Media and Connectors Flashcards
1.5, 5.5
IEEE 802.3 Standard
■ Defines physical and data link layers, including MAC, for wired Ethernet
networks
■ Commonly used in Local Area Networks (LANs)
Twisted Pair Cables
■ A type of wiring in which two conductors of a single circuit are twisted
together
■ Twisting reduces electromagnetic interference and crosstalk
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
● Composed of pairs of wires twisted together without additional
shielding being added to the cable
● Lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
● Includes shielding for better EMI protection
● More expensive, bulkier, and more difficult to install
CAT 5
100 Mbps at 100 meters
CAT 5e
1Gbps at 100 meters
CAT 6
1Gbps at 100 meters; 10 Gbps at 55 meters
CAT 6a
10 Gbps at 100 meters
CAT 7
10 Gbps at 100 meters
CAT 8
10-25 or 40 Gbps at 30 meters
RG-6
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
Twinaxial
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
DAC
● 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)
Plenum vs. Non-Plenum Cables
■ 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
RJ-11
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
RJ-45
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
Radio Guide (RG-X)
■ 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
F-Type Connector
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
BNC Connector (Bayonet Neill-Concelman)
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
Straight Through Cable (Patch Cable)
Contains the exact same pinout on both ends of the cable
Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)
Endpoint devices that connect to a piece of data communications equipment or DCE (laptops, desktops, servers, routers)
Data Communications Equipment
Switches, hubs, modems, bridges
Crossover Cable
Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)
● 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