A+ Cables (2)

What do cables enable in networking?

Networking by carrying 1s and 0s over wires.

What is the purpose of connectors in cabling?

To enable data and power by plugging into devices.

What is crimping?

The process of attaching a modular plastic connector (commonly RJ45) to the end of a copper cable.

What are pins in the context of connectors?

Tiny metal parts that establish electrical connections.

What is a twisted pair copper cabling?

A configuration where copper cables use pairs of wires with equal and opposite signals to reduce interference.

What determines cable speed?

Signaling coding sent over wires, not the cables themselves.

What is IEEE 802.3?

The standard that determines the manufacturing standards for network cabling.

What does 'Cat' stand for in cable categories?

It refers to the category of cable standards like Cat 5e or Cat 6A.

What is the minimum cable category for the 1000BASE-T Ethernet standard?

Cat 5.

What is UTP in cabling?

Unshielded Twisted Pair, copper cables without extra shielding.

What is STP in cabling?

Shielded Twisted Pair, copper cables with additional shielding to protect against interference.

What is a Direct Burial STP cable?

A type of cable designed for underground burial, often waterproof with added strength.

What does plenum refer to?

Open spaces used for HVAC in buildings.

What is non-plenum?

Spaces that do not use HVAC for airflow.

What is a plenum-rated cable?

Cables using fire-rated jackets made of FEP or low smoke PVC for safety in HVAC spaces.

What is coaxial cable?

Coaxial cables run around an inner conductor and an outer shield (to minimize interference) and are used for high frequency RF signals (most commonly video transmission across networks).

What are T568A and T568B?

Two standards for arranging colored wires and connectors in Ethernet cables.

What differentiates T568A from T568B?

The arrangement of colored wires, specifically pins 1, 2, 3, and 6.

What is RJ11?

A 6 position, 2 (or 4) pin connector for analog telephony.

What is RJ45?

An 8 position, 8 pin connector standard in Ethernet networks.

What is an F-Connector?

A threaded connector used for coaxial cables, following the DOCSIS standard.

What are punchdown blocks?

• Organizes and terminates network cables

• Commonly found in wiring closets and patch panels

What is a Molex connector?

A 4 pin power connector used in older desktops for internal peripherals.

What is Thunderbolt?

A high-speed serial connector for data and power on the same cable.

What distinguishes multimode fiber optics?

Multiple light beams passing through the cable at different wavelengths.

What distinguishes singlemode fiber optics?

A single beam of light traveling through a thinner core, ideal for long distances.

What is ST (Straight Tip) connector in fiber optics?

A bayonet-style connector that locks by twisting into place.

What is SC (Subscriber Connector) connector?

A connector popular in data centers that pushes and pulls to lock into place.

What is LC (Lucent Connector) connector?

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

What is USB (Universal Series Bus)?

The standard connection type, originally for wired peripheral devices, now enabling data transfer as well as power and streaming.

What are USB 1.1 features?

Low-speed (1.5 Mbps) and Full-speed (12 Mbps). Maximum cable length: 3 to 5 meters.

What are USB 2.0 (High-Speed) features?

Up to 480 Mbps. Maximum cable length: 5 meters. (Commonly color-coded black).

What are USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed) features?

Up to 5 Gbps (5000 Mbps). Maximum cable length: 3 meters. (Commonly color-coded blue). Supports 5 gigabit ethernet.

What are USB 3.1 (SuperSpeed+) features?

Up to 10 Gbps. Maximum cable length: 3 meters.

What are USB 3.2 features?

Up to 20 Gbps (requires Type-C connector). Maximum cable length: 3 meters.

What is USB-C?

An advanced, now widespread USB connector that supports various functions including power and data.

What are legacy serial cables?

Old standards like RS-232 and UART used for connecting devices before USB became widespread.

What is DVI in video connections?

Digital Visual Interface, an older standard for transmitting video data, now used for maintaining and troubleshooting older computers.

What are DVI single vs dual link capabilities?

Single link DVI: 3.7 Gbps (1920 × 1200 at 60 Hz)

Dual link: 7.4 (2560 × 1600 at 85 Hz)

DVI-I

DVI variation, sends both digital and analog in the same connector

DVI-A

DVI variation, also able to send analog signals, and compatible with VGA

DVI-D

DVI variation, sends digital signals

What is HDMI?

High-Definition Multimedia Interface

Wired standard used to transmit audio and video data digitally.

The most common standard for video.

What is DisplayPort?

A digital interface standard primarily used in high-end equipment.

What is SATA?

Serial AT Attachment.

The wired standard for connecting peripheral storage devices to motherboards.

(M.2 NVMe SSDs replaced the need for the wire)

What are the main features of SATA?

Uses two connections on storage drives:

A 15 pin connection is used for power and a 7 pin connection is used for data.

