Fiber Optic Wiki

Technology and speeds

December 7, 2011

Few Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) provide download speeds of over 100 Mbit/s; most broadband wireless access services are estimated to have a range of 50 km (31 mi) from a tower.

Called mobile broadband, wireless broadband technologies include services from mobile phone service providers such as Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T Mobility, which allow a more mobile version of Internet access. Consumers can purchase a PC card, laptop card, or USB equipment to connect their PC or laptop to the Internet via cell phone towers.

License for a wireless connection

December 7, 2011

A wireless connection can be either licensed or unlicensed. In the US, licensed connections use a private spectrum the user has secured rights to from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Crossover cable pinouts

December 6, 2011

In practice, it does not matter if non-crossover Ethernet cables are wired as T568A or T568B, just so long as both ends follow the same wiring format. Typical commercially available "pre-wired" cables can follow either format depending the manufacturer.

Automatic crossover

December 6, 2011

If one of two connected devices has the automatic MDI/MDI-X configuration feature there is no need for crossover cables. Introduced in 1998, this made the distinction between uplink and normal ports and manual selector switches on older hubs and switches obsolete.

Power over Ethernet

December 6, 2011

Power over Ethernet or PoE technology describes a system to pass electrical power safely, along with data, on Ethernet cabling. The IEEE standard for PoE requires category 5 cable or higher for high power levels, but can operate with category 3 cable for low power levels.