3Com 100BASE-TX User Manual - Page 2

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Category 3/Category 4/Category 5 UTP Cable Comparison

Category 5 UTP cable is the most common type of UTP cable in use today for data communications, such as for

10BASE-T Ethernet. Many installations, however, have some or all desktop PCs connected using Category 3 or

Category 4 UTP. The chart below compares these common cable types:

Cable Type

Manufac. Specs

Cat. 3 UTP

up to 20 MHz

Cat. 4 UTP

up to 33 MHz

Cat. 5 UTP

up to 100 MHz

100BASE-T4 Connector Pin Out

100BASE-T4 utilizes 4 pairs of wire in a Category

3, 4 or 5 UTP bundle. 100BASE-T4 connections

from a hub to a PC are normally straight-through

100BASE-T4 Recommended Usage

Specification Comparison:

Specification

100BASE-T4

100BASE-TX

100BASE-FX

Fast Ethernet switch

Common Prod.#

AT&T 1010/20100

AT&T 2001c/2001d

AT&T 1261/2261

AT&T 2014a

AT&T 1061

AT&T 2061

Advantages

-Category 3,4 UTP support

-Reliable in unknown UTP

environment

-Most common equipment type

-Support for full duplex

-Longer distances

-Fiber support

E-net/Fast E-net Distance

100 meters

100BASE-T4 Cable Pinout

Desktop

Note: Like 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T transmit/receive crossover

is in the hub. RJ-45 connectors are shown here.

Disadvantages

-No support for full duplex

-Requires 4 pairs in wire bundle -Mixed category 3/4/5 UTP environment

-No support for cat. 3 or 4 UTP

-Requires all components be

Cat. 5 certified

-Expensive

-Not common for PC or server

connections

E-net/F-enet spec.

10BASE-T(2 pairs)

100BASE-T4(4 pairs)

10BASE-T(2 pairs)

100BASE-T4(4 pairs)

10BASE-T(2 pairs)

100BASE-TX(2 pairs)

100BASE-T4(4 pairs)

Transmit (1 & 2)

Receive (3 & 6)

Bidirectional (4 & 5)

Bidirectional (7 & 8)

Recommended Usage

-Cat. 3 or 4 UTP PC or server connections

-Cat. 5 envir. w/ components of unknown quality

-Cat. 5 UTP PC or server connections

-Any connection which may use full duplex

Fast Ethernet

-Any fiber connection

-Long distance connections

Legend

10 Mbps UTP

100 Mbps UTP

100 Mbps Fiber

Hub