Have you ever gone to the store to purchase a network cable? If you have, then you know that they aren’t exactly cheap, not for a simple cable, that is. Well it should come as no surprise that companies make a good bit of of these accessories, as the markups are incredible. So how do you get around this? By making your own, that’s how. Not only will you pay less, but you’re also going to get a cable that’s exactly the length you need (though do try to leave a little slack, just in case).
If you have no idea how to accomplish this, you’re not alone. The good news is that it really isn’t that hard to learn. In fact, there is a great guide over at How-To-Geek. The only tool you should really need is a good crimper (which should have a cutter and stripper built-in). Investing in a cheap cable tester is a good idea, as well. Then it just comes down to memorizing the color scheme of the wires, inserting them, and crimping the RJ-45 connector. If you ever think you’ll need to buy a cable in the future, I highly recommend trying to make your own, instead.