Copper cabling is foundational for Ethernet networks.
Home networks usually connect with copper Ethernet cables.
Proper cable type selection is crucial for new networks.
All network devices, whether wired or wireless, ultimately connect via wired connections.
Twisted Pair Ethernet Cables
Consist of four pairs of twisted wires.
Transmit and receive using equal and opposite signals (transmit+/transmit-).
Twisting reduces noise and interference, aiding in signal reconstruction.
Different pairs have varying twist rates.
Cable characteristics are categorized into different types for different networks.
Cable Categories
Category 5 (Cat5): Outdated, used for 1000Base-T (Gigabit Ethernet) up to 100 meters.
Category 5e (Cat5e): Enhanced version of Cat5, used for 1000Base-T up to 100 meters.
Category 6 (Cat6): Required for 10GBase-T (10 Gig Ethernet), supports up to 55 meters (unshielded) or 100 meters (shielded).
Category 6a (Cat6a): Augmented Cat6, supports 10GBase-T up to 100 meters.
Category 7 (Cat7): Shielded, supports 10GBase-T up to 100 meters.
Category 8 (Cat8): Used for 40GBase-T, supports up to 30 meters.
Coaxial and Twinaxial Cabling
Coaxial Cable: Single conductor, used for cable modems and TV; commonly labeled as RG6.
Twinaxial Cable (Twinax): Similar to coax but with two conductors, used for 10G Ethernet with SFP transceivers, supports full duplex, low cost, and low latency.
Structured Cabling Standards
Standards ensure uniformity in network cabling.
ISO/IEC 11801: International standard for cabling.
TIA Standards (ANSI/TIA-568): Common in North America, dictate pin/pair assignments for twisted pair cabling.
T568A and T568B Wiring Standards
Define color codes for 8-conductor 100-ohm balanced twisted pair cables.
T568A and T568B have different color assignments for wire pairs.
Important to maintain the same standard on both cable ends to avoid confusion.
Differences:
Pins 1 & 2 and 3 & 6 have reversed colors between the two standards.
Pins 4, 5, 7, 8 are the same in both standards.
Not related to Ethernet crossover cables.
Crossover cables are defined in IEEE 802.3, not T568 standards.
Practical Application
Examine existing cables to determine if T568A or T568B is used by checking color codes.
Organizations often choose one standard for consistency.
Miswiring (e.g., using different standards at each end) can result in nonfunctional cables.
Hands-On Tip
Check an Ethernet cable’s wiring by comparing its colors to the T568A or T568B standards to identify the standard used.