Cable connectivity Troubleshooting

Question 1

What are the key specifications and limitations of network cables?

Answer 1

Throughput, speed, distance: Key specifications include the maximum data transfer rate, speed, and the distance over which the cable can transmit data.

Question 2

What are the differences between shielded and unshielded cables?

Answer 2

Shielded and unshielded cables: Shielded cables have a protective layer to reduce interference, while unshielded cables do not.

Question 3

What is the purpose of plenum and riser-rated cables?

Answer 3

Plenum and riser-rated cables: Plenum cables are for use in air ducts and spaces, while riser-rated cables are for vertical runs between floors.

Question 4

What is a rollover cable or console cable used for?

Answer 4

Rollover cable/console cable: Used for connecting to a router or switch console port.

Question 5

When would you use a crossover cable?

Answer 5

Crossover cable: Used for connecting two similar devices directly, like two computers.

Question 6

What is Power over Ethernet (PoE)?

Answer 6

Power over Ethernet (PoE): Provides electrical power over Ethernet cables to devices like IP cameras and wireless access points.

Question 7

What is attenuation?

Answer 7

Attenuation: The reduction in signal strength over distance.

Question 8

How can interference affect network cables?

Answer 8

Interference: External signals that disrupt data transmission.

Question 9

What does decibel (dB) loss refer to in networking?

Answer 9

Decibel (dB) loss: A measure of signal loss over distance.

Question 10

What happens with an incorrect pinout?

Answer 10

Incorrect pinout: Can result in no connection or poor performance.

Question 11

What are the symptoms of bad ports?

Answer 11

Bad ports: Ports that are malfunctioning, causing connectivity issues.

Question 12

What is an open/short in networking cables?

Answer 12

Open/short: Open indicates a break in the cable, while short indicates a contact between wires.

Question 13

How can light-emitting diode (LED) status indicators be used?

Answer 13

LED status indicators: Show the status and activity of network connections.

Question 14

What issues can arise with incorrect transceivers?

Answer 14

Incorrect transceivers: Can cause compatibility and connection issues.

Question 15

What are duplexing issues?

Answer 15

Duplexing issues: Mismatched duplex settings can lead to poor network performance.

Question 16

What does it mean when transmit and receive (TX/RX) are reversed?

Answer 16

TX/RX reversed: Incorrect wiring causing no communication between devices.

Question 17

How can dirty optical cables affect network performance?

Answer 17

Dirty optical cables: Can reduce signal quality and cause data transmission errors.

Question 18

What tools are commonly used for networking cables?

Answer 18

Common tools: Cable crimper, punchdown tool, tone generator, loopback adapter, OTDR, multimeter, cable tester, wire map, tap, fusion splicers, spectrum analyzers, snips/cutters, cable stripper, fiber light meter.