Network cabling

Type of cable:

Unshielded twisted pair







Coaxial cable

Fiber Optic




Unshielded twisted pair characteristics:

-Unshielded .

-least expensive cable.

-Twisted pairs of .insulated conductors.

-Covered by insulating sheath. 

-Radio and electrical frequency interference (should not be too close to electric motors, fluorescent lights.

Each pair is twisted with a different number of twist per inch to help eliminate interference from adjacent pairs and other electrical devices. 

The tighter the twisting, the higher the supported transmission rate and the greater the cost  per foot.

 Cat5e cable:

-1000Mbps data capacity.

-For runs of up to 90 meters.

-Solid core cable ideal for structural installations (PVC or Plenum).

-Stranded cable ideal for patch cables.

RJ-45 connectors:

-Terminated with RJ-45 connectors (plastic connector).

-RJ - Registered Jack, implying that the connector follows a standard borrowed from the telephone industry. 

-This standard designates which wire goes with each pin inside the connector.

-Best option for school networks.

RJ-45 connectors          

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable: 

-Shielded twisted pair may be the solution for the interference of UTP connectors.

- Help to extend the maximum distance of the cables

- Available in three different configurations:

Each pair of wires is individually shielded with foil.

There is a foil or braid shield inside the jacket covering all wires (as a group).

There is a shielded around each individual pair, as well as around the entire group of wires (referred to as double twisted pair).

Coaxial Cable:

-Single copper conductor at its center.

-A plastic layer provides insulation between the center conductor and a braided metal shield 

-The metal shield helps to block any outside interference from fluorescent lights, motors, and others computer.

-Difficult to install.

-Highly resistant to signal interference.

-Support greater cable lengths between network devices than twisted pair cable.

-Thick coaxial and thin coaxial.

Thin coaxial:

-Also called thinnet. 

-10Base2 refers to the specifications for thin coaxial cable carrying Ethernet signals.

-2 refers to the approximate maximum segment length being 200 meters.

-Maximum segment length is 185 meters.

-popular in school networks, especially linear bus networks.

Thick coaxial :

-Also called thicknet.

-The 5 refers to the maximum segment length being 500 meters.

-has an extra protective plastic cover that helps keep moisture away from the center conductor.

-Great choice when running longer lengths in a linear bus network.

-One disadvantage does not bend easily and is difficult to install.

Coaxial Cable Connecter:

- Common type of connector used is the Bayone-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector.

Fiber Optic Cable:

-Center glass core surrounded by several layers of protective .

-Transmits light rather than electronic signals eliminating the problem of electrical interference. 

-Environments  a large amount of electrical interference. 

-Made it the standard for connecting networks between buildings, due to its immunity to the effects of moisture and lighting.

-To transmit signals over much longer distances than coaxial and twisted pair. 

-Carry information at vastly greater speeds.

-Capacity broadens communication possibilities to include services such as video conferencing and interactive services.

-The cost ofvis comparable to copper cabling; however, it is more difficult to install and modify.

-10BaseF refers to the specifications for fiber optic cable carrying Ethernet signals.

-center core of  is made from glass or plastic fibers.

-A plastic coating then cushions the fiber center, and kevlar fibers help to strengthen the cables and prevent breakage.

 single mode :

-Can provide more distance, but it is more expensive.

Multimode :

-larger diameter; however, both cables provide high bandwidth at high speeds.

Specification	Cable Type
10BaseT	Unshielded Twisted Pair
10Base2	Thin Coaxial
10Base5	Thick Coaxial
100BaseT	Unshielded Twisted Pair
100BaseFX	Fiber Optic
100BaseBX	Single mode Fiber
100BaseSX	Multimode Fiber
1000BaseT	Unshielded Twisted Pair
1000BaseFX	Fiber Optic
1000BaseBX	Single mode Fiber
1000BaseSX	Multimode Fiber

 Making connection:

-Cat5e cable

-RJ45 connectors

-Cable stripper

-Scissors

-Crimping tool

Making connection steps:

1.Strip cable end

 - Strip 1 – 1½” of insulating sheath.

-Avoid cutting into conductor insulation.

2.Untwisted wire ends.

-Sort wires by insulation colors.

3.Arrange wires.
-TIA/EIA 568A: GW-G OW-Bl BlW-O BrW-Br

-TIA/EIA 568B: OW-O GW-Bl BlW-G BrW-Br

4.Trim wires to size.
lTrim all wires evenly
lLeave about ½” of wires exposed

5.Attach connector.

-Maintain wire order, left-to-right, with RJ45 tab facing downward.

6.Check.
-Do all wires extend to end?

-Is sheath well inside connector?

7.Crimp test.

-Squeeze firmly to crimp connecter onto cable end (8P)
8. Test.

-Does the cable work?

Installing Cable - some guidelines

When running cable, it is best to follow a few simple rules:

-Always use more cable than you need. Leave plenty of slack.
-Test every part of a network as you install it. Even if it is brand new, it may have problems that will be difficult to isolate later.
-Stay at least 3 feet away from fluorescent light boxes and other sources of electrical interference.
-If it is necessary to run cable across the floor, cover the cable with cable protectors.
-Label both ends of each cable.
-Use cable ties (not tape) to keep cables in the same location together.