10Mbps Twisted-Pair Ethernet (10BASE-T)

It was a banner day for Ethernet when researchers discovered how to cram 10Mbps across unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable. In 1990, 10BASE-T became an IEEE standard.

The days of snaking heavy coaxial cable through a building—and, because of moves and changes, often losing track of what actually was hidden in the ceilings and walls—were over. Now a building could be star-wired for data in the same way that it was star-wired for telephony. In many cases, extra wire pairs that already were installed could be used. The label chosen for 10Mbps twisted-pair Ethernet is 10BASE-T. Two wire pairs are used.

10BASE-T Segments

A twisted-pair segment can connect to only two nodes: one at each end of the segment. ...

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