Cables & Connections: How to make them & how to use them

Why spend lots of money purchasing pre-made cables when you can learn to make your own cables at a fraction of the cost!

Highest Rated

Created byPaul Lukasiewicz

Last updated 1/2015

English

What you'll learn

Identify a variety of cables by the type of connector and know their purpose.
Be able to terminate Cat 5 cable for an ethernet run or phone run.
Build audio, video, and cable/satellite cables using compression connectors on RG6/RG6-quad/RG45
Learn what the various acronyms really mean.
Learn how to transition different cables at the wall using different wall plates.

Course content

4 sections • 31 lectures • 3h 31m total length

Outline2:39
Outline of material to be covered for the class.

Lesson 1 - Tools9:39
The tools that we will be using to make various cables will be discusses. These tools can be purchased at your local home improvement store, electrical store, or online.
Lesson 2A - Cat5: Ethernet11:44
How to terminate a Cat5e cable with RJ-45 plugs will be demonstrated.
Lesson 2B - Cat5: Ethernet (Different View)5:34
Terminating a Cat5 cable with an RJ45 jack (video is shot from above)
Lesson 2C - Cat5: Phone10:06
How to terminate a Cat5 cable with an RJ11 jack (to make a phone line)
Lesson 2 - Cat5
Lesson 3 - Coax14:52
How to terminate a coax cable (cable/satellite cable) with an F-Jackwill be demonstrated. Other possible terminations include RCA (or phono jacks) and BNC (Bayonet Neill–Concelman.)
Lesson 4 - Composite/Component3:35
Lecture on the differences between component and composite video cables.
Lesson 5 - HDMI2:20
HDMI cables and connections are discussed.
What are these cables used for?
Lesson 6A - Keystone8:27
Learn what a "Keystone" is and how to customize your wall plates using different keystones.
Lesson 6B - Punchdown12:39
Learn how to use a punchdown tool to terminate a Cat5 cable in an Ethernet or phone keystone.
Lesson 7 - Structured Wiring4:41
An overview of structured wiring and some websites where you can find further information and purchase supplies.
Lesson 8 - Shopping!19:35
We'll take a look through some websites and discuss different products and the brand names carried by certain stores. Disclaimer: I do not work at any of these stores nor am I getting compensation for their product placement. I mention these particular stores for different products because these are the one's I've found have the best product at the best pricing.
Lesson 9 - Acronyms & Definitions10:13
Quick overview of some commonly used acronyms that you should be familiar with.
Lesson 10 - Rapid Run7:39
Learn about this wonderful system to make running cables through your walls and ceilings much easier!
What do all these acronyms mean?
Lesson 11 - Variety of Wallplates5:54
Some examples of wall plates that exist to terminate various connections where the wires come through the wall.
Lesson 12 - Toslink/Lightpipe (Optical Cable)5:22
Learn about making audio connections using Toslink/Lightpipe (fiber optic cable)

Lesson 1 - VGA4:34
Understanding the VGA cable.
Lesson 2 - USB7:07
Understanding the USB cable
Lesson 3 - FireWire/iLink (IEEE 1394)5:11
Learn what FireWire is and what you can do with it!
Lesson 4 - Thunderbolt/Apple Display Port3:46
Overview of the Thunderbolt/Apple Display Port. Learn what you can connect to this newest port to be included on Apple laptops and desktops.
Lesson 5 - Lightening Cable2:01
Learn about the Lightening Cable (used to connect iPhone 5 and newer.)
Computer Cables

Tools that will be needed.0:29
List of tools that you will possibly need, depending on the type of wall plates that you need to make.
Lesson 1 - Shop Safety0:49
You are about to use power tools!! PLEASE be careful! Read your instruction manuals and understand how to use your equipment BEFORE you attempt to use it!!!
Lesson 2 - Soldering!5:33
The basics of how to solder.
Lesson 3 - XLR Mic Cables10:15
How to solder XLR cables.
Lesson 4 - 1/4 Inch Mono & Stereo Jacks4:20
How to solder a 1/4 inch jack.
Lesson 5 - 1/4 Inch Plugs6:22
How to solder 1/4 inch plugs
Lesson 6 - RCA Jacks5:12
How to solder RCA jacks.
Lesson 7 - Making your own wall plates13:33
With some simple tools, you can create your own A/V wall plates.
Lesson 8 - Some example wall plates6:58
These are examples of the wall plates I've created.
In conclusion...0:38
Time to wrap things up
Advanced Audio Quiz

Requirements

No pre-existing knowledge is required
The "advanced" section will get into using power tools, so if you're going to try this at home, you should at least be comfortable using a soldering iron and a drill.

Description

You will learn how to make your own audio, video, and data cables as well as what cables exist that can solve your technology connection problems. You will learn how to terminate Cat5 cable with an Ethernet jack, phone jack, and on a punch down terminal; how to make shielded audio cables using RG-6 coax cable; what tools exist and what/where you should purchase to do the job you're trying to do; and how to make and identify many more cable types and what they're used for!

Who this course is for:

This course is intended for a novice who knows very little about how to connect technology.
New teachers who need to connect and troubleshoot their own computers and technological needs.
Home owners who are thinking about automating their house, adding a home theater, or installing secrecy cameras.

Cables & Connections: How to make them & how to use them

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Outline1 lecture • 3min

Common Home Projects15 lectures • 2hr 12min

Computer Connections5 lectures • 23min

Advanced Audio10 lectures • 54min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: