AT-FH705E Installation Guide
11
Cabling Specifications
Table 2 provides an overview of IEEE 802.3 and 802.3u cabling specifications for
10Base-T, and 100Base-TX network configurations using twisted-pair cable.
100Base-TX Cable
There are various grades of voice-quality and data-quality cables available. These
can appear to be similar externally, although their high-speed data transmission
characteristics are radically different.
The identification problem is made worse by some suppliers selling voice-quality
cables as data-quality cables.
If voice-quality cables are used in a 100Base-TX network system, data movement
may be slow, collision-prone or non-existent. In addition, interface LEDs will
usually indicate a valid link in such cases.
Category 5 cabling is required for 100Base-TX connections. Using any other
category for a 100Base-TX connection may result in high error rates, or may not
have the capacity to transmit data.
Table 2 IEEE 802.3 and 802.3u Cabling Specifications
10Base-T
100Base-TX
Media
Unshielded/Shielded Twisted
Pair Category 3, 4, or 5
Unshielded/Shielded Twisted
Pair Category 5 only
Maximum Seg-
ment Length
100 m (328 ft)
100 m (328 ft)
Topology
Star, Tree
Star, Tree
External Devices
Network Adapter Card, Repeater
Network Adapter Card,
Repeater
