Chapter 1: Overview
18
10/100Base-TX Twisted Pair Port
The 10/100Base-TX twisted pair port is described below:

Type of

Connector

The 10/100Base-TX twisted pair port on AT-PC232/POE Media Converter
features an 8-pin RJ-45 connector. The port uses four pins when
operating at 10 or 100 Mbps. For the port pinout details, refer to Figure 17
, “RJ-45 Connector and Port Pin Layout” on page 54.
Port Speed The 10/100Base-TX twisted pair port can operate at 10 or 100 Mbps. The
speed is set automatically through Auto-Negotiation or you can set the
speed manually via the DIP switches located on the back of the unit. With
Auto-Negotiation, the speed of the port is set automatically by the
converter after it determines the speed of the end-node connected to the
port. Auto-Negotiation is designed to ensure that the port on the converter
and the end-node are operating at the same speed and that they are
communicating at the highest possible common speed of the devices.
Duplex Mode Duplex mode refers to how an end-node receives and transmits data. If an
end-node can receive or transmit data, but not both simultaneously, the
end-node is operating in what is referred to as half-duplex mode. If an
end-node can both receive and transmit data simultaneously, the end-
node is said to be operating in full-duplex mode. Naturally, an end-node
capable of operating in full-duplex can handle data much faster than an
end-node that can only operate in half-duplex mode.
The twisted pair port is IEEE 802.3u-compliant and will Auto-Negotiate the
duplex mode setting. It can be manually reconfigured to either full or half-
duplex mode via the DIP switches located on the back of the unit when the
Auto-Negotiate switch is in the OFF position.
Note
In order for a converter port to successfully Auto-Negotiate its
duplex mode with an end-node, the link partner should also be using
Auto-Negotiation. Otherwise, a duplex mode mismatch can occur.
While configured for Auto-Negotiation, a converter port will default to
half-duplex if it detects that its link partner is not using Auto-
Negotiation. This will result in a mismatch if the end-node is
operating at a fixed duplex mode of full-duplex.

Maximum

Distance

The 10/100Base-TX twisted pair port has a maximum operating distance
of 100 meters (328 feet).