i had no problem hooking the cable up. it works fine.

[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

The TIA/EIA standard for CAT 5e is NOT met with this Radio shack flat cable (50 foot package). If you use the cable "straight through" it will work. Both terminations are the same ie: NOT a crossover cable. WARNING, if you must clip off one of the ends to route the cable, be CAREFUL making a new termination. The wire is stranded so you MUST use insulation piercing connectors. Here is what I found after testing mine. Both terminations are 8P8C/RJ-45 and the same pins.
Pin 1= Blue/white
Pin 2= Blue
Pin 3= Orange/white
Pin 4= Green
Pin 5= Green/white
Pin 6= Orange
Pin 7= Brown/white
Pin 8= Brown

The CAT5 e TIA/EIA 568-B standard (most common for CAT 5e) is as follows:

Pin 1= Orange/white
Pin 2= Orange
Pin 3= Green/white
Pin 4= Blue
Pin 5= Blue/white
Pin 6= Green
Pin 7= Brown/white
Pin 8= Brown

So, if you are forced to cut off one of the "RJ45" terminations of this 50 ft Radio Shack cable (to route or shorten the cable). Please follow this recommendation when wiring a new "single sided" termination.

1) Use ONLY an 8P8C connector (RJ-45 type) that supports "wire piercing". I got mine at Lowes hardware (Ideal mfg part number 85-346).

2) In order for the new cable to work you must use the following pinouts for YOUR NEW termination of this Radio shack cable. NOT in conformance to the EIA 568B color codes

Pin #1 Blue/white
Pin #2 Blue
Pin #3 White/Orange
Pin #4 Green
Pin #5 Green/white
Pin #6 Orange
Pin #7 Brown/white
Pin #8 Brown

Thats it. I believe that if something that if sold and is specified to meet a standard--IT SHOULD MEET THE STANDARD. Here is why---there are millions of different devices designed using the CAT5 e standard. Many of these use P.O.E. or Power Over Ethernet. Within the CAT 5e are the IEEE POE standards IEEE 802.3 af and REQUIREMENTS FOR POWER and voltage for pins #4 and #5 (positive polarity) and #7 and #8 (negative polarity). For ease of description/installation these manufacturers may use COLOR CODES from the CAT 5e STANDARD. If you assume that this Radio Shack cable MEETS the CAT 5 E standard (it does NOT), you can potentially destroy any device connected to it using POE (IEEE 802.3 af and above---2005). The problem gets worse with the new IEEE 802.3 AT standard. Your "PD (powered device)" can see up to 56 watts of power. Not good for the device if you ever have to make a termination on this cable and don't know that RADIO SHACK changed the color codes without telling you. This could cost you LOTS of dollars.

I could have easily BURNED OUT a $3,000 ip network camera using POE on CAT5e cable if I hadn't been super cautious about using "Radio Shack" cable. Luckily, I tested the Radio Shack cable and found the color code flaws. All Radio Shack had to do was own up to the issue or manufacture the cable so it meets the standard it says it meets (CAT5 e).

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

I bought this because it was kind of cheap. I guess you get what you pay for. The cable was defective. It didn't work at all. My friend told me I should have bought "the blue stuff". I should have took his advice.