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Signal Names for Transmit & Receive

By Dr. John W. Pan

Circuit Switched Voice Band

For circuit switched telephone networks consisting of switches and transmission facilities, the labeling of signals as transmit or receive is from the point of view of the switch. In the diagram below, a signal originates from West Switch, traverses a Carrier, and terminates in East Switch, with the return path in reverse.

Tx West Switch Rx

West Carrier Terminal

East Carrier Terminal

Rx Tx East Switch

The traditional label for the signal from the Switch to the Carrier Terminal is Transmit (Tx), with the opposite signal, from the Terminal back to the switch, as Receive (Rx). The signal originating as Tx becomes Rx at the destination. From the Carrier Terminal point of view, Tx is actually received for transport. At the far end, that signal out of the Carrier Terminal, now Rx, is transmitted to the Switch. Using this rule, a signal coming out from a piece of equipment will be labeled Tx or Rx depending on that equipment being switching or transmission, and conversely for a signal going to a piece of equipment.

Packet Switched Ethernet

Ethernet equipment often contains both switching and transmission functions. For naming of pins for two common connectors used in Ethernet, RJ48, which serves a single port, and RJ21, which serves 12 ports, two manufacturers chose different names for the same signal, shown below.

Connector Adapter Panel by Cornet Technology, Inc. RJ45 Pin outs have pins 1 & 2 as Tx RJ21 Pin outs have pins 1 & 26 as Tx

Ethernet Switching Module by 3-COM RJ45 Pin outs have pins 1 & 2 as Rx RJ21 Pin outs have pins 1 & 26 as Rx

looptelecom.com

August 13, 2007

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Names chosen by other manufacturers, again for the same signal on same pin, are shown below: Loop Telecom RJ45 Pin 1>Tx; RJ48 Pin 1>Rx; RJ21 Pin 1>Rx Patton 450RC24 Coax to RJ21 passive converter Pin 1>Tx AC&E Balun Pan Coax to RJ21 passive converter Pin 1>Rx Juniper Networks RJ48 Pin 1>Rx; RJ21 Pin 1>Rx Extreme Networks RJ48 Pin 1>Rx; RJ21 Pin 1>Rx Cisco Catalist 6000 RJ21 Pin 1>Rx

Summary
To avoid confusion the best way is to state, in addition to Tx and Rx, whether the signal on that pin is To or From that equipment, as practiced by Patton for their RJ21, shown below. Here, switching equipment is implied. PIN 1 26 2 27 PORT 1 1 1 1 SIGNAL Tx tip Tx ring Rx tip Rx ring To/From DNX From From To To

For the Loop-O9400, the pin assignment follows most of the examples cited above. Here, transmission equipment is implied. PIN 1 26 2 27 PORT 1 1 1 1 SIGNAL Rx tip Rx ring Tx tip Tx ring To/From 9400 To To From From

The above two pieces of equipment can be connected together using a RJ21 cable.

looptelecom.com

August 13, 2007