Maximum Distance
The maximum distance of a twisted pair cable is 100 meters (328 feet). Cable lengths that exceed this limit can result in poor or erratic network performance.
Auto MDI/MDI-X
An RJ45 twisted pair port on a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps Ethernet network device can be wired as either MDI and MDI-X. Twisted pair ports on personal computers, routers, and bridges are typically wired as MDI. The twisted pair ports on switches and hubs are usually MDI-X.
When connecting two network devices together, you use straight-through twisted pair cabling when connecting two dissimilar ports together, such as an MDI port to an MDI-X port. To connect two similar ports together, such as an MDI port to an MDI port, you use a crossover twisted pair cable.
The twisted pair ports on the AT-FS705E FC and AT-FS706E FC can operate as either MDI or MDI-X. This feature eliminates the need for using a crossover cable with the switch. This means that you can use straight-through twisted pair cabling regardless of the type of end nodes you connect to the ports. Each port automatically determines the configuration of the port on the device to which it is connected and then configures itself appropriately. For example, if a port on a switch is connected to a port on a bridge, which is typically wired as MDI, the port on the switch automatically configures itself as MDI-X.
