A little more clarification: 1) Token ring cable can be twisted-pair or shielded. The sheilded form is two pairs of wires, each pair is wrapped in foil to prevent crosstalk to the other pair. It's actually a current loop scheme, hence the realitively heavy conductor (#20 comes to mind). 2) Cat-5 is unshelded, four pairs of wires twisted. Each pair has a different number of twists per foot, which helps minimize the crosstalk problem. And there are standards as to which connector (RJ- 45) pin number each wire connects to, so that the pairing comes out right. Cat-5 can be used for Ethernet. Unshielded twisted pair can also be used for Token-ring, but this T-R must be supplied a small amount of power at hubs since it's current carrying ability is ziltch. Mike mentioned CAT-4 UTP was for T-R and that's a new nerdle of wisdom for me. Gene From: "Mike Sheldon" To: Subject: RE: sheilded Cat-5 Date sent: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 21:49:34 -0700 Send reply to: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >>When I say twisted, the cables are definently twisted around each other. > > Ahh, you're talking about stranded wire vs. solid core. Either one can be > certified CAT-5, but be sure that the connectors are for stranded wire. Most > are for solid wire, and there is a difference. > > I've still never seen shielded CAT-5 before. I'm not saying it doesn't > exist, but be sure that the wire actually is CAT-5, and not CAT-3 or CAT-4. > > Michael J. Sheldon > Internet Applications Developer > Phone: 480.699.1084 > http://www.desertraven.com/ > PGP Key Available on Request > -----Original Message----- > From: plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > [mailto:plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us]On Behalf Of colin rasor > Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 20:00 > To: plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > Subject: Re: sheilded Cat-5 > > > Thanks Mike > The wire is going in a machine shop. > Mike I might be a little confused, (please correct me if I am wrong.) When > I say twisted, the cables are definently twisted around each other. The > copper wire inside is not twisted and is solid, is this Cat4? Also the Wire > that I have seen that claims to be shielded is coated in a foil type > substance with a bare wire running on the outside of it. Of course this is > all incased in you typical blue (or color of choice). > The reason we worry about using "shielded" is that that we don't want to be > losing any data do to RF while it is running through the shop. > Conduit would be about the same price to run with labor. As the so called > shielded wire. > Thank you again for you input. > Colin Ansel Rasor > > Mike Sheldon wrote: > Cat-5 isn't Cat-5 unless it's twisted, the twists are what prevents > interference between the pairs, as well as from outside sources. > As far as shielded Cat-5? I've never seen such a thing. There was a shielded > twisted pair that IBM used for token-ring, but that's Cat-4. Cat-4 is NOT > rated for 100mbps > Shielded Pros: Less outside interference in extremely noisy (electrical) > areas. > Unshielded Pros: 100mbps, much cheaper, resistant to electrical noise in all > but the worst environments when properly installed. > Use Cat-5 unless you're wiring a machine shop. If you're wiring a machine > shop, run Cat-5 in metal conduit. > Michael J. Sheldon > Internet Applications Developer > Phone: 480.699.1084 > http://www.desertraven.com/ > PGP Key Available on Request > -----Original Message----- > From: plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > [mailto:plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us]On Behalf Of colin > rasor > Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 17:03 > To: plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > Subject: sheilded Cat-5 > Hello everybody, > I was wondering the best place to buy shielded cat5 non twisted. I am > looking for around 2000ft. > What are the pros to using shielded compared to non shielded? > Colin Ansel Rasor > _______________________________________________ > Plug-discuss mailing list - Plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discussthanks > > > _______________________________________________ > Plug-discuss mailing list - Plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss