Chapter 5
| Port Connections
How to Connect to Twisted-Pair Copper Ports
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How to Connect to Twisted-Pair Copper Ports
The RJ-45 ports on the wireless controller support automatic MDI/MDI-X pinout
configuration, so you can use standard straight-through twisted-pair cables to
connect to any other network device (PCs, servers, switches, routers, or hubs).
Each connection requires an unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable with RJ-45
connectors at both ends. Use Category 5, 5e or 6 cable for 1000BASE-T connections,
Category 5 or better for 100BASE-TX connections, and Category 3 or better for
10BASE-T connections.
Copper Cabling
Guidelines
To ensure proper operation when installing the wireless controller into a network,
make sure that the current cables are suitable for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX or
1000BASE-T operation. Check the following criteria against the current installation
of your network:
◆
Cable type: Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or shielded twisted pair (STP) cables
with RJ-45 connectors; Category 3 or better for 10BASE-T, Category 5 or better
for 100BASE-TX, and Category 5, 5e or 6 for 1000BASE-T.
◆
Protection from radio frequency interference emissions
◆
Electrical surge suppression
◆
Separation of electrical wires (switch related or other) and electromagnetic
fields from data based network wiring
◆
Safe connections with no damaged cables, connectors or shields
Table 4: Maximum Twisted-Pair Copper Cable Lengths
Cable Type
Maximum Cable Length
Connector
1000BASE-T
Category 5, 5e, or 6 100-ohm UTP or STP
100 m (328 ft)
RJ-45
100BASE-TX
Category 5 or better 100-ohm UTP or STP
100 m (328 ft)
RJ-45
10BASE-T
Category 3 or better 100-ohm UTP
100 m (328 ft)
RJ-45
