Cable types, features, and purpose Flashcards
What type of connector is this?
What is it used for?
RJ11
(Registered Jack-11) A telephone interface that uses a cable of twisted wire pairs and a modular jack with two, four or six contacts. RJ-11 is the common connector for plugging a telephone into the wall and the handset into the telephone.
The most common type of cable used in today’s networks is _______.
Twisted pair
It is referred to as twisted pair because the copper wires inside of the cable are twisted together into pairs throughout the entire length of the cable. Regularly, admins use UTP cable, short for unshielded twisted pair. Typical versions of twisted pair include Category 6 and Category 5e (often abbreviated to just Cat 6 or Cat 5e).
Category UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
Category 5
Rated for?
100 Mbps networks
(100 MHz)
Category UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
Category 5e
Rated for?
100 Mbps networks and 1 Gbps networks
(100 MHz/350 MHz)
Category UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
Category 6/6a
Rated for?
1000 Mbps networks and 10 Gbps networks
(250 MHz/500 MHz)
Category UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
Category 7/7a
Rated for?
1000 Mbps networks and 10 Gbps networks
(600 MHz/1000 MHz)
DVI Cable
Digital Visual Interface
High-quality connections used with LCD displays.
Carries uncompressed digital video; is partially compatible with HDMI.
Types include:
DVI-D: Digital-only connections.
DVI-I: Digital and analog connections.
DVI-A: Analog-only connections. Dual-link connections are available for DVI-D and DVI-I. Non-dual-link versions have a gap in the center of the pins, using 1/3 less pins total.
HDMI Cable
High-Definition (HD) Multimedia Interface
Used mainly for high-definition television.
Can carry video and audio signals Version 2.1
Type A: Supports all HD modes, compatible with DVI-D connectors.
Type B: Double-video bandwidth, supports higher resolutions. Also known as dual-link; uncommon.
Type C: Mini-HDMI, used in portable devices.
Display Port
Designed to be the replacement for HDMI and DVI.
Uses packet transmission similar to Ethernet.
Mini version developed by Apple.
VGA/SVGA
Video Graphics Array
15-pin, usually blue, known as DE15 (also sold as DB15 or HD15). Used for older monitors that display VGA, SVGA, and XGA resolutions. Signal quality degrades over shorter distances than HDMI, DVI, and DisplayPort.
What are the speeds for each?
USB Version
USB 2.0
USB 3.0
USB 3.1
USB 3.2 (USB-C)
USB 2.0 480 Mbps
USB 3.0 5 Gbps
USB 3.1 10 Gbps
USB 3.2 (USB-C) 10/20 Gbps
What is Lightning?
A proprietary port built into Apple devices such as the iPad and iPhone.
It’s an 8-pin connector that replaced the 30-pin dock predecessor.
It supports USB 3.0 speeds
What is Thunderbolt?
Thunderbolt is a high-speed hardware interface developed by Intel.
Is used primarily by Apple computers.
It combines elements of PCI Express and DisplayPort technologies. Versions 1 and 2 use the Mini DisplayPort connector and version 3 uses the USB Type-C connector. Thunderbolt 2 gives access to 4K monitors. Because Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, it provides native support for the Apple Thunderbolt Display and Mini DisplayPort displays.
Thunderbolt can be used to transfer data at high rates to external storage devices or to displays (or both; up to six devices can be daisy-chained, meaning wired together in sequence). If you look at the ports of the computer and see the thunderbolt icon next to the Mini DisplayPort port, then it is meant to be used for data transfer to peripherals.
Thunderbolt Version
Version 1
Version 2
Version 3
Transfer Rate Connector Type
10 Gbps DisplayPort
20 Gbps DisplayPort
40 Gbps USB Type-C
