Many network experts start hurling insults in four different languages whenever they hear this... and usually they are right: When a network cable is cut, the ideal is to replace the entire line, or alternatively, use a coupler. The goal is to avoid false contacts and signal degradation issues, but if you need to improvise and buy time, the truth is you can splice a network cable without too much trouble...
The keyword is 'emergency'
Sunday at four in the afternoon. The family enjoys its daily dose of Netflix. Your plans are reduced to taking advantage of the break and firing off some shots in your favorite MMO. Your dog comes to the conclusion that the main Ethernet cable in the house must suffer a quick and violent death.
The network cable dies. Your dog celebrates. The family screams. You have no tools.
Or rather, you don't have the right tools for that repair. With luck you can conjure up a pair of scissors and some electrical tape. The question presents itself: How crazy is the idea of splice a network cable to get out of a jam? The answer is... not much. Unless the Ethernet cable is of particularly poor quality, you'll most likely 'solve' the problem in a matter of minutes.
How to splice a network cable
Benjamin Sahlstrom went through a similar situation. Even if you don't have the right tools, sometimes you have to make things work for a while until the delivery makes its 'magic'. His network cable couldn't be buried at installation time, and some wild creature took it personally.
Benjamin proceeds to remove the damaged part of the cable and free the wires, about one inch (2.54 cm). The most complicated part is stripping the wires one by one, but with a little care, the copper of each will be exposed. Securing the cables with electrical tape is a very good decision, as it reduces the risk of a mechanical failure at the joint.
The rest is a matter of splicing each wire following its color. To protect the copper, Benjamin uses 'liquid tape', but nothing stops us from using traditional electrical tape. His last step is to place a plastic tube and seal the entire joint with silicone. This would not be mandatory if the cable is indoors, but with snow, water, and soil in the equation, it's worth adding extra protection.
His speed tests suggest there is no signal degradation or ping problems, but it's likely that on faster connections there may be some loss. To close, once again: Splice a network cable this way is a temporary solution. Don't let it become permanent. Good luck!
