Specifications

1-7
Cisco PA-FE-TX and Cisco PA-FE-FX Fast Ethernet 100BASE-T Port Adapter Installation and Configuration
OL-2899-02
Chapter 1 Overview
Cables, Connectors, and Pinouts
Figure 1-9 PA-FE-FX Duplex SC Connector
Figure 1-10 PA-FE-FX Simplex SC Connector
Depending on the type of media you use between the MII connection on the port adapter and your switch
or hub, the network side of your 100BASE-T transceiver should be appropriately equipped with SC-type
connectors (for optical fiber), BNC connectors, and so forth. Figure 1-11 shows the pin orientation of
the female MII connector on the port adapter. The port adapters are field-replaceable units (FRUs).
The MII receptacle uses two 56 screw-type locks, called jackscrews (shown in Figure 1-11), to secure
the cable or transceiver to the MII port. MII cables and transceivers have knurled thumbscrews that you
fasten to the jackscrews on the PA-FE-TX MII connector. Use the jackscrews to provide strain relief for
your MII cable.
Caution Before you attach your MII transceiver to the MII receptacle on your PA-FE-TX or PA-FE-FX port
adapter, ensure that your MII transceiver responds to physical sublayer (PHY) address 0 per section
22.2.4.4. “PHY Address” of the IEEE 802.3u specification; otherwise, interface problems might
result. Confirm that this capability is available on your MII transceiver with the transceiver vendor
or in the transceiver documentation. If a selection for isolation mode is available, we recommend you
use this setting (if PHY addressing is not mentioned).
Figure 1-11 PA-FE-TX or PA-FE-FX MII Connection—Receptacle
Table 1-3 lists the MII connector pinouts. MII cables are available commercially and are not available
from Cisco Systems. Table 1-3 refers to MII cables used between the MII connector on the PA-FE-TX
and an appropriate transceiver. The connection between this transceiver and your network can be
Category 3, 4, or 5, 150-ohm FTP, or multimode optical fiber.
H2214
H2399
Jackscrew Pin 1
Pin 21
H2943