One important feature for a copper extension product could be to maintain the network integrity. This ensures that the network speed (wire speed) of the link is maintained at either 100Mbps or 10Mbs and that the connection is fully symmetrical. By doing this it is possible to integrate units into an Ethernet network with complete confidence that the links in no way degrades the performance of the network as they operate at the chosen speed.
It should also be added at this stage that the line speed selected does not have to be the data rate the user's traffic must pass at but rather the maximum data rate that the transmission path will support. The ComNet CopperLine range operates in this very way and supports extended distance transmission over either coaxial or twisted pair cable, with the coaxial medium specified at RG59 or better and the twisted pair CAT5 or better.
