JMD, and Thread,
You may be interested to know that PC NICs (network interface cards) and hub ports which employ twisted pair used for Ethernet are designed to the impedance and longitudinal characteristics of ANSI EIA/TIA Category 3, 4 and 5 grade cables. They design worst case operating ranges based on these characteristics, and that goes for noise rejection and canceling, and immunity to RFI and crosstalk, etc., as well.
When the distances are short, and when there isn't the kind of noise in the surrounding environment that would bother it, you get away with plain old telephone quad wire. But when you go to the 100 Mb/s rate, especially, and kick up the distances a notch, don't call the vendor or look to collect on warranties if you have a problem, unless you are using the prescribed grade of cable, first. You could end up wasting your time, otherwise. |
