Options for network cabling Including Cat Cabling
Network cabling is the medium via which information is relayed between various network devices. There are various kinds of cables that are often used when connecting the network devices. In some cases, networks only use one kind of a cable while others use several types of network cables. The kind of cable selected for a network is associated with that network’s protocol, topology and size. Understanding the features of various cable types and how the associate with other factors of a network is crucial for the establishment of a proper network. Below are the kind of cables employed in networks and other related subjects: – UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cable
– STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) cable
– Coaxial cable
– Fiber optic cable
– Wireless LANs
– Cable installation guides
Twisted pair cabling exists in two forms: shielded and unshielded. UTP: Unshielded twisted pair is the most familiar and usually the best alternative for school networks. The quality of UTP can range from telephone-grade wire to very high-speed cable. The cable consists of four pairs of wires within the jacket. Every pair is twisted with another number of twists per inch to assist get rid of interference from nearby pairs or other electrical components. A tighter twisting is more suitable for greater support of transmission rate and higher cost per foot. Below is the class for Unshielded Twisted Pair:
a) Category 1: Telephone wire – voice only
b) Category 2: Local Talk – Data to 4 mbps
c) Category 3: Ethernet – Data to 10 mbps
d) Category 4: 16 mbps Token Ring – Data to 20 mbps
e) Category 5: Fast Ethernet – Data to 100 mbps
f) Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)-Connector:
The typical connector for UTP cabling is the RJ-45 connector. This connector is made of plastic that resembles a big telephone style connector. The slot enables the RJ-45 to be put only in one way. RJ is the synonym for Registered Jack meaning that the connector goes through a standard that is borrowed from the telephone sector. The standard designates the wire that goes with every pin within the connector. The challenge of UTP is that it can be volatile to electrical and radio frequency interference. While the STP is good for environments facing electrical obstruction. Nevertheless, extra shielding may make the cables a bit bulky. The shielded twisted pair is usually utilized on networks with the use of Token Ring topology.
Coaxial Cable
This cabling has one copper conductor at its core. The plastic layer insulates between the inner conductor and the braided metal guard. The metal shield enables the blocking of outside interference from motors, fluorescent lights and other computers. Even though coaxial cable is challenging during installation, it greatly resists signal interference. Moreover, it can support more cable lengths amidst network components compared to twisted pair cable. The two kinds of coaxial cabling are thin and thick coaxial. Fiber Optic Cable
The cabling consists of center glass core that is covered by various layers of protective materials. The cabling transmits light instead of electronic signals getting rid of electrical interference. This makes it appropriate in some environments that have a huge level of electrical interference. It is usually used in connecting networks from one building to another since it resists the influence of moisture and lighting.