Ref: 03250078
Title: Choosing between thick and thin Ethernet cable
Date: 08/11/88

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

How do I decide whether to use thick Ethernet or thin Ethernet
cable?

A.  Thin Ethernet is used in 90% of installations.  The cable
is flexible and easy to work with.  It does have a limit length
of 1000 feet per Segment though, and is somewhat susceptible to
electrical noise under adverse conditions.  Thick Ethernet has a
length limit of 1000 meters, is much more rigid, and therefore
may be more difficult to manipulate.  Thick Ethernet has four
layers of shielding, and should be the choice if your cable will
be in high interference situations such as near fluorescent
lights, electrical welders, radar equipment, and the like.
