Making your own CCTV network cable saves you money. It also means you can cut cables to the exact length you need — no messy coils, no wasted runs. This guide walks you through the whole process step by step. Whether you're setting up a new IP camera system at home in Sydney, running a cable through a workshop in Brisbane, or upgrading your farm shed cameras in rural Victoria, this is for you.
We've also embedded our video walkthrough below so you can follow along visually while you work.
▶ Watch the video: How to make a surveillance Ethernet cable
Why Make Your Own CCTV Cable?
Pre-made patch cables come in fixed lengths — 1m, 2m, 5m. That's fine for short desktop runs. Not so great when your camera is 18 metres away from the NVR.
Here's why Aussie installers and homeowners make their own:
- Cut to the exact length you need
- No wasted cable bunched up behind equipment
- Cheaper per metre when buying bulk Cat6 on a spool
- You control the quality of the crimp
- Easy to replace a damaged end without buying a whole new cable
What Type of Cable Do You Need for CCTV?
For IP cameras and PoE (Power over Ethernet) systems, you want Cat5e or Cat6 ethernet cable. Cat6 is the better pick for new installs — it handles higher speeds and is more reliable over longer runs.
| Cable Type | Max Speed | Max Distance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat5e | 1 Gbps | 100 metres | Budget installs, short runs |
| Cat6 | 10 Gbps | 55 metres (10G) / 100m (1G) | Most IP camera systems |
| Cat6A | 10 Gbps | 100 metres | Long runs, large commercial jobs |
For a home CCTV setup with PoE cameras, Cat6 is the sweet spot. It's widely available across Australia at hardware stores and from Smarket.
Quick tip: Always buy pure copper cable, not CCA (Copper Clad Aluminium). CCA cables cause PoE failures and dropouts. Check the label before you buy.
The T568B Colour Code — Pin Order Reference
T568B is the standard used across most Australian commercial and residential installs. Both ends of your cable must follow the same order. Get this wrong and the camera won't connect.
Here's the T568B pinout from left to right (clip facing down, tab facing away from you):
| Pin | Wire Colour |
|---|---|
| 1 | White / Orange |
| 2 | Orange |
| 3 | White / Green |
| 4 | Blue |
| 5 | White / Blue |
| 6 | Green |
| 7 | White / Brown |
| 8 | Brown |
Memory tip: Orange pair first (pins 1–2), then Green/Blue/Brown follow in order.
Both ends = same order = straight-through cable. That's what your CCTV system needs.
How to Make a CCTV Network Cable — Step by Step
This is the method shown in our video above. Follow along with the footage.
Step 1 — Strip the Outer Jacket
Strip back about 30 mm of the blue outer jacket. Use a cable stripper. Go slow. Don't nick the inner wires. If you nick them, cut it back and start again — a damaged wire will cause dropouts.
Step 2 — Remove the Plastic Spine and String
Inside the cable you'll find a plastic cross-shaped spine and sometimes a nylon pull string. Snip both out close to the jacket. They just get in the way when lining up your wires.
Step 3 — Untwist and Straighten the Pairs
Untwist all four pairs and straighten every wire out completely. The flatter you can get them, the easier the next step. Hold them between your fingers and run them out straight.
Why it matters: Twisted or bunched wires won't sit flat in the plug. That's how you get bad crimps and intermittent connections.
Step 4 — Line Them Up in T568B Order
Arrange the eight wires left to right following the T568B colour order above. Hold them firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Don't let them shift. Double-check the order before you cut.
Step 5 — Trim the Wires
Cut the wires straight across, leaving about 12–14 mm of exposed wire from the jacket. The cut needs to be clean and even. If the wires are different lengths, the short ones won't reach the pins inside the plug.
Step 6 — Slide into the RJ45 Plug
Slide the wires into the RJ45 connector (gold pins facing up). Push them all the way to the end. Make sure the blue outer jacket sits inside the back of the plug — this is what the crimp locks onto for strain relief.
Look through the transparent tip. You should see copper at the end of every pin slot. If one wire is short, pull it all out and try again.
Step 7 — Crimp It
Place the connector in your crimper. Give it a firm, full squeeze. Don't go halfway. A weak crimp means loose contact, and a loose contact means your camera drops offline at 2am.
