange the eight conductors according the 568b wiring specifications.

This next step can take some practice. Trim back the conductors so they are all very close in length. Your goal is to cut them just long enough to insert into the RJ-45, and no longer.

Sometimes it helps to press all 8 conductors against the back wall of the inside of the RJ-45 with your thumb while sliding them into the connector.

Notice how the conductors themselves are as short as possible in the picture below. This will minimize crosstalk, as they are twisted as much as possible. Also notice the grey jacket is pushed up as far as possible. When crimped, the RJ-45 will grab the jacket of the cable and this will provide for a strain relief. This is an important step in building a cable that will last.

How do I make a network cable? was contributed by Dustin from TCA Computer Cables. For network cabling equipment, visit TCA's Computer Cable Store.