Difference Between Crossover Cable and Ethernet Cable

Crossover Cable vs Ethernet Cable

Ethernet cables are used for interconnecting multiple computers to form a network. A network can serve a variety of uses that range from connecting to the internet through one modem or for exchanging files and remotely accessing resources. Aside from the ordinary Ethernet cables, there are also crossover cables, which are basically just Ethernet cables that are wired slightly different.

An Ethernet cable, which is also known as a straight through cable, is wired so that pin 1 on one end connects to pin 1 on the other end; the same with the 7 remaining pins. With a crossover cable, the connections are not as straightforward. The pin 1 is connected to pin 3; pin 2 is connected to pin 6, pin 4 is connected to pin 7, and pin 5 is connected to pin 8.

The different interconnection scheme is done in order to divert the transmit lines on one end to the receive lines on the other end. This is useful when using the cables to connect two computers without the use of routers or switches. If you use an ordinary Ethernet cable, no communication is established as they would be transmitting on the same lines. The crossover cable makes it so that the transmitted signals from one computer get to the receiving sensors of the other. These connections are referred to as ad-hoc connections.

Most switches, hubs, and routers nowadays have the capability of detecting whether you have a straight through or a crossover cable and adjust accordingly. So even though the wiring is different, you can still use the crossover cable as an ordinary Ethernet cable to connect a computer to a hub. A problem arises when you attempt to use a crossover cable with older switches. Some of the older switches are fixed on what pins are for transmit and what pins are for receive. These switches would work with crossover cables but are okay with ordinary Ethernet cables.

Summary:

1.A crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable
2.An ordinary Ethernet cable is wired straight through while a crossover cable crosses the transmit and receive lines
3.A crossover cable can be used to connect two computer without a router while an ordinary Ethernet cable can’t
4.A crossover cable can be used as an ordinary Ethernet cable but not the other way around
5.Old switches can use Ethernet cables but may not recognize crossover cables

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