|  | 8.1 | Basic Networking Knowledge
| 8.1.10 | 10BASE2, 10BASE5, 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 100BASEVG-AnyLAN
10BASE2 10BASE2 cabling systems, which is also referred to as thinnet, thin wire, or coaxial, use coaxial cables. They connect no more than 30 nodes per segment, spaced at least half a meter apart. 10BASE2 cabling is commonly used for small networks because it is inexpensive and easy to install. The "10", in 10BASE2, represents rate of data transfer, in this case 10 Megabits per second. "Base" is the type of signaling, either baseband or broadband; this type of cabling system uses a baseband signal. The "2" stands for the maximum distance of the cable; here, the "2" should stand for 200; however, the maximum unrepeated distance is actually 185 meters. Therefore, this type of cabling system can transmit 10 Mbps, using baseband signaling, with a maximum distance of 185 meters. 10BASE5 10BASE5 cabling systems also use coaxial cables and is often referred to has thicknet, "Yellow Cable" (because of the outer yellow coating), or "Frozen Yellow Garden Hose". 10BASE5 cabling can connect up to 100 nodes, spaced at 2.5 meters apart. 10BASE5 cabling systems can transmit at 10 Mbps, using a baseband signal, and have a maximum unrepeated distance of 500 meters per cable. This type of cabling is also expensive and is usually used in circumstances which require heavy cabling. 10BASE2 and 10BASE5 cabling systems are normally used in bus topologies. However, this type of cabling is beginning to be used less often in structured cabling installations. 10BASE-T 10BASE-T cabling systems, which has become an extremely popular LAN technology, are normally found on Ethernet star or extended star topologies connected by UTP cables, and are usually connected into a central hub or a switch. This type of cabling system can carry 10 Mbps, using a baseband signal, with a maximum unrepeated distance of 100 meters. 100BASE-T 100BASE-T is the generic name for Fast Ethernet and can carry 100 Mbps, using baseband signaling, with a maximum unrepeated distance of 100 meters. 100BASE-TX and 100BASE-T4 100BASE-TX and 100BASE-T4 are two variations of 100BASE-T, which are specified by the IEEE. Both cabling types carry 100 Mbps, use baseband signaling, with a maximum unrepeated distance of 100 meters per cable. 100BASE-TX uses CAT 5 UTP, specifically two pairs of twisted wires, with the ability to transmit 100 Mbps. 100BASE-T4 uses CAT 3 and all four pairs of twisted wires to transmit 100 Mbps. 100BASE-TX is by far the most popular copper version of fast Ethernet. 100BASEVG-AnyLAN 100BASEVG-AnyLAN was developed by Hewlett-Packard and is similar to 100BASEVG, which can transmit 100 Mbps, using baseband signaling using a CAT 3, CAT 4, or CAT 5 UTP cable for either Ethernet or Token Ring LANs. The maximum unrepeated length is 250 meters. The primary benefit of this technology is its versatility, including the cabling it uses and the type of LAN technology with which it can be used.
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