Cat5 confusion

Cabling-Design.com FREE cabling and networking Helpdesk

	Question by pimcs pakistan posted 21 May 2003
	Cat5 confusion
hello is there any difference between the 10 base cabling and 100 base cabling. imean for both i can use T568A is there is something different scheme for 10base network. my other problem is that if T568A and B use only 2 pairs , so what's the purpose of the remaining 2 pairs. if i cut the remaining pairs before the connector , will my cable work ???? if not then why ????? waiting pimcs
	Answer by Dmitri Abaimov posted 22 May 2003
Dear pimcs, The difference is that 10BASE-T will work on CAT3 cabling, while 100BASE-TX will work on CAT5E or above. The cables are different in terms of their electrical characteristics, not number of pairs (with CAT5E being better than CAT3 obviously). Both T568A and T568B describe required layouts for all four pairs, not just two. Do not cut remaining pairs before the connector: although 100BASE-TX uses only two pairs, later you may decide to switch to 1000BASE-T, which require all four pairs. Sincerely, Dmitri Abaimov, RCDD
Click here to see the expert's profile

Back to the current page of questions | Back to all the questions

Back to Cabling-Design.com HELPDESK | Ask your question