CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)NetworkingMedium
A technician is building a custom-length Ethernet patch cable for a server rack. After stripping the jacket and arranging the wires in the correct order, which tool does the technician use to attach the RJ45 connector to the cable?
- ACable crimper
- BCable tester
- CPunch-down tool
- DTone generator
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Cable crimper
A cable crimper physically presses the RJ45 connector's contacts through the insulation of each wire, permanently attaching the connector to the cable end. Punch-down tools are used for terminating wires into keystone jacks or patch panels, not connectors.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A cable tester verifies wiring after termination, it doesn't perform the termination.
- C. A punch-down tool seats wires into IDC terminals like patch panels, not RJ45 plugs.
- D. A tone generator injects a signal to trace cables, it doesn't attach connectors.
Cable Crimper
A hand tool used to attach RJ45 (or RJ11) connectors to the end of a cable by pressing metal contacts through the wire insulation.
- Used when building custom-length patch cables
- Different from punch-down tools used for jacks/patch panels
- Follows a wiring standard like T568A or T568B
Memory trick: Crimp the plug, punch the jack.