Networks what the diffrance between cat5 and cat5e and cat6

and what is full/half duplex and how do i turn it on?

10x 4 any1 that answer

 

Cat5, 5e and 6 are different ratings of cable.

Suffice to say, CAT5e is sufficient for Gigabit connections, so I don't think CAT6 will be of much use to you unless you plan to run Google form your living room using equipment not yet implemented commercially.

As for full vs Half duplex, the best way to describe it is to imagine your connection as a road, in fullduplex you are using two lanes for traffic, so they can travel both directions at once. In half duplex you are using only one lane, allowing traffic in only one direction at any one time. Thus halfing your throughput.

By default Full duplex should be active on all modern NICs, however in some you have to install the proper driver and enable it in the settings.

 

is the cable wire "plan"(color code) of full duplex the same as half duplex?
and does it uses any extra cables? couse i know that some cables use only 4/8 wires

btw 10q

 

The higher the rating the higher the frequency rating of the cable:

• Cat5 ~100Mhz - Fast Ethernet
• Cat5e ~150/200Mhz - Fast Ethernet / Crap Gigabit Ethernet
• Cat6 ~250/300Mhz - Gigabit Ethernet

You can always use a better cable for your network, but a lower rated one will fudge your network up.

Another way of thinking about full/half duplex: half duplex is like using walkie-talkies, full duplex is like using a phone.

No, the wiring remains the same, duplex is an issue for the devices. Only 4 wires are used anyway, e.g. for patch cable - 1&2 Transmit, 3&6 receive, 4,5,7&8 are not used.

 

Not quite...

CAT5e was developed specifically for Gigabit connections and if fitted/terminated correctly far exceeds the required specs.

 

It's a modified specification that allows Cat5 to work on Gigabit networks, I know it will work though not quite as well in all situations as Cat6.

The ratings are just the minimum in order to comply anyway, most cables are made well above their spec nowadays (My Cat5 says 300Mhz).

 

Thats what I just said...

What situations would CAT6 not work as well?

Unless you intend to exceed the maximium specifications laid down, for example with a longer than the maximum run, CAT5e will not be "just about" good enough; it is as per spec.

The only other case where CAT5e is not good enough for Gigabit connections (any speed connection in fact) is when used in an area of high electromagnetic interference (such as a generator room, broadcast station or power plant), or where security concerns require that the radiated emissions must be curtailed, in which case even CAT6 is under-specced as it is not sufficiently shielded. In these cases CAT7 (individually screened twisted pairs and overall sheild) will be required.

 

"Not quite"...

I was talking more generally, that all catagorys are often made over spec.

Also, when I was comparing ratings I was talking about all cables at their minimum spec, not all cables would be made over spec.

BTW, when I said crap I didn't mean it litteraly, think you are being a bit picky with what I have said.

 

Woo Fly's right you're wrong win win win!!


/who loves ya hunneh

 

What a great contribution, but try to avoid the 'reply' button next time...



Hmmm... this is seeming to stray from the original purpose.

 

I didn't press 'Reply' I pressed 'Quote' but I'll keep it in mind

 

For an example of a real wold application of actual performance between half and full duplex, lets say we are at a lan party sharing "videos from the last party" *cough*illegal movies*cough*

With half duplex you can d/l movies from other people in theory up to 100mbps, but when someone is getting one from you while you are d/ling, then you download has to stop to upload the packets to him. If it is fair you each could get 50mbps max, provided there are no collisions.

With full duplex you can still d/l @ 100mbps, while you upload @ 100mbps.

The main way to get full duplex is to use routers/switches (smart hubs) instead of regular "dumb" hubs (just simple repeaters)
Provided you have a newer NIC and it is set to auto sense, you should get full duplex.

Just to put it into understandible terms in-case all those road comparisons still left questions.

As for the cable, I always thought that cat 5 was good for short 100mbps runs, 5e was good for long 100mbps runs and short 1000mbps runs, and cat 6 was good for long 1000mbps runs.

If your as cheap as me, you don't have a 1000mbps nic, unless it is onboard, and you sure as heck dont have a gigabit switch ($160 for a 4 port switch, screw that). So cat 5e should suffice for just about anything.

 

I'm looking into doing some networking, but I'm a little confused about the ratings. Here's some supposedly Cat5e cable, but it's only rated to 100 MHz, and according to the list posted by Kermet, that's just regular Cat5. I'm planning on running it a fair distance with 100 Mbps, so should I get a differant cable than this? If so, where's a good (read: cheap) place to get it?

 

bump

 

If it is rated at CAT5e, it will work on Gigabit connection so long runs of 100 Mbps should be fine. How long is long in your case?

 

100 feet or so, most of which is outside.

 

That stuff that you linked to will be just fine.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

humn i was wondering . its probly not required but i am doing a system build / mod where im installing a linksys 4port router INSIDE my case found here
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39211&perpage=&pagenumber=2

and since it will be in close proximity to the rest of the system with nothing but air and oprotunity inbetween it
you think i should go cat5e or cat6 if money dont make a diference?