3Com 3CSOHO100 manual Unshielded Twisted-Pair Cable, 10BASE-T Operation, Category Use

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58APPENDIX A: SPECIFICATIONS AND CABLING REQUIREMENTS

Unshielded Twisted-Pair Cable

Twisted-pair cable consists of copper wires surrounded by an insulator. Two wires are twisted together (the twisting prevents interference problems) to form a pair, and the pair forms a circuit that can transmit data. A cable is a bundle of one or more twisted pairs surrounded by an insulator.

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most commonly used type of twisted-pair cable. Shielded twisted pair (STP) provides protection against crosstalk. Twisted-pair cable is now commonly used in Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and other network topologies.

The EIA/TIA deﬁnes ﬁve categories of unshielded twisted-pair cable (see Table 7).

Table 7 Unshielded Twisted-pair Cable Categories

Category Use

1Traditional telephone cable.

2Data transmissions up to 4 MHz.

3Voice and data transmission up to 25 MHz. The cable typically has four pairs of wires. Category 3 is the most common type of installed cable found in older corporate wiring schemes.

4Voice and data transmission up to 33 MHz. The cable normally has four pairs of wire. This grade of UTP isn’t common.

5Voice and data transmission up to 125 MHz. The cable normally has four pairs of copper wire and three twists per foot. Category 5 UTP is the most popular cable used in new installations today.

10BASE-T Operation

10BASE-T is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 standard for Ethernet signaling over unshielded twisted-pair wire at 10 Mbps.

Ethernet, as the most widely used network protocol, uses 10BASE-T as its primary cabling scheme. Ethernet’s characteristics include:

■A data rate of 10 Mbps

■A broadcast architecture

■A speciﬁc media-access control (MAC) scheme

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Contents Fast Ethernet Network Interface Card User Guide Lifetime Limited Warranty Australia, New Zealand Japan Asia Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, MaltaSweden, Finland, Norway Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg DenmarkMember of the 3Com OfficeConnect family 3Com Corporation 5400 Bayfront Plaza Santa Clara, California Contents Configuring the NIC Technical Support Page Figures Tables Icon Description ConventionsConvention Description Year 2000 ComplianceWhat This Chapter Covers What This Guide CoversSample Network Computer 1Computer Printer Understanding NetworkingPeer-to-Peer Networks Ethernet and Fast Ethernet Networking Protocols Client/Server NetworksAbout the OfﬁceConnect NIC Understanding Network Interface CardsRequired Cabling Required HardwareRequired Software Type Maximum Network Cable Required Cable Length Preparing for InstallationSee your PC documentation for details Inserting the NICDo not turn on the power to the PC Connecting the Network Cable to the NIC RJ-45 port Connecting the NIC to Your NetworkNext step is to install the network driver. Go to Chapter Page Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties WindowsWindows 95 Version a Turn on the power to the PCClick OK You must reboot your PC to complete the installationWindows 95 Version B Enter your user name and password, and then click OKClick Finish To install the network driver in a PC running Windows Click Yes to restart the PC Windows NT Windows NTClick Add Adapter Windows 95 and Windows Verifying Successful InstallationRemove the EtherDisk diskette from drive a Double-clickNetwork adapters Double-click the File Manager icon Basic Troubleshooting Tips TroubleshootingState Meaning Interpreting the LEDsDouble-click the 3Com icon in the Windows system tray Starting the 3Com NIC Diagnostics ProgramGeneral Screen Click Cancel to exit the 3Com NIC Diagnostics programRunning the NIC Self-Tests Click the Diagnostics tabClick Start in the Self-Test panel Running the Echo TestOn the ﬁrst PC the sending PC On both PCsEcho Test Sender Screen From the Windows Start menu, select Programs Accessing the Help SystemClick OK Click the Support tab. The Support screen appears Accessing 3Com Support ServicesSupport Screen Click OK Click the Support tabClick the Device Manager tab Removing NIC SoftwareClick Yes Question Answer Frequently Asked QuestionsQuestion Answer Page Normal Option Description Available SettingsAuto Select Displaying Conﬁguration Settings Click NIC Details Click OK to exit this screen Changing Conﬁguration SettingsClick OK Click the Properties tab Change the NIC’s conﬁguration Page Cabling Requirements Speciﬁcations10BASE-T Operation Unshielded Twisted-Pair CableCategory Use 100BASE-TX Operation 10BASE-T Speciﬁcations100BASE-TX Speciﬁcations Page World Wide Web Site Online Technical Services3Com FTP Site Access by Analog Modem 3Com Bulletin Board ServiceAccess by Digital Modem 847 262Support from Your Network Supplier 3ComFacts Automated Fax ServiceSupport from 3Com 408 727Europe Country Telephone Number Asia Paciﬁc RimCountry Telephone Number Latin America Returning Products for RepairNorth America Country Telephone Number Fax NumberLatin America 408 326 A. and Canada 800 NET 3Com 800 638 Client/server network Bus masteringEthernet Full-duplex Fast EthernetHalf-duplex HubPeer-to-peer network SwitchServer Unshielded twisted pair UTP cablingPage Numbers IndexNIC Index Page 3Com Corporation Limited Warranty FCC Class B Statement FCC Declaration of Conformity