Media and Connectors

Question 1

IEEE 802.3 Standard

Answer 1

■ Defines physical and data link layers, including MAC, for wired Ethernet
networks
■ Commonly used in Local Area Networks (LANs)

Question 2

Twisted Pair Cables

Answer 2

■ A type of wiring in which two conductors of a single circuit are twisted
together
■ Twisting reduces electromagnetic interference and crosstalk

Question 3

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Answer 3

● Composed of pairs of wires twisted together without additional
shielding being added to the cable
● Lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective

Question 4

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Answer 4

● Includes shielding for better EMI protection
● More expensive, bulkier, and more difficult to install

Question 5

CAT 5

Answer 5

100 Mbps at 100 meters

Question 6

CAT 5e

Answer 6

1Gbps at 100 meters

Question 7

CAT 6

Answer 7

1Gbps at 100 meters; 10 Gbps at 55 meters

Question 8

CAT 6a

Answer 8

10 Gbps at 100 meters

Question 9

CAT 7

Answer 9

10 Gbps at 100 meters

Question 10

CAT 8

Answer 10

10-25 or 40 Gbps at 30 meters

Question 11

RG-6

Answer 11

1 Gbps at 300 meters

● Used to support faster internet speed in most residential
installations
● Standard for modern coaxial cable
● Supports up to 1 Gbps at up to around 300-meter distance

Question 12

Twinaxial

Answer 12

10 Gbps or more at 10 meters

● Often a component of DAC assembly
● Considered as another specialized form of cabling
● Two insulated copper conductors
● Used in SFP+ and QSFP applications
● Supports 10 Gbps to 100 Gbps, up to 100 meters

Question 13

DAC

Answer 13

● Fixed assembly copper cabling for short distances
● Connects switches, routers, or servers

100 Gbps at 15 meters (active cables); 100 Gbps at 7 meters
(passive cables)

Question 14

Plenum vs. Non-Plenum Cables

Answer 14

■ Plenum – Fire-retardant, suitable for air circulation spaces
■ Non-Plenum – Less fire-resistant, used where fire risk is lower
■ Plenum meets strict fire safety standards of NFPA and NEC

Question 15

RJ-11

Answer 15

for voice-based communication networks (telephones)

● Standard for telephone wiring
● 6P2C configuration (6 positions, 2 conductors)
● Smaller size
● Not suitable for high-speed data transmission

Question 16

RJ-45

Answer 16

for data devices in data networks (computers, printers, switches,
routers)

● Standard for data networks (Ethernet)
● 8P8C configuration (8 positions, 8 conductors)
● Widely used for computers, switches, routers in local area
networks
● Compatible with CAT 5 to CAT 8 cables – supporting higher
bandwidths with higher CAT numbers

Question 17

Radio Guide (RG-X)

Answer 17

■ Series for coaxial cables, used in high-speed internet, television, and radio
connections
■ Commonly used cables
● RG-6 – for cable TV
● RG-59 – for older applications

Question 18

F-Type Connector

Answer 18

for coaxial cables in cable TV, satellite, and cable internet
connections

● Screw-on connector used with RG-6 and RG-59 coaxial cables
● Standard for cable TV, satellite, and cable internet connections

Question 19

BNC Connector (Bayonet Neill-Concelman)

Answer 19

for professional video connections and radio frequency
applications

● Coaxial connector with a secure bayonet locking mechanism
● Used with RG-6 or RG-59 coaxial cables
● “Push and twist” style connector
● Common in professional video connections and radio frequency
applications
● Introduced in the 1940s, often erroneously called British Naval
Connector

Question 20

Straight Through Cable (Patch Cable)

Answer 20

Contains the exact same pinout on both ends of the cable

Question 21

Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)

Answer 21

Endpoint devices that connect to a piece of data communications equipment or DCE (laptops, desktops, servers, routers)

Question 22

Data Communications Equipment

Answer 22

Switches, hubs, modems, bridges

Question 23

Crossover Cable

Question 24

Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)

Answer 24

● Designed for long-distance communication
● Small glass core allows light to travel in a single path without
dispersion
○ 8.3 to 10 microns in diameter
● Preferred for backbone installations and connections over vast
areas
● Yellow sheath
● For long-range transmissions with higher bandwidth

Question 25

Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF)

Answer 25

● Tailored for shorter distances
○ 2 kilometers to 1 mile
● Larger fiber core size allows light to travel in multiple paths
○ 50 to 100 microns
● Suitable for connecting servers to switches within buildings or
campuses
● Aqua blue or orange sheath
● For internal network infrastructures, offering cost-effectiveness
and ease of installation

Question 26

SC Connector (Subscriber Connector)

Answer 26

○ Square shape with push-pull design
○ Widely used in single-mode fibers
○ Common in telecommunications and data networking
○ Used in FTTH deployments for reliability and ease of use

Question 27

LC Connector (Lucent Connector)

Answer 27

○ Compact size with push-pull mechanism
○ Favored in high-density applications like data centers
○ Often shipped as paired cables for transmit and receive
sides
○ Features high-precision alignment, ensuring efficient data
transmission and minimized potential data loss

Question 28

ST Connector (Straight Tip Connector)

Answer 28

○ Round shape with twist-lock mechanism
■ Critically important when operating in any kind of
environment where movement or vibrations might
occur
○ Reliable connection, commonly used in multi-mode fiber
optics
○ Well-suited for outdoor applications due to its durability

Question 29

MTRJ Connector (Mechanical Transfer-Registered Jack)

Answer 29

○ Small, rectangular design housing transmit and receive
fibers
○ Suitable for space-constrained applications like office LANs
○ Offers high-density capabilities with an RJ-style latch
mechanism
○ Offers cost-effective solution for densely populated
network environments

Question 30

MPO Connector (Multi-fiber Push On Connector)

Answer 30

○ Designed for multiple fibers in a single connector
○ Essential in high-density applications such as data centers
and high-speed networks
○ Enables quick and efficient connections, crucial for rapid
scalability

Question 31

Transceiver (Media Converter)

Answer 31

■ A device capable of both transmitting and receiving data
■ Blend of “transmitter” and “receiver”
■ Utilizes specific protocols for data transmission and reception

Transceiver Functions
■ Converts data between different protocols
■ Enables communication between Ethernet and Fibre Channel networks
■ Converts media types in Layer 1 (e.g., fiber to copper, copper to fiber)

Question 32

SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable)

Answer 32

● A compact hot pluggable optical module
● Can be pulled in or pulled out without turning off the associated
router or switch
● Up to 4.25 Gbps