CAT 5/5e compatibility

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zakhary
  • Start date Start date
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Zakhary

I am a process of elimination in identifying a problem with some wiring that
I just completed that connects one room to another in my residence. As it
is, the router and internet connectivity is managed/housed in one room, and
to get to the other room, a networking cable will need to connect to a
wall-jack, then connect through the wiring under the house to the wall-jack
in the other room, and then finally connect from that wall-jack to the
computer. That's three wires total.

For some reason, the connectivity is not working out right; the computer
states "Aquiring Networ Address," but never accomplishes the task. One thing
I noticed is that, while the middle-wire that goes under the house is a CAT
5e cable, the cables on both ends are currently CAT 5 cables. Is this the
problem?

Are CAT 5 cables upward compatible? Are CAT 5e cables downward compatible?
Can you process both (CAT 5 to CAT 5e to CAT 5) in a single line of
communication?
 
I should have also asked about the intechangability of T568A and T568B
standard cables. I am not sure what standard each of my cables are. For the
cables that I brought under the house, I used T568A standars for connecting
them to the RJ-45 jacks. If the cables are T568B standard cables, does this
create a problem? Also, is the standard of the cable noted on the side? If
not, where can it be found? I couldn't find it there, but maybe overlooked.
 
OK...
This doesn't answer how to tell what standards each wire uses. Is it on the
wire?

Also, I need an answer regarding upward/downward compatibility of CAT 5/5e.

--
-Zakhary


Richard G. Harper said:
No, you can't mix cables wired as 568A and 568B - you need all the same all
the way through or else networking won't work.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
Click to expand...
 
Hi
Network cables are physical entity and are they can not be upward or
downward compatible.
They are rated according to the Bandwidth that they can carry.
Cat5e is rated for the current 100Mb/sec. and Giga networks.
As long as you keep using straight patches and do not mix them with
crossover connection you should be OK.
If you buy new it is better to buy Cat6 so it would work with future
Networks too.
If you use Cat5 (Not Cat5e) with 100Mb/sec. Network it might work but there
would be bandwidth loses.
As long as you keep using straight patches and do not mix them with
crossover cable you should be OK.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)
 
Hi
Maybe this can Help, http://www.ezlan.net/CAT.html
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

Zakhary said:
OK...
This doesn't answer how to tell what standards each wire uses. Is it on
the
wire?

Also, I need an answer regarding upward/downward compatibility of CAT
5/5e.

--
-Zakhary


Richard G. Harper said:
No, you can't mix cables wired as 568A and 568B - you need all the same
all
the way through or else networking won't work.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


Zakhary said:
I should have also asked about the intechangability of T568A and T568B
standard cables. I am not sure what standard each of my cables are.
For
the
cables that I brought under the house, I used T568A standars for
connecting
them to the RJ-45 jacks. If the cables are T568B standard cables, does
this
create a problem? Also, is the standard of the cable noted on the
side?
If
not, where can it be found? I couldn't find it there, but maybe
overlooked.

--
-Zakhary


:

I am a process of elimination in identifying a problem with some
wiring
that
I just completed that connects one room to another in my residence.
As
it
is, the router and internet connectivity is managed/housed in one
room,
and
to get to the other room, a networking cable will need to connect to a
wall-jack, then connect through the wiring under the house to the
wall-jack
in the other room, and then finally connect from that wall-jack to the
computer. That's three wires total.

For some reason, the connectivity is not working out right; the
computer
states "Aquiring Networ Address," but never accomplishes the task.
One
thing
I noticed is that, while the middle-wire that goes under the house is
a
CAT
5e cable, the cables on both ends are currently CAT 5 cables. Is this
the
problem?

Are CAT 5 cables upward compatible? Are CAT 5e cables downward
compatible?
Can you process both (CAT 5 to CAT 5e to CAT 5) in a single line of
communication?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
The cables will almost surely not be labeled as to whether they are 568A or
568B since this standard defines what color wires are punched/crimped into
the jack or connector. The cable has nothing to do with this standard. You
would probably need to get a cable tester/diagnostic tool to tell which is
which if you don't know.

Also, in general, Cat5 and Cat5e cables can be used interchangeably but when
in doubt one should always use Cat5e throughout the network to avoid any
problems.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


Zakhary said:
OK...
This doesn't answer how to tell what standards each wire uses. Is it on
the
wire?

Also, I need an answer regarding upward/downward compatibility of CAT
5/5e.

--
-Zakhary


Richard G. Harper said:
No, you can't mix cables wired as 568A and 568B - you need all the same
all
the way through or else networking won't work.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


Zakhary said:
I should have also asked about the intechangability of T568A and T568B
standard cables. I am not sure what standard each of my cables are.
For
the
cables that I brought under the house, I used T568A standars for
connecting
them to the RJ-45 jacks. If the cables are T568B standard cables, does
this
create a problem? Also, is the standard of the cable noted on the
side?
If
not, where can it be found? I couldn't find it there, but maybe
overlooked.

--
-Zakhary


:

I am a process of elimination in identifying a problem with some
wiring
that
I just completed that connects one room to another in my residence.
As
it
is, the router and internet connectivity is managed/housed in one
room,
and
to get to the other room, a networking cable will need to connect to a
wall-jack, then connect through the wiring under the house to the
wall-jack
in the other room, and then finally connect from that wall-jack to the
computer. That's three wires total.

For some reason, the connectivity is not working out right; the
computer
states "Aquiring Networ Address," but never accomplishes the task.
One
thing
I noticed is that, while the middle-wire that goes under the house is
a
CAT
5e cable, the cables on both ends are currently CAT 5 cables. Is this
the
problem?

Are CAT 5 cables upward compatible? Are CAT 5e cables downward
compatible?
Can you process both (CAT 5 to CAT 5e to CAT 5) in a single line of
communication?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
If your plan is to replace the cable, I would spend a couple dollars more and
go with CAT6, it can handle much faster transfer speeds.
 
Hi
You are right in away, CAT6 can transfer higher bandwidth than CAT5/e
However the type of Network that works faster is not yet available to
regular consumers.
Using CAT6 on a 100Mb/sec., or Giga Network, does not yield faster bandwidth
than using Cat5/e. I.e., CAT6 can Not enhance slower traffic.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)
 
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