May be a stupid question re T568A or T568B wiring

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gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#189628 6-Jan-2016 20:34

So I've just wired up my new patch panel and new wall sockets using T568B wiring configuration - Its CAT 6. This was because a number of exisiting wall sockets were wired in B configuration. From what I read as long as the patch panel punch down matched the wall socket (A or B config) it could be either.

I've now patched them all to a managed netgear switch and subsequently have that plugged into my router ( that is starting to die slowly but that's on another thread here ).

All work fine and I appear to be getting close to my max ADSL2 speeds at each wall socket i.e almost identical to the speed i get on the main desktop that is plugged directly into the modem/router so I'm thinking all good.

Standing here looking at one of the dynamix patch leads I see on the packet it says Cat 6 UTP Patch Lead 550 MHz (T568A Specification).

It's the T568A specification bit I'm obviously questioning. Does that matter. I'm guessing if it did then I wouldn't be seeing good data rates across the system etc?

Can some smarter person than me explain if it indeed matters or not ?

Thanks again

Ged

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#1464645 6-Jan-2016 20:53

Does not matter, the specifications are just so you don't put things like phones on the wrong pair

Apart from that, it is a straight through cable with the same wires on both ends

grant_k

3539 posts

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#1464646 6-Jan-2016 20:53

It doesn't matter at all so long as both ends of the cable use the same wiring scheme (T568A or B). With patch cables this is always the case so no worries.

There is some research indicating that either the A or B scheme is slightly faster when using Gigabit Ethernet (I can't remember which one). However, with ADSL2 being your bottleneck, it isn't going to matter in the slightest which wiring scheme you use internally. Even with 100Mbps fibre you wouldn't notice any difference.

Dratsab

3946 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1464655 6-Jan-2016 21:04

The schemes also specify which coloured pairs go to which pins, but as yabanize & grant_k say, with patch cables nothing to worry about. Searching "T568A vs T568B" (without the quote marks) will link you to a wealth of information.

gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1464749 6-Jan-2016 22:42

Thanks heaps. I can rule out the new patch panel as the reason for dropouts on router. Awaiting fibre in about 4 weeks hence keen to nurse a 4 year old router along, even it it craps itself twice a day now.

Pehesis

38 posts

Geek

#1467016 10-Jan-2016 15:38

I always use TIA 568A, i was under the impresion that TIA 568B was only used by old school techs for and even older school wiring standards. However like others said as long as they are the same on both ends it dont really matter.