NETWORKS
DETAIL
Wiring: twisted-pair
The most common wiring used
for LANs is twisted-pair wiring,
similar to the wiring used for
telephones. This wiring connects
the computers or other network
devices to a central hub. The use
of telephone-type wiring makes
it easy for the persons who
administer your telephone
wiring to administer the network
wiring as well.
RJ-45 connectors are used to
connect the twisted-pair wiring
to the computer and to the hub.
The wire for a network can be
graded in a number of
categories; Category 5 wiring is
the most popular grade. Category
5 wiring has superior electrical
characteristics, and we strongly
recommend it for all twisted-pair
networking applications. The
wire grade is usually marked on
the cable jacket.
The equipment for a twisted-pair
LAN commonly operates at a
data rate of either 10 Mbps
(megabits per second) or 100
Mbps. Category 5 wiring is
required for 100-Mbps
operation. A 10-Mbps LAN can
run on either Category 3 or
Category 5 wiring (though we
strongly recommend Category 5).
At either data rate, cables may
extend up to 100 meters (328
feet) from the hub to the
computer.
A twisted-pair network running
at 10 Mbps is called a type
10Base-T network. A twisted-
pair network running at 100
Mbps is called a type 100Base-T
network.
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