1.5 Install and properly terminate various cable types and connectors using appropriate tools - Paiet/Tech-Journal-for-Everything GitHub Wiki

1.5 Install and properly terminate various cable types and connectors using appropriate tools

  • Copper connectors
    • RJ-11
      • 4 wires, 2 pairs
      • Standard telephone cable connector
    • RJ-45
      • 8 wires, 4 pairs
      • Standard network cable connector
    • RJ-48C
      • T1 connection standard
      • Uses pins 1,2,4,5
    • DB-9/RS-232
      • Serial connection
      • 9 pin connector
      • Male and female connectors
    • DB-25
      • Serial/Parallel connection
      • 25 pin connector
    • UTP coupler
      • Device used to connect UTP cables for extending the length of the cable
    • BNC coupler
      • Device used to connect coaxial cables for extending the length of the cable
    • BNC
      • Barrel Nut Connector, British Naval Connector, Bayonet-Neill-Concelmen
      • Coaxial cable connector
      • Push and twist locking mechanism
    • F-connector
      • Coaxial cable connector
      • Threaded mechanism
    • 110 block
      • Punch down block for terminating network connections in a centralized location
      • Has 110 connections
    • 66 block
      • Punch down block for terminating network connections in a centralized location
      • Has 66 connections
  • Copper cables
    • Shielded vs unshielded
      • Shielded cable
        • Commonly called STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)
        • Protects the signal from outside interference by surrounding it with a shielding material
        • Costs more than UTP
      • Unshielded cable
        • Commonly called UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
        • Has no protection from interference
        • Lower costs
        • Still reliable
    • CAT3, CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6a
      • CAT3 (10 Mbps Ethernet) Legacy wiring for legacy network devices
      • CAT5 (100 Mbps Fast Ethernet) Still found, but becoming legacy
      • CAT5e (1 Gbps Ethernet) Standard wiring
      • CAT6 (1 Gbps Ethernet) Higher resistance to EMI/RFI than CAT5e
      • CAT6a (10 Gigabit Ethernet) Used as network backbone connection
    • PVC vs plenum
      • PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
        • Cheap and flexible
        • Emits noxious/poisonous gas when burned
        • Can act as a wick and carry fire from one floor or room to another
      • Plenum
        • Tightly wrapped outer covering which keeps the wick effect from carrying fire to other floors or rooms
        • Does not give off noxious fumes
    • RG-59
      • Low cost coaxial cable used for low power video applications
      • 6mm diameter
      • 75 ohms (Resistance)
    • RG-6
      • Coaxial cable
      • 75 ohms (Resistance)
    • Straight-through vs. crossover vs. rollover
      • Straight-Through
        • Used to connect unlike devices
          • Computer -> Hub
          • Computer -> Switch
        • Also referred to as a Patch Cable
        • Conforms to the 568A or 568B standard
      • Crossover
        • Used for connecting like devices
          • Computer -> Computer
          • Switch -> Switch
        • Connects pin 1 to 3 and pin 2 to 6
      • Rollover
        • Used to connect to the console port of a router
        • Connects pins to opposite pin
          • i.e. 1 to 8, 2 to 7, 3 to 6, etc...
        • Usually has RJ45 connectors on both ends
          • This will require an RS-232 serial adapter for one end

1.5 Install and properly terminate various cable types and connectors using appropriate tools Pt2

  • Fiber connectors
    • ST
      • Straight Tip
      • Used for multimode fiber
      • Has a bayonet lock connector like BNC
    • SC
      • Square Connector, Subscriber Connector, Standard Connector
      • Has a square shaped connector that usually snaps or clips into place
      • Sometimes seen in connected pairs called SC-DC (Dual Contact)
      • Used in Singlemode fiber
    • LC
      • Local Connector, Little Connector (Lucent Connector)
      • Singlemode or Multimode fiber
      • 1/2 the size of SC or ST
      • RJ45 type latch
    • MTRJ
      • Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack
      • aka Fiber Jack
      • Used with multimode fiber
      • Contains 2 strands of fiber in a compact connector
    • FC
      • Ferrule Connector
      • Heavy duty fiber connector
        • Strong and durable
      • Tubular in shape
      • Metal or ceramic support
    • Fiber coupler
      • For devices with multiple fiber input/output fibers
      • Fuses the fiber optic cores together into intimate contact allowing the signal to take multiple or different paths
  • Fiber cables
    • Single mode
      • Single mode fiber transmits a single signal down a fiber-optic cable
      • Outer diameter of 125 microns
      • Inner core diameter of 9 microns
      • Uses high intensity LASER
      • Usually transmits over hundreds of kilometers
    • Multimode
      • Multimode fiber has the ability to send multiple signals down a fiber cable
      • Outer diameter of 125 microns
      • Inner core diameter of 50 or 62.5 microns
      • Uses LED
      • Increased bandwith
      • Decreased distance over single-mode
        • Usually < 500meters but is capable of multiple kilometers
    • APC vs UPC
      • Fiber connector polished finish. Basically how the end is shaped to reduce the back reflection of the light signal which causes signal disruption
      • Standard finish is called PC (Physical Contact)
        • PC is curved or rounded
        • Reduces back reflection to around -40dB
      • UPC (Ultra Physical Contact)
        • Has a more polished face
        • Reduces back reflection to around -55dB
      • APC (Angled Physical Contact)
        • Polished to a curve @ 8deg angle
        • Reduces back reflection to around -70dB
        • Used in CATV and analog systems
  • Media converters
    • Connects networks that are using dissimilar network media
      • Technically is a transceiver
        • Both transmits and receives signals
      • Built into some network appliances
        • Switches
      • Single mode fiber to Ethernet
      • Multimode fiber to Ethernet
      • Fiber to coaxial
      • Single mode to multimode fiber
  • Tools
    • Cable crimpers
    • Punch down tool
    • Wire strippers
    • Snips
    • OTDR (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer)
      • Looks for problems with fiber optic cables
        • Faulty splices
        • Breaks
        • Connector issues
        • Bends
      • Measures signal attenuation
      • Can also measure the length of the cable
      • Link to PC Sim for OTDR
    • Cable certifier
      • Tests cables for a myriad of different issues and measurements
        • Shorts in the wire
