Kingston Technology KNE8TX/RS - Manual (Page 28)

22 Appendix D Commonly Asked Questions
Kingston Technology Company KNE24TX/RS User’s Guide - Rev. A01
Category 5 Compliance vs. Category 5 Performance?
Having CAT 5 components in your network installation does not necessarily
achieve full Category 5 performance. To achieve any category-rated
performance, make sure all cabling components are at least of the minimum
category required.
To achieve full CAT 5 performance, all components must be CAT 5 compliant
and terminated properly according to EIA/TIA-568 TSB-36 and TSB-40
guidelines.
What are the Guidelines for Proper Termination?
It is important to maintain the twists of the cable as close to the termination on
the outlet as possible, to avoid NEXT (Near End Cross Talk) and to maintain
the transmissions characteristics of the Category. Category specifications
require that pair twisting be maintained to within the following distances from
the outlet termination:
• Category 3 maximum allowed untwisting: 3 inches
• Category 4 maximum allowed untwisting: 1 inch
• Category 5 maximum allowed untwisting: 1/2 inch
Can I mix CAT 3 and CAT 5 cabling in the same building?
Yes, but keep in mind, you will not have CAT 5 performance. It is a good idea
to keep the lines separated and when installing any new lines, use CAT 5 UTP
cabling only.
Can a Four-Pair CAT 5 cable support two 100BASE-TX
devices?
Although only two pairs are used in the standard four-pair CAT 5 UTP cable, it
is not recommended because it exceeds the specifications outlined by IEEE
802.3u.