Well, unbeknownst to me, a "Category 5 patch cable" doesn't neccessarily mean a crossover cable. It could be a crossover type or straight through type. From reading an earlier post, I thought "Category 5" meant crossover cable. I have two cables, both givin to me by the internet cable companies I've used, to go from the ethernet card plugged into a PCI slot, to a cable modem. Perhaps one is a crossover type.

I'm going to have to learn how to discern the difference between crossover and straight through cables by looking at the cables themselves. Does anyone have any knowledge in regards to the markings on the cables and their differences? In otherwords, does anyone know how to spot a crossover cable just by looking at it?