Beldon has UTP and STP Cat 5 cable in PVC jacketed and plenum jacketed and in 2 pair or 4 pair versions.
Only 100Base-T4 requires all 4 pairs; therefore, a 2 pair Cat. 5 cable should be able to be use on all 10/100base-T straight through and crossover applications; except for 100Base-T4.
During the cabling a 100Base-T connection between a Cisco 4006 Switch to a Lucent Hub, a tech used a 4 pair cable but only attached two pairs; i.e., conn#1:Pr #1 to p1&p2, Pr #2 to p3&p6; conn#2:Pr #1 top3&p6, Pr#2 to p1&p2.
The connection did not run error free; so, the tech recabled using all 4 pairs which produced an error free connection.
Can one conclude that all four pairs are required or that the first cable was made poorly?
(Pls note that the connection was assumed to be 10Base-T until after the equipment was tested and found to be atempting an 100Base-T connections.)
If the connection was made using a 2 pair cable, which was made correctly of course, is there any reason why the equipment could not maintain a 100Base-T connection?