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Network Cabling C-1
v1.0, December 2007
Appendix C
Network Cabling
This appendix provides specifications for cables used with a NETGEAR GS108T Gigabit Smart
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. Ensure that your Category 5 UTP cable has completed the Underwriters’
Laboratories (UL) or Electronic Testing Laboratories (ETL) certification process.
• Termination method. To minimize cross-talk noise, maintain the twist ratio of the cable up to
the point of termination; untwist at any RJ-45 plug or patch panel should not exceed 0.5 inch
(1.5 cm).
Category 5 Cable
Category 5 distributed cable that meets ANSI/EIA/TIA-568-A building wiring standards can be a
maximum of 328 feet (ft.) or 100 meters (m) in length, divided as follows:
• 20 ft. (6 m) between the hub and the patch panel (if used)
• 295 ft. (90 m) from the wiring closet to the wall outlet
• 10 ft. (3 m) from the wall outlet to the desktop device
The patch panel and other connecting hardware must meet the requirements for 100 Mbps
operation (Category 5). Only 0.5 inch (1.5 cm) of untwist in the wire pair is allowed at any
termination point.