What are The Different Types of Ethernet Cable

So you are building out a wired computer network and you need to figure out how to physically connect all your devices.

Fiber Connections

• Glass/Pla stic rods as the inner core with a plastic cladding that keeps the light from escaping.
• Relies on light signals and travel faster than electrical.
• Used for  backbone connection that carry huge volumes of data.
• Not susceptible to any EMI.
• Two major types of fiber that are differentiated by how the light is transmitted across the cable.
• Light signals do not attenuate the same way electric signals do.

Single Mode Fiber (SMF)

• Single core
• Carry a single beam a long distance (50 miles)
• Laser diode used

Multimode Fiber (MMF)

• Thicker core
• Multiple rays over a shorter distance (500 meters)
• LED diode

Fiber Optic Connectors

• • Straight Tip (ST) Connector – multimode fiber. A locking socket with a tip. The inner metal core contains a glass core.

• Standard (SC) Connector – square/standard connector. You can have a square tip and standard tip connector on the same cord.

  

• Local Connector (LC) – similar to SC.

  

• Media Terminal Recommended Jack (MTRJ) – In the end part of the connector, we have two rods for 2 cores.  One core is for sending, one core is for receiving.

  

Fiber connectors and cables require more care than wire cables as they can’t be rolled as tight and adding connectors is not a simple process; It requires specialized training and tools. The reality is most optical cables end at demarcation points.

What is the Difference Between UTP and STP Cables

Unshielded Twisted Pairs (UTP) and Shielded Twisted Pairs (STP). With copper cables, we need to be concerned about EMI and packet transmission. Because of this, cable length is usually 100 meters or less.

Each cable is made up of strands of cable that are twisted together. They are twisted together because the twists help cancel out EMI and there is a specific number of twists required per inch. Unshielded Twisted Pairs lack a braided metal shield running under the plastic covering which you find with shielded twisted pairs.

Types of UTP Cables

If we want to speed up network speed, can we just replace the cables?
Yes, and No.
You can upgrade the cable, but the network speed is also limited by the devices on the network as well as the speed of the internet coming in from the demarcation point. To get the highest speed, all the devices would need to have support for CAT 6 speed.

What is an RJ-45 Connector?

RJ-45 (Registered Jack 45) is the standard Ethernet connector that is crimped on the end of a cable and plugged in to a computer.  It has 8 pins, each one corresponds to one of the twisted pairs as seen in the diagram. The order in which the cables are pinned determine if the cable is going to be:

• Standard Straight
  • Same cable to pin arrangement on both ends

  • 

    Connect different devices (eg computer to a router)

• Crossover
  • Have different pin outs on either ends.
  • Use the T568A and T568B standardized color schemes arrangement on either end which allows for the connect of two of the same type of devices together (Router to a router).
  • The color schemes don’t actually matter as long as the right wires in a way that matches their functions.  The use of standards allow for ease of management.
  • Used for management functions on a device.

• T1 Crossover
  • Lets us  connect multiple T1 devices to one another.
  • The cable ends have different pinout patterns:
    • Pin 1 => pin 4
    • Pin 2 => pin 5
    • Pin 4 => pin 1
    • Pin 5 => pin 2

What is an RJ-11 Connector

• Like an RJ-45 but with 6 pins and 2 wires
• Used by phones
• Carry electricity (similar to PoE)

DB – 9/ (RS – 232)

• Serial port connectors.  Connector on cable is female.
• 9 pins/holes
• Connect to devices
• Can for a connection from a serial to ethernet port

Coaxial Cabling

Runs on a metal wire, but designed different that twisted pairs

A single wire that transmits information, has insulation, a braided shield (rather than twisted pairs) against EMI.

Found connecting your cable box.  Also found in 10 Base 5, 10 Base 2 and Thin net networks.

Comes in two formats:

• RG-59
  • Older Cable
  • Archnet (Pre internet)
  • Shorter distances
• RG-6
  • Better Shielding
  • Cable/Internet/Wireless Towers
  • F Connector – the screw connectors on the back of cable boxes

Connectors

• BNC/Bayonet
  • Notch and lock connector
  • Connects to a T connector on the NIC
  • Common on a bus topology
• F Connector
  • Screw connector
  • On a cable box

Media Converters
When working with electronic and light signals, we need to find a way to convert them from one to another; You just can’t touch the cable end points to one another. When designing a network, you need a media convert to translate the signals:

• Single mode fiber <==> Ethernet
• Multi mode fiber <==> Ethernet
• Fiber <==> Coaxial
• Single mode fiber <==> Multi mode fiber

Broadband Over Power/BPL

Use existing power infrastructure when there is no existing cabling infrastructure for internet connectivity.  The two main types of PBL are

• Access PBL – Over external power lines
• In House PBL – in house.  When setting up in the house, we transmit over the power sockets in our house.

When considering BPL, consider the following :

• Power lines are noisier than dedicated lines.
• Quality may vary
• Transistors, relay, other devices on the line.
• Line Interference: Transformers and AC/DC converters will disrupt data flow.   This is a design and delivery issue that needs to be considered.

How Do You Connect Network Infrastructure

When using Ethernet and UTP cables (Layer 1), cords are not plugged from the switch to the devices, they typically connect to devices one of two ways:

Patch Panel

Connection block that allows for termination, connection and switching on Layer 1.  Made of up color coordinated punch down segments and ports.  Lines from panels go to cable drops and make it easier to reconfigure the network.

110 Block

A bunch of punch downs that connect together.   There are no ports