May cables that are terminated according to T568A and T568B be connected?
Twisted-pair cables are terminated either according to T568A or T568B. May they be connected even tough they have different pin/pair assignments?
Answer: Yes, they may, as long as each cable is terminated following the same pin/pair assignment on each end. T568A and T568B differ in the position of the green/white and the orange/white pair the pairs are “swapped”. However, the basic assignment of pairs to pins is the same whether you are following the T568A or the T568B assignment: Both demand the pairs to be connected to the pin pairs 1-2, 3-6, 4-5, 7-8. It only matters that each cable is terminated on both ends following the same assignment. To give an example, the horizontal cable may be terminated on both ends according to T568A and the patch cords according to T568B.
Nobody knows everything. A comprehensive topic like IT cabling inevitably raises questions. This column gives answers to questions which reached Telegärtner’s Technical Helpdesk and which we consider interesting for everyone. Please do not hesitate to send us your questions, we will be happy to answer them. The questions will be published anonymously, of course.
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