3Com 10/100BASE-T4 manual Twisted-Pair Cable

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A-2 APPENDIX A: CABLING

Twisted-Pair Cable

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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, token ring, and other network topologies.

The Electronic Industries Association/Telecommunications Industries Association (EIA/TIA) deﬁnes the following ﬁve categories of twisted-pair cable:

Category 1—Traditional telephone cable.

Category 2—Cable certiﬁed for data transmissions up to 4 MHZ.

■Category 3—Used for voice and data transmission up to

16 Mbps. The cable has four pairs of wires and three twists per foot. Category 3 is the most common type of previously installed cable found in corporate wiring schemes and normally contains 4 pairs in a bundle.

■Category 4—Used for voice and data transmission up to

20 Mbps. The cable normally has four pairs of wire. This grade of UTP is not common.

■Category 5—Used for voice and data transmission up to 100 Mbps. The cable normally has four pairs of copper wire. Category 5 is the most popular cable used in new installations today.

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Contents Network Adapter Fast Etherlink Parallel TaskingUser Guide Adapters3Com Corporation 5400 Bayfront Plaza Santa Clara, California Lifetime Warranty Asia Contents Configuring Software Settings Cispr B Compliance Figures Tables How to Use This Guide About this GuideIntroduction Print Autolink.log ConventionsIntroduction Adapter automatically senses and switches to either10/100BASE-T4 PCI Adapter Adapter Features PCI Technology Installing the Adapter Inspecting the Adapter3C59X EtherDisk diskette version 5.1 or above Installing the Adapter Installing the Boot PromPCI Computer with PCI and Eisa Slots Connecting to the NetworkRJ-45 connector Connecting to the Network Summary of Driver Loading Procedures Loading the NetworkDrivers Accessing DOS Using the EtherDisk DisketteUsing Windows System Properties box appears, detailing your system setup Conﬁrming Adapter Installation for WindowsName of the installed 3Com adapter appears, as follows This conﬁrms the adapter’s installationUsing NetWare ODI One Adapter in a ClientAutoLink Requirements AutoLink Installation At the prompt, typeAlternatively, at the prompt, type Read the screen and press Enter ESC=CancelMultiple Adapters in a Client FEA0 Main menu appears Select Conﬁguration and Diagnostic Program and press EnterOne or More Adapters in a Server Loading Ndis DriversUpdating Ndis Drivers Auto Select Media TypeFollow the instructions displayed in the subsequent screens Desktop Management Interface Transcend PC Link SmartAgent Driver AgentsTroubleshooting with the Diagnostic Tests Performing Troubleshooting Diagnostic TestsBefore Running the Tests After performing the diagnostic tests, reboot your computerTypes of Tests Fast EtherLink 10/100BASE-T4 PCI adapterRunning the Group 1 Tests Starting the Diagnostic ProgramRunning the Group 3 Test Setting Up an Echo Server 3C59XCFG Getting Help If a Test Fails To print the ﬁle, type Changing the Test Setup Miscellaneous ChecksTo change the test parameters, follow these steps LED LEDsWhen properly connected to a 10BASE-T network, Pin assignments for the RJ-45 connectorCabling Adapter Cabling RequirementsTwisted-Pair Cable 10BASE-T Speciﬁcations 10BASE-T Operation100BASE-T Standard 100BASE-TX Operation100BASE-TX designates the Ieee 802.3 speciﬁcation for 100BASE-FX Operation 100BASE-T4 OperationFigure A-1 shows the RJ-45 connector pin assignments RJ-45 Connector Pin AssignmentsSettings Changing Software Settings To change the software option settings, follow these stepsType at the prompt Select Adapter Installed Adapters Press Tab to highlight OK. Press Enter Continue this procedure with any of the other options\CONFIG\3C595.SET Adapter Speciﬁcations SpecificationsOn-line Technical Services 3Com Bulletin Board ServiceTechnical Support 3ComForum on CompuServe World Wide Web SiteTo use 3ComForum Log on to CompuServe Press Return to see the 3ComForum main menu3ComFacts Automated Fax Service Support from Your Network SupplierLocal numbers are available within the following countries Returning Products for Repair Details about recent conﬁguration changes, if applicableTo obtain an RMA number, call or fax 100BASE-T GlossaryBus Auto Select Media TypeEMM386 EIA/TIAMAC STP Numerics IndexDOS Ndis Network Driver Optimization option setting B-2 Windows 3.X 3-3 Windows Limited Warranty 3Com Corporation Bayfront Plaza Interference Handbook CE Notice