Cybersecurity Unit 5.3

What is the most common type of copper network cable used today?

Unshielded twisted pair

How many pairs of copper conductor wires are found inside a standard UTP cable?

4

Why are the wire pairs twisted at different rates within a UTP cable?

It reduces interference

What does it mean when the electrical signals in a pair are described as balanced?

Each wire carries an equal but opposite signal to its pair

What is the maximum recommended cable length for a UTP segment before signal attenuation occurs?

100 m

What environments typically require STP instead of UTP?

High-interference areas such as runs near fluorescent lighting power lines motors and generators

How does F/UTP differ from standard UTP?

F/UTP has a single foil shield around all wires while UTP has no shielding

Which cable type offers the best EMI/crosstalk protection but is less flexible and more expensive?

Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair

What must be done to shielding during termination to prevent interference?

It must be bonded to the connector

What organization defines Category cable standards?

TIA/EIA-568-C

Which Cat cable type is no longer commercially available?

Cat 5

How does Cat 6A differ from Cat 6?

Cat 6A supports 10GBASE-T at 10 Gbps for a full 100-meter run

Why are Cat 7 and Cat 8 mainly used in data centers?

They support higher bandwidth over shorter distances

What does 8P8C mean for RJ45 connectors?

Eight-position eight-contact

How do T568A and T568B wiring orders differ?

The green and orange pairs are swapped

When would an RJ11 connector be used instead of RJ45?

When terminating 2-wire telephone connections

What are the two types of terminations in structured cabling and their tools?

RJ45 plugs and punchdown blocks

What is the purpose of the ripcord in some Cat 6 cables?

It is pulled to open the jacket

What measurement limitation defines total channel link distance?

The maximum total length allowed including patch cords and horizontal cabling

Cable Tester function

Pair of devices placed on each end of a cable to test pin continuity

Toner Probe function

Identifies a cable within a bundle

Loopback Plug function

Tests NIC or switch port send/receive capability

Network Tap function

Passively or actively duplicates network traffic for analysis

Why must plenum cable meet stricter fire standards?

Plenum spaces allow airflow that can spread smoke and toxic fumes

What protects direct burial cable from moisture and temperature extremes?

A weather-resistant outer coating or conduit

Key advantage of fiber over copper in interference and range?

Fiber is immune to EMI and suffers far less attenuation over long distances

Compare Single-Mode Fiber and Multimode Fiber

SMF has a smaller core for long-distance transmission; MMF has a larger core for shorter-range high-bandwidth use

Main difference between F-type and BNC connectors

F-type uses threaded screw-on coupling while BNC uses a bayonet twist-lock