1.5 CompTIA Network+

Compare and contrast transmission media and transceivers.

802.11 standards

Commonly known as Wi-Fi, these standards are the IEEE specifications for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs).

4G LTE

A standard for high-speed wireless broadband offering significantly faster speeds and lower latency than its predecessor, enabling smooth HD streaming, faster downloads, and real-time gaming. Later developed into another faster and more efficient generation.

Satellite

A standard that uses global communication through orbiting satellites as signal repeaters to provide internet, phone, and broadcasting by relaying data between ground stations and user terminals (dishes or phones).

802.3 standards

Standards defining how Ethernet operates at Layer 1 (physical) and Layer 2 (data link) of the OSI model for Local Area Networks (LAN).

Single-mode Fiber

Optical fiber with a very narrow core used for long-range communication with lasers as the light source.

Multi-mode Fiber

Optical fiber with a wide core used for short-range communication using inexpensive light sources such as LED to communicate with.

Twinaxial cable

High-speed data cable with two twisted inner conductors inside a shielding, offering signal integrity for short-range, high-speed connections.

Coaxial cable

Specialized electrical cable designed for high-frequency signal transmission featuring a central conductor, a dielectric insulator, metal shielding, and a plastic jacket.

Cable speeds

Electric signals are sent over the copper cable and standardized into categories (usually from CAT 5 minimum and up).

Plenum cable

A fire-safety-rated electrical cable with a special jacket (FEP or PVC) designed for use in plenum spaces—areas used for air circulation, such as above drop ceilings or under raised floors. It resists flame spread, self-extinguishes, and releases minimal toxic smoke, preventing fire and fumes from rapidly traveling through a building’s HVAC system.

Non-plenum cable

An electrical cable with a standard PVC jacket that is less fire-resistant and cheap in cost, used in general building spaces like walls or residential areas but forbidden in plenum spaces.

Transceivers Protocol

Defines the rules and electrical standards for a device that both transmits and receives data, enabling bidirectional communication over a shared medium.

Ethernet Transceivers

Networking components that bridge devices and network media, enabling data transmission and reception over various cable types.

Fiber Channel Transceivers

Specialized, high-speed, hot-pluggable modules used to connect storage area networks (SANs) to connect servers and storage devices.

SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) and SFP+

A compact, hot-swappable transceiver module used in network switches, routers, and fiber-optic equipment to connect, transmit, and receive data over fiber or copper cables. The enhanced version is capable of having higher data rates per second.

QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable) and QSFP+

A compact, hot-swappable transceiver module used in high-speed networking, capable of supporting 4 channels of data based on its generation.

SC (Subscriber Connector)

A widely used optic-fiber cable connector featuring a 2.5mm ceramic ferrule and a push-pull latching mechanism for quick, secure, and precise connections. Often called a square or standard connector.

LC (Local Connector)

A smaller and more compact connector that locks in place with a clip (you must press to release).

ST (Straight Tip)

A bayonet connector that you stick and twist to lock in place.

MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On)

Connector that uses multiple fibers (typically 12 or 24) to save space and make it more manageable. Push it in to lock in place, and pull the connector to unlock (sometimes uses MTP abbreviation).

RJ11 (Registered Jack Type 11) Connector

Connector that typically uses 6 positions for wires but only uses 4 conductor pins (6P4C) or sometimes 2 conductor pins (6P2C) for telephone and DSL connections.

RJ45 (Registered Jack Type 45) Connector

Connector that typically uses 8 positions for wires and 8 conductor pins (8P8C) to terminate twisted-pair cables for Ethernet networking, and connecting devices like computers, routers, and switches.

F-connector

A common, inexpensive threaded connector for radio frequency signals, primarily used for cable TV, satellite dishes, cable modems, and antennas.

BNC (Bayonet Neill-Concelman) Connector

A coaxial cable using bayonet-style locking mechanisms to lock in place typically in radio-frequency equipment.