What is the difference between a patch cable and a crossover cable?

Question

I need to connect a cable modem to my computer using a Ethernet cable, which one should I use?

Answer 1

You need a patch/straight-through/regular Ethernet cables.

The difference is this:

Ethernet cables (aka. network cables) are made to connect from computing devices (computers) to a networking devices (hub/switch). SEND and RECEIVE lines are connected to the same pins on the both ends of the cables.

Since most cable modems are wired as networking devices, you'll need a regular (patch) cable to connect them both. Because in the modem, send are receive are already reversed, by using straight through cables, SEND on modem will connect to RECEIVE on the computer and vise verse.

The cross over cables have SEND and RECEIVE connected reversed. So, when connecting computer to computer, SEND will connect to RECEIVE by faking it in the cable. Technically speaking, one should never connect computer to computer using a cross over cable because it is not a defined standard. It is a hack, however it works.

Answer 2

The "patch" or straight-through cable....which is the norm for an ethernet cable.

Crossover cables are for directly connecting a computer to another computer.

And the difference is in the wiring.

Answer 3

Simple answer: you need a patch cable (also called a standard or straight-through cable.

Sunlil is half-right on the pinouts. Both ends of a patch cable are identical: orange/white, orange, green/white, blue/white, blue, green, brown/white, brown. The ends of a crossover cable are exactly opposite (one side exactly like the patch cable, the other end exactly opposite: brown, brown/white, green, blue, blue/white, green/white, orange, orange/white.

Answer 4

sequence of standard patch cord
orange white
orange
green white
blue
blue white
green
brown white
brown
sequence of standard cross cable cord
green white
green
orange white
blue
blue white
orange
brown white
brown
use cross cable

Answer 5

u should use a cross cable

Answer 6

you know im not sure.