Difference Between a Patch and Crossover Cable

a Patch vs Crossover Cable

When buying cables, there is a possibility that you may choose the wrong cable from patch and crossover cables. As both the patch and crossover cables looks similar, it really becomes difficult to choose the right one. Your perplexity happens when you reach home and you notice that you have not bought the right cable because these two cables cannot be interchanged.

So what are patch cables? Patch cables are straight cables and do not change or swap along its way. The wire ‘one’ on one end comes out as wire ‘one’ on the other end and not as wire ‘two.’ These patch cables are the most widely used Internet cables. These cables are widely used for connecting the computer to the switches, hubs, or routers.

Now let us look at the crossover cables. These cables, as the name suggests, cross over or swap on their way when coming from one end to the other. This means that wire ‘one’ on one end does not come out as wire ‘one’ on the other end. The crossover cables are mainly used for connecting two routers, computers, or hubs. In crossover cables, the wires that come out of the other end match the correct pin at the receiving end.

When a crossover cable connects two like devices, like a PC to a PC, or a switch to a switch, the patch cable connects two unlike devices like a PC and a switch.

In computers, crossover cables are used for connecting computers or networks, and a patch cable is used for connecting the computer to the switchboard, router, or hub.

Summary:

1. So what are patch cables? Patch cables are straight cables and do not change or swap along its way.
2. Crossover cables, as the name suggests, cross over or swap on its way when coming from one end to the other.
3. The wire ‘one’ on one end comes out as wire ‘one’ on the other end and not as wire ‘two’ in a patch cable.
4. Wire ‘one’ on one end does not come out as wire ‘one’ on the other end in crossover cables.
5. Patch cables are widely used for connecting the computer to switches, hubs, or routers.
6. The crossover cables are mainly used for connecting two routers, computers, or hubs. In crossover cables, the wires that come out of the other end match the correct pin at the receiving end.

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