Trivia: What is the diff betw a patch & network cable?

[orman]

Is a patch cable the same as a network cable?

 

[DTSMAN]

So long as it is a certified network cable. Patch cable is just a general name for a cable that goes from a periphial to a wall jack. A patch cable can be a phone cable, a network cable, a co-ax cable, etc.

Bo

Kentucky phone support-
"Mash the Kentrol key and hit scape."

 

[Enkrypted]

The two different types of cables are "patch" and "crossover".

A Patch cable goes from the computer to a hub, router, switch, or "patch" panel on a network rack system.

A Crossover cable goes from computer to computer.

Enkrypted
A+

 

[garebo]

I wonder if you meant to ask what is the difference between a standard network cable and a cross-over cable?


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[kmcferrin]

Crossover cables are also sometimes necessary when connecting a computer directly to a router, firewall, or uplink port on a switch, though most consumer-grade equipment is auto-sensing (meaning it determines which type of connection is appropriate and makes the necessary signalling adjustment).

Basically a crossover cable is an ethernet cable that has it's transmit and receive pins reversed (for connecting two devices that aren't normally directly connected to each other).

 

[orman]

Thanks for your input. The question arose when I went looking on the internet to buy cables for our lan. The ones available were all labeled "network" or "patch".
I was not refering to crossover - I do know about those.
Thanks to all!

 

[edfair]

Or were you possibly referring to the cable that goes between patch panels and normally buried in the walls?
Known as CAT5 network cable. And if so, yes, there is a difference.
Patch cables are flexible with stranded wire, cat5 is solid wire.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[kmcferrin]

Typically when you're buying the cables online, the terms patch and network are used interchangeably.

Edfair, unless I'm misunderstanding you, I think you're mistaken on the CAT5/solid wire thing. CAT5 has 8 insulated wires twisted and then wrapped in an outer layer of installation. If you look at the backside of your patch panels in the server/comms room, you can see where the outer insulation is stripped off and each of the 8 wires are punched down into the connector block on the back of the port.

 

[edfair]

Each of the 8 wires in CAT5 is one 24ga conductor.
Patch cords are 8 wires of multiple strands of smaller wire to give flexibility.
Because of the different conductors the plug attached is different. There is a plug available for solid wire for those who would choose to use solid as a patch cord.