Step 8 — Repeat on the Other End
Do the exact same thing on the other end. Same colour order. Same T568B pinout. Both ends must match.
Step 9 — Test Before You Mount Anything
Plug both ends into your cable tester. A good cable will light up all 8 pins in sequence. If pins 7 and 8 fail, re-crimp that end — those are the pairs that carry PoE power to your camera.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your CCTV Signal
These are the problems real Aussie installers run into constantly:
Wrong colour order The most common one. One transposed pair and you get no link. Always double-check the T568B order before crimping.
Wires not reaching the end of the plug Look through the tip. If you can't see copper at every pin, the wires are too short inside. Pull them out and re-insert.
Blue jacket not inside the plug If the jacket isn't seated inside the connector, there's no strain relief. The cable will eventually pull out of crimp internally.
Nicking the inner wires while stripping If you cut into the wire insulation, signal loss and intermittent faults follow. Scrapped ends are cheaper than callbacks.
Using CCA cable with PoE CCA cable has higher resistance. PoE cameras need clean power delivery. Pins 7 and 8 often fail first with CCA cable under load.
Crimping the connector upside down Happens more than people admit — especially when you're in a rush. Gold pins face up when inserting. Flat clip faces down.
Cat5e vs Cat6 — Which One for Your CCTV Run?
| Feature | Cat5e | Cat6 |
|---|---|---|
| PoE support | Yes | Yes (more stable) |
| 4K camera support | Limited | Recommended |
| Outdoor runs | OK with UV-rated jacket | Better with shielded Cat6 |
| Price per metre | Lower | Slightly higher |
| Crosstalk protection | Basic | Better (internal spline) |
For runs under 50 metres with 1080p cameras — Cat5e is fine. For 4K cameras or runs over 50 metres — go Cat6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do both ends need to be crimped in the same way?
Yes. Both ends must use the T568B crimping method. If one end is T568A and the other is T568B, then you have made a crossover cable. This type of cable is not compatible with your monitoring system.
Q2: My camera displays "No Signal" after crimping – what should I check first?
Use a cable tester to check pins 3 and 6. These two pins transmit video data. Also, before crimping, check that all 8 wires are at the end of the connector.
Q3: Can this network cable be used with a PoE camera?
Yes. Both Cat5e and Cat6 network cables support PoE power supply. Please ensure that pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are securely crimped—these pairs of wires are responsible for power supply.
Q4: What is the maximum length of my surveillance camera cable?
For Cat5e or Cat6 cables, the maximum length is 100 meters at a 1Gbps transmission rate. For lengths exceeding this, you will need to use a PoE extender or switch as an intermediate connection point.
Q5: My 7th and 8th pin testers keep showing test failures—why?
This usually means the wire cores weren't fully in place before crimping, or you're using copper-clad aluminum cable. Please use pure copper Cat6 cable and check that each wire core is fully in place through the transparent crimp connector before crimping.
Q6: Does outdoor surveillance require dedicated cables?
Yes. Outdoor cabling should use cables designed for outdoor environments—ideally with a UV-stabilized sheath, and if buried underground, gel-filled or directly burial-compatible cables are best. Ordinary blue Cat6 cables will age rapidly under the Australian sun.
Q7: What if I don't have a cable tester?
Buy one. A basic RJ45 cable tester costs less than $20 and can tell you immediately if the crimp is good. Testing before installing the camera can save a lot of time climbing ladders.
Q8: Is Cat6 a better buy than Cat5e for a home network?
For most home network installations using 1080p cameras, Cat5e is sufficient. If you are using 4K cameras, or the cable length is close to 100 meters, then Cat6 is worth considering. The price difference between a 305-meter Cat6 and Cat5e cable is typically less than $30.
Purchase CCTV network cables at Smarket
Smarket offers bulk Cat6 cable reels , RJ45 connectors , crimping tools, and cable testers—everything you need for a clean and efficient CCTV installation.
Now you know how to make your own CCTV Ethernet cable, but if you're still deciding which camera, how many channels , or which brand is best for your property, let our free AI security camera consultant help you with those tedious tasks.
📦 Ready? Come to Smarket and buy your CCTV monitoring system!