What pins do Switch receivers use?

In Ethernet networking, particularly when using twisted pair cabling such as Category 5e or Category 6, the connections are made using pairs of wires. For 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX standards, which are common in switch environments, the receivers typically use specific pairs of pins.

The correct pairing for the switch receivers involves the pins that correspond to transmit and receive functionality on the network interface cards (NIC) and switches. In Ethernet standards, specifically for 10/100 Mbps, the pins used for receiving data are 3 and 6. However, there is a common misunderstanding about which pairs are used. The answer highlights pins 1 and 2, which are generally associated with the sending pairs in some configurations, such as in crossover cabling designs.

In standard wiring for networking, switches are usually set up to utilize pins 3 and 6 for receiving and pins 1 and 2 for transmitting. This reflects the fact that when a switch receives a signal, it does so on the pair connected to pins 3 and 6. Therefore, a key aspect of networking knowledge is recognizing the function of these pin pair connections and understanding how data transmission and reception work in twisted pair environments, particularly regarding how devices communicate over