Hardware : Cables
In theory, there are several classifications of copper cabling systems available for data communication applications today. In fact, the EIA/TIA-568A standard 1 defines five categories or types of copper cable and components:
Category 3 |
16 MHz |
100 ohm unshielded twisted pair |
Category 4 |
20 MHz |
100 ohm unshielded twisted pair |
Category 5 |
100 MHz |
100 ohm unshielded twisted pair |
Type 1 |
20 MHz |
150 ohm shielded twisted pair |
Type 1A |
300 MHz |
150 ohm shielded twisted pair |
Category 5 cable is constructed using eight 24 AWG insulated conductors (four pairs), enclosed by a thermoplastic jacket. Each of the four conductor pairs is twisted together at a slightly balanced high-speed communications circuit and to reject electrical interference or "noise" from sources such as power wiring, fluorescent and HID ballasts, motors, and so on.
TIA/EIA-568-A T568A Wiring
Pin |
Pair |
Wire |
Color |
1 |
3 |
1 |
white/green |
2 |
3 |
2 |
green |
3 |
2 |
1 |
white/orange |
4 |
1 |
2 |
blue |
5 |
1 |
1 |
white/blue |
6 |
2 |
2 |
orange |
7 |
4 |
1 |
white/brown |
8 |
4 |
2 |
brown |
TIA/EIA-568-B T568B Wiring
Pin |
Pair |
Wire |
Color |
1 |
3 |
1 |
white/orange |
2 |
3 |
2 |
orange |
3 |
2 |
1 |
white/green |
4 |
1 |
2 |
blue |
5 |
1 |
1 |
white/blue |
6 |
2 |
2 |
green |
7 |
4 |
1 |
white/brown |
8 |
4 |
2 |
brown |