What are the speeds of Legacy SATA Revisions?

1.5 Gbit/s for SATA 1.0

3 Gbit/s for SATA 2.0

16 Gbit/s for SATA 3.2

What are the features of SATA Revision 3.0?

6 Gbit/s

Most commonly used for extra storage.

What is eSATA?

External SATA connection for storage devices with the same functionality as SATA. Range of 2 meters instead of 1.

What is an adapter in the context of cables?

A device that bridges two different types of connectors for different interfaces.

What is a converter in cabling?

A device that changes the power or signal for different interfaces.

What is a USB hub?

A device that expands USB connectivity by providing various outputs.

What is the main advantage of fiber optic cables?

They support higher bandwidth and longer distances than copper cables.

How can you tell if a cable is plenum-rated?

It will be made of fire-rated materials suitable for HVAC airflow environments.

What type of light source is generally used in multimode fiber?

LEDs.

What type of light source is used in singlemode fiber?

Lasers.

What are the main components of a fiber optic cable?

Core, cladding, and buffer.

What is the most common configuration of Coaxial and HDMI cables for traditional TV?

Coaxial cable goes form network to box.

HDMI goes from box to TV.

(Smart TVs bypass coaxial cables)

How do you identify the wiring standard in an Ethernet cable?

By examining the color arrangement of the wires in the RJ45 connector.

What is the difference between foil shielding (F) and braided shielding (S) in network cables?

Foil (F): Thin metallic foil wrapped around conductors; provides excellent shielding but is less durable.

Braided (S): Woven metal mesh surrounding conductors; more durable and flexible, with good shielding.

In cable shielding notation, what do the letters mean?

• U = Unshielded

• F = Foil shielding

• S = Braided shielding

In cable shielding notation, what does the part before the slash describe, and what does the part after the slash describe?

Before the slash = shielding around the entire cable

After the slash = shielding around the individual twisted pairs

(Ex: S/FTP, F/UTP)

What is a common use for punchdown blocks?

To organize multiple wires in a manageable structure.

What cable is often used for cable modems?

Coaxial cable with RG-6 standard.

How far can singlemode fiber optic cables typically transmit data?

Up to 100 km.

What is a disadvantage of fiber optic cables?

They can be more expensive and fragile than copper cables.

What common hardware uses DB-9 connectors?

Modems and older serial devices.

What is the defining feature of thunderbolt cables?

Data and power transmission on the same cable.

What differentiates standard USB connector types?

They vary in size and functionality depending on their generation.

What does 'UTP' stand for?

Unshielded Twisted Pair.

What is the difference between RS-232 and UART?

RS-232 is the standard protocol while UART describes the asynchronous transmission technique used.

What is the purpose of a drain wire in Direct Burial STP cables?

To provide an electrical ground for the assembly.

What characteristics define coaxial cables?

An inner conductor surrounded by an outer shield.

What types of video interfaces can USB-C support?

DisplayPort video, HDMI video, and Thunderbolt data. (With an adapter)

Why is fiber optic communication preferred in secure environments?

It is immune to electromagnetic interference and wiretapping.

What is a punchdown block commonly made for?

Organizing STP cables.

What does 'DB' refer to in RS-232 connectors?

The number of pins, such as DB-9 or DB-25.

What are plenum-rated cables designed to resist?

Flammability and smoke when exposed to fire.

What type of information does DisplayPort send?

Digital audio and video data.

What aspect of cabling does the IEEE 802.3 standard cover?

Network cabling standards for Ethernet.

What is an advantage of twisted pair cables?

They reduce interference from external sources.

What differentiates ST and SC connectors?

How they lock in place; ST uses a bayonet twist, SC locks in via push-pull.

What is the importance of color coding in T568A/T568B standards?

Ensures correct wire configuration for connectivity.

What is a common DVI use case?

Connecting older desktop PCs or monitors.

What is the primary advantage of SATA connections?

Allows for multiple storage devices on one motherboard.

What kind of cables must be rated for plenum use?

Cables with fire-resistant jackets appropriate for air circulation areas.

What role do adapters serve in cable technology?

Facilitate connection between incompatible interfaces.

What type of connection does Thunderbolt 4 allow?

40 Gbit/s data transfer with improved video output.

What do 'S' and 'F' represent in cable shielding designations?

'S' for braided shielding and 'F' for foiled shielding.

What type of structural design do coaxial cables use?

Concentric layers of conductors.

What differentiates fiber optic cables from copper cables?

Fiber uses light for data transmission, while copper uses electrical signals.

How does high bandwidth benefit fiber optic connections?

Supports more data transmission, allowing faster internet and communications.

What type of video does VGA support?

Only video signals without audio.

What determines the performance of Ethernet cables?

The category of the cable based on standards like Cat 5e.