Patch/Straight Or Crossover?

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Soldato
Joined
3 Dec 2004
Posts
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Hi all, I have always been under the impression that a patch/straight cable sent data only 1 way whilst a crossover allowed both? So therefore always thought it better to buy crossover to make sure. I just went to buy another cable for xbox to router and it said (for this type of connection) i need a patch cable? Am i right in saying a crossover will always do what a straight cable does and more?
 
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Hi there
You only need a X-over cable when going from one PC direct to another (NIC to NIC). If going via a Router/Switch/Hub ect then this is a straight connection and uses a PATCH lead. If your daisy chaining HUBs/Switches ect then again your going to need a X-Over cable - but most moden hubs/switches are able to auto sense the connection and do the cross over internally.

Hope that make sense?
Rob
 
nope afraid not - basic explination follows

its all about which pins connect at each end. Basically you have send pins and recieve pins (2 of each)

Now you need the send pind to connect to the recieve pin on the other end to work. In most cases this is the case (PC --> switch / router --> switch) but in some cases this wont be (pc --> pc or router --> router etc) In these cases you get a cross over so the pins do line up

A bit of a basic answer but if you want to delve deeper then just goole for cross over cable and you'll get the in depth explanation (sorry a bit early in the morning for me to write a full explanation)
 
Doesn't work like that unfortunately. It's a different 'type' of cable used for different things.

They both send data in both directions.

Straight through = PC to Switch, PC to Hub, Xbox to Switch etc
Crossover = PC to PC, PC to Router, Router to Router
 
With pretty much any modern network card, it doesn't make any odds which you use - they'll crossover automatically.
 
Thanks for all replies guys :)
Seem like I was very wrong with my assumption of Crossover>all other RJ45 cables.

I'll work on this principle from now on - thanks Wardie:

Straight through = PC to Switch, PC to Hub, Xbox to Switch etc
Crossover = PC to PC, PC to Router, Router to Router


Also, just to confirm. Router - xbox should be crossover?
 
Well, what you're calling a router is probably a Switch/Router/Modem all in one jobbie yeah? If so, it's a straight through.

For a 'proper' router, you'd be correct....
 
Wardie said:
Well, what you're calling a router is probably a Switch/Router/Modem all in one jobbie yeah? If so, it's a straight through.

For a 'proper' router, you'd be correct....
Click to expand...


Its a wireless router, modem connects to it.
I thought xbox would be classed the same as pc and therefore require a crossover? It definately need a straight?

Thanks
 
You're thinking is correct, Xbox is effectively a PC.

The thing is, most home routers etc and often a switch and a router in one box and you're actually connecting to a switch (if that makes sense).

Straight though dude :)
 
Wardie said:
You're thinking is correct, Xbox is effectively a PC.

The thing is, most home routers etc and often a switch and a router in one box and you're actually connecting to a switch (if that makes sense).

Straight though dude :)
Click to expand...

Awesome, think i understand now thanks :)

Just to confirm before I buy any more cables. All look ok?

Switch(my router) - xbox = straight
Switch - PC = straight
Modem - switch = straight?
 
tolien said:
With pretty much any modern network card, it doesn't make any odds which you use - they'll crossover automatically.
Click to expand...

Though I know of one LAN event that didn't realise that their old switches were so old that they didn't support this..and had to do an emergency re-crimp of all their network cable on the first day.

Ouch!

(not fragM btw, honest!) :)
 
Cat5/5e = 10/100 base. Cat6 = gigabit. Note however that Cat6 is backwards compatible with Cat5/5e.

Cat6a is for 10Gbit, and as such is very overkill :D
 
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