LANs article

Today PC Hardware has posted a new article from the series dedicated to explaining LANs. This article focuses on the Layer 1 of the OSI refernce model, and is intented to be a guide through the network media used in the modern LANs, covering copper, fiber-optic and wireless communications. The main part of the article is dedicated to UTP, the most common network cable around. It also dicusses the TIA/EIA wiring standards for UTP cables (straight-through, cross-over and roll-over). Heres a quote:

"The main disadvantage of UTP is that it is more prone to electrical noise than other types of media. It can only be run for 100 m (325 ft) without the signal being deteriorated below accepted standards. However, because it's the least expensive, is thin and easy to install, and capable of reaching high speeds, it remains the most used cable type."