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EtherNet Networking

Google Directory - Computers Data Communications Ethernet Gigabit: Get IEEE 802 Standards: www.ieee802.org:

CAT5 (Category 5) - RJ45 Network (LAN) Copper Cabling:

Cable Categories...

The following Categories are based on their transmission capacity (Signal Attenuation). The majority of new wiring installations use Category 5 UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) wire in order to be able to run or upgrade to the faster Network Technologies requiring greater Bandwidth such as GigaBit EtherNet on Intel's CSA Bus Architecture. Category 5 is based on the EIA/TIA-568 Standard. Levels 6 and 7 are enhanced Category 5 cables.

According to LinkSys documentation from their Linksys EG008W - Gigabit 8-Port Workgroup Switch:

"CAT 5 - ANSI/EIA (American National Standards Institute/Electronic Industries Association) Standard 568 is one of several standards that specify "categories" (the singular is commonly referred to as "CAT") of twisted pair cabling systems (wires, junctions, and connectors) in terms of the data rates that they can sustain.

CAT 5 cable has a maximum throughput of 100 Mbps and is usually utilized for 100BaseTX networks.

CAT 5e - The additional cabling performance parameters of return loss and far-end crosstalk (FEXT) specified for 1000BASE-T and not specified for 10BASET and 100BASE-TX are related to differences in the signaling implementation.

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX signaling is unidirectional - Signals are transmitted in one direction on a single wire pair. In contrast, Gigabit Ethernet is bi-directional - Signals are transmitted simultaneously in both directions on the same wire pair; that is, both the transmit and receive pair occupy the same wire pair."

Twisted pairs have less bandwidth than coaxial cable or optical fiber. Twisted pair cables are available unshielded (UTP) or shielded (STP). UTP is the most common. STP is used in noisy environments where the shield protects against excessive electromagnetic interference.


Copper Media Category Cable type Application:
 

		SOHO LAN		Office LAN
Belkin	Signal Attenuation	File Sharing	Broadband Sharing	Mission Critical Video Editing
CAT 6	500MHz	Yes	Yes	Yes
FastCAT 5e	350MHz	Yes	Yes
Std CAT 5e	100MHz	Yes

• www.NetworkCablingDirectory.com - Cat5 vs Cat5e vs Cat6 - Which Should You Use Network Cabling Directory
• www.NetworkCablingDirectory.com - Voice - Data Cabling, Telecommunications and IT Articles Network Cabling Directory

CAT5 Wiring Standards & Gigabit Solutions:

1. IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD (ETHERNET):

2. Charles Spurgeon's Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) Web Site:

3. CompTechDoc.org - Ethernet:

4. DataCottage.com - Network Cabling Help:

5. FAQs CAT-5, CAT-5e, CAT-6, CAT-7 Patch Cables, difference between 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T and 1000BASE-T

6. 9.0 Standard EIA-TIA 568:
   1. Data Communications Cabling FAQ:
7. Standard EIA -TIA 568 A EIA -TIA 568 B, USOC, RJ45 Pinout Wiring Diagram:
8. TIA Standards Search Results for 568-B.2-1:
9. Data Network Cabling Standards - ANSI-TIA-EIA 568 TOC:
10. Networking Questions and Opinions:

     

11. Intel.com - Network Connectivity Gigabit Solutions:
12. Cisco - Introduction to Gigabit Ethernet:
13. Gigabit Ethernet Networking Solutions: Cisco & Intel

CAT5 Cable - Patch & Bulk Cable Suppliers:

1. AESP Inc. Home Page:
   1. Signamax
2. Belkin
3. www.CablesToGo.com
4. L-com Connectivity Products - Cable Assemblies, Adapters, Connectors and More:
5. www.NetworkCablingDirectory.com - Voice & Data Network Cable Installation Cat5e, Cat6, & Fiber Optic Contractors Nationwide
6. www.ShowMeCables.com – Network Cables, Cat5e Patch Cables, HDMI, Fiber Optics, and More