What is 100Base-TX?

100BASE-TX is the technical name of Fast Ethernet over twisted pair cables. It is a predominant form of Fast Ethernet carrying data traffic at 100 Mbps (Mega bits per second) in local area networks (LAN). It was launched as the IEEE 802.3u standard in 1995.

The name breakdown: 100 represents the maximum throughput of 100 Mbps, BASE denotes use of baseband transmission, and TX indicates the use of twisted pair cables in Fast Ethernet.

Technical Properties

• Cable types − Uses either two pairs of unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) category 5 wires or two shielded twisted pairs (STP) type 1 wires.

• Full-duplex operation − One pair transmits frames from hub to device while the other pair transmits from device to hub, enabling simultaneous two-way communication.

• Segment length − Each network segment can have a maximum length of 100 meters (328 feet).

• Encoding scheme − Uses MLT-3 encoding and decoding with 4B/5B block coding for spectrum shaping and DC equalization.

• Topology − Creates point-to-point connections between devices. For connecting multiple nodes, a switch or hub is required as a coupling element.

Key Specifications

Conclusion

100BASE-TX is a widely adopted Fast Ethernet standard that provides 100 Mbps data transmission over twisted pair cables. Its full-duplex capability and point-to-point topology make it ideal for modern LAN implementations requiring reliable high-speed connectivity.