Network Cabling and Twisted Pair Cables

Flashcards on network cabling, twisted pair cables, and cable types.

Cabling

Fundamental communications path to the rest of the world in a network.

Twisted Pair Copper Cabling

Commonly used for Ethernet networks and contains four pairs of differently colored wires.

Pairs of Wires

Contain equal and opposite signals, sometimes referred to as transmit plus and transmit minus.

Twisted Cable

Signals are constantly twisting, effectively moving away from any type of interference as it moves through the cable.

Twist Rate

Each pair has a different level of this; it ensures interference affects each pair differently.

Twisted Pair Types

Different sets of electrical characteristics supporting different kinds of networks.

1000BASE T

A one gigabit per second Ethernet standard that operates on twisted pair copper cabling.

10GBASE T

A 10 gigabit per second ethernet that also runs over twisted pair cabling.

Category 5E

Applies additional validation tests to category five cable.

Category 6A

Augmented version of category six, supported by 10GBASE-T to 100 meters.

Coaxial Cable

Two or more forms that share a common axis; commonly used with cable TV and cable modems.

RG6

Common type of coax cable used inside homes.

Plenum

Shared air space used for air return and network cables.

PVC

Jacket material commonly made of polyvinyl chloride; special versions are needed for plenums.

FEP

Fluorinated Ethylene Polymer, a plenum-rated cable jacket material.

UTP

Unshielded Twisted Pair; commonly used in home Ethernet cables.

STP

Shielded Twisted Pair; used in environments with more interference.

S

Braided Shielding

F

Foil Shielding

SFTP

Shielding around the entire cable and foil around the pairs.

FUTP

Foil around the entire cable, but nothing is shielded around the individual pairs

FFTP

Braided shield around the entire cable, and each individual pair of wires has a foil around it

Direct Burial STP

Shielded twisted pair cables designed to be buried in the ground.

Drain Wire

Draining away any additional voltages through a ground wire that extends the length of the cable.