Chapter 3.2: Network Cables

Twisted Pair Copper Cabling

A type of cabling where pairs of copper wires are twisted together to reduce electromagnetic interference.

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)

Twisted pair cabling without additional shielding, the most common type.

STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)

Twisted pair cabling with additional shielding to protect against interference, requiring grounding.

Coaxial Cable

A cable with two or more forms sharing a common axis, consisting of an inner conductor and an outer shield. Commonly used for television and high-speed internet.

Plenum-rated Cable

Cable with a fire-rated jacket designed for use in plenum spaces (air-handling ducts), producing less smoke in a fire.

T568A and T568B

Standards for pin and pair assignments of eight-conductor 100-ohm balanced twisted pair cabling, defining the color order for crimping RJ45 connectors.

Fiber Optic Cable

Cabling that transmits data using light signals, offering long-distance communication and immunity to radio interference.

Multimode Fiber

Fiber optic cable is used for short-range communication, typically with LED light sources.

Single-mode Fiber

Fiber optic cable used for long-range communication, typically with laser light sources.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

A standard for connecting peripheral devices, supporting various data transfer speeds and connector types.

Thunderbolt

A high-speed serial connector technology that combines data, video, and power, based on the Mini DisplayPort standard and later using USB-C.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

A common digital interface for transmitting both high-definition video and audio.

DisplayPort

A digital display interface primarily used for video, but also carrying audio, compatible with HDMI and DVI.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface)

A video interface designed to maximize the visual quality of digital displays, with single-link and dual-link options.

VGA (Video Graphics Array)

An older analog video interface, still found on some legacy devices.

SATA (Serial AT Attachment)

A serial interface standard for connecting storage devices like hard drives and SSDs.

eSATA (External SATA)

An external interface for connecting SATA devices.

RJ11 Connector

A 6-position, 2-conductor modular connector commonly used for telephone or DSL connections.

RJ45 Connector

An 8-position, 8-conductor modular connector commonly used for Ethernet connections.

F-connector

A threaded coaxial cable connector commonly used for cable television and cable modems.

Punchdown Block

A wire-to-wire patch panel where wires are "punched" into the block to make connections.

Molex Connector

A 4-pin peripheral power connector providing +12 Volts and +5 Volts, used for storage devices and fans.

Lightning Connector

Apple's proprietary 8-pin digital signal connector for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

DB-9 Connector

A D-subminiature connector commonly used for RS-232 serial communications, often for configuration ports.

ST (Straight Tip) Connector

A fiber optic connector with a bayonet-style connection.

SC (Subscriber Connector)

A push-pull fiber optic connector, popular in data centers.

LC (Lucent Connector)

A smaller, more compact fiber optic connector that locks in place with a clip.