At 03:37 AM 9/29/2004, Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
You can use just about anything for short runs. Even
100-base-T might
work with 4-strands of random wire at some minimal distance. But if you
expect anything to run and run reliably, especially at a distance, use
properly rated cable :)
These days, though, it's getting harder: inexpensive consumer
networking gear is all over the map in terms of what sort of
signal degradation it can handle.
I've seen some equipment that can't pick up a signal on a 100-foot
run of suitably rated and crimped cable. I don't have a TDR tester,
but a simple $50 tester shows valid wiring.
- John