RJ45 CAT6 Crossover Adapter (Female to Male)

Convert any regular CAT cable into a Crossover cable with one simple adapter!

Generally, computer networks require a router or switch to manage all the connected devices. But if you just need to directly connect two computers together, you can skip the hub and connect them directly if you have a Crossover cable. Twenty years ago, Crossover cables were pretty common in a variety of lengths, but now it's far easier to just attach an adapter like this to any regular CAT5 or CAT6 cable you already have on hand.

Use Cases

• Fast File Transfer. Rather than using a USB hard drive or cloud storage, a Crossover CAT link will allow file transfers up to 1 Gigabit per second on supported hardware. Even at 10/100 speeds, you're going faster than USB.
• Gaming. Play offline multiplayer games with two computers. Generally good for older games that don't have online authentication. Unreal Tournament, anyone?
• Test Platforms. Configure a faux network for testing software or NIC hardware without exposing your whole network or connecting to the internet.
• Internet Sharing. It's an edge case, but a crossover cable can allow a computer with WiFi to share internet to a computer without WiFi. Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is a bit of a hassle to get going, so this is not something we'd recommend for the casual user.

I think the best use of a Crossover adapter is for backing up or recovering files from one computer to another, in situations where you don't already have a network switch available, or you don't want your old PC to see the internet. Sure, you could use a USB stick or portable HDD, but that means copying stuff twice at slower speeds.

However, a Crossover cable is just the start. Linking two computers doesn't automatically give you full access to all your files, so there are some extra steps involved in sharing, accessing and copying the data you want to save. Both computers need to be operational for this to work. If you have a dead PC and want to recover files, try a USB to HDD adapter instead.

Windows Guide

Specifications:

• 5 Year Cable Chick Warranty
• RJ45 Crossover Adapter (Female to Male)
• Just add any length of CAT5 or CAT6 cable (sold separately)
• For Direct Connections Only (computer to computer)
• Not intended for use with switches, routers or patch panels
• Essential for network adapters without Auto-MDIX
• Bright Red so you don't forget what it does
• Pack Qty: 1 (sold individually)
• Colour: Red