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Thread ID: 26009 2002-10-17 04:36:00 Cat5 & Cat5 E network cables bk T (215) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
90119 2002-10-17 04:36:00 What are the differences between Cat5 and Cat5E network cables?

We are setting up a small Win98 Peer-to-Peer network using Cat E cable but are unable to connect up the 3 computers. After all the trouble-shootings, we swapped Cat5 E with Cat5 cables and the network connects up like magic!

What could be the reasons? Hub, network card or OS (unlikely)? The Cat5 E cables work fine in another network running Win2k (different hub and different NIC ).

Suggestions, please.

Cheers
bk
bk T (215)
90120 2002-10-17 04:44:00 cat5 is for up to 100Mbs networks

cat5e is cat5 enhanced and used for100Mbs or faster

the difrence is that cat5e will pick up less interferance.

there is no reasons that i know of that the cat5e would cause any problems.
robsonde (120)
90121 2002-10-17 04:50:00 Cat5E is supposed to be higher quality . :D It's specified to allow up to 1Gb/s whereas Cat 5 is rated for 100 Mb/s . Are both the networks you've tried the cables on both at 100 Mb/s?

Are your cables factory-made, or made on site? When making terminations on Cat 5, you're not supposed to untwist more than 1/2" of wire in the pairs . . . I suspect that Cat 5 E would be fussier, but that would matter only if it's running at the higher speed .

Some cards and hubs are more tolerant of signal losses than others . . . I would suspect that the wires being used are not pairs so the impedance is wrong . . . It can happen . . .

You can generally see the colour codes through the plugs . . . the pairs are
"colour" and "colour and white" .

If you hold a plug with the wire at the bottom and the latch away from you, the pin numbers are 1,2 . . . 7,8 left - right . The pairs are 1+2, 3+6, 4+5, 7+8 . The pairs actually used in the 10 and 100 Mb/s are 1+2 and 3+6 .
Graham L (2)
90122 2002-10-17 04:59:00 Bizarre!!! Cat5 E has better interfence resistance because the twists in the pairs are tighter than run of the mill Cat5. Very sharp bends can cause problems or if the cables are scrunched up. Maybe some of the kinks were straightened up when the cables were installed on the other network?

the answer is ~42~
~42~ (2034)
90123 2002-10-17 05:27:00 Graham L

We made those terminator ourselves .

Regarding the colour coded cable pairs, am I right to say that the sequence should be: blue, blue-white, green, green-white, brown, brown-white, and orange, orange-white?

I don't quite understand what do you mean by "The pairs are 1+2, 3+6, 4+5, 7+8 . " Can you please elaborate?

Thanks for your time and patience .


bk
bk T (215)
90124 2002-10-17 05:42:00 OK, some might argue about the actual order of the pairs, but it doesn't matter ;-). What matters is having pairs ... they are twisted pairs, and have a "characteristic impedance". If you use random wires, you haven't got twisted pairs, and you have trouble. They are RF transmission lines.

If you connected one pair to pins 1+2 in the plug, that is fine. That is one of the used pairs connected correctly. If you connected the next pair to pins 3+4, you have a problem. The hardware has to have a pair of wires connected to pins 3 and 6. Get the picture?
Graham L (2)
90125 2002-10-17 05:42:00 There's the problem, colours should be
Holding the plug as Graham L says the colours should be from left to right
orange/white, orange, green/white, blue, blue/white, green, brown/white, brown.

If one of the wires you are using isn't part of a twisted pair then you will have erratic results depending upon the installation.]

~42~
~42~ (2034)
90126 2002-10-17 05:48:00 You'll see on the list I gave you that 1 & 2 are a twisted pair [orange/white, orange] the 3rd wire is green/white and it's twin is the 6th wire [green].
As G. says the exact arraingement isn't critacle it is the pairs that are important. I just gave you the 'official standard'

rgds ~42~
~42~ (2034)
90127 2002-10-17 06:33:00 Thank you very much, guys .

I got the clear picture now .

Press F1 and you guys are just GREAT!!!



Cheers
bk
bk T (215)
90128 2002-10-17 08:18:00 This (geek.orcon.net.nz/wiring.htm) shows how the pairs go. -=JM=- (16)
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