Quick Start Manual

Cabling Guidelines C-1
Appendix C
Cabling Guidelines
This appendix provides specifications for cables used with the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch.
Fast Ethernet Cable Guidelines
Fast Ethernet uses UTP cable, as specified in the IEEE 802.3u standard for 100BASE-TX. The
specification requires Category 5 UTP cable consisting of either two-pair or four-pair twisted
insulated copper conductors bound in a single plastic sheath. Category 5 cable is certified up to
100 MHz bandwidth. 100BASE-TX operation uses one pair of wires for transmission and the other
pair for receiving and for collision detection.
When installing Category 5 UTP cabling, use the following guidelines to ensure that your cables
perform to the following specifications:
• Certification
Make sure that your Category 5 UTP cable has completed the Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
or Electronic Testing Laboratories (ETL) certification process.
• Termination method
To minimize crosstalk noise, maintain the twist ratio of the cable up to the point of termina-
tion; untwist at any RJ-45 plug or patch panel should not exceed 0.5 inch (1.5 cm).