Gigabit Ethernet, also known as 1000BASE-T, uses twisted-pair copper cables to transmit data at a rate of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps). The most commonly used cable for Gigabit Ethernet is Category 5e (Cat5e) or Category 6 (Cat6) cable. These cables have four pairs of twisted wires, and each pair is used for transmitting and receiving data. The pairs used for Gigabit Ethernet are:
Pair 1: Transmitting and Receiving on pins 1 and 2
Wire 1 (White/Orange): Transmit +
Wire 2 (Orange): Transmit -
Wire 3 (White/Green): Receive +
Wire 6 (Green): Receive -
Pair 2: Transmitting and Receiving on pins 3 and 6
Wire 3 (White/Green): Transmit +
Wire 6 (Green): Transmit -
Wire 1 (White/Orange): Receive +
Wire 2 (Orange): Receive -
Pair 3: Transmitting and Receiving on pins 4 and 5
Wire 4 (White/Blue): Transmit +
Wire 5 (Blue): Transmit -
Wire 7 (White/Brown): Receive +
Wire 8 (Brown): Receive -
Pair 4: Transmitting and Receiving on pins 7 and 8
Wire 7 (White/Brown): Transmit +
Wire 8 (Brown): Transmit -
Wire 4 (White/Blue): Receive +
Wire 5 (Blue): Receive -
These pairs are used in a balanced configuration, with one wire in each pair carrying the positive (transmit or receive) signal and the other wire carrying the negative (transmit or receive) signal. By using a twisted-pair configuration, Gigabit Ethernet reduces electromagnetic interference and enables reliable data transmission at high speeds.
It's important to note that these pairs are used for Gigabit Ethernet over twisted-pair copper cables. Other types of Ethernet standards, such as 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) or higher speeds, may use different wiring configurations or different types of cables, such as Cat6a or Cat7, to support higher data rates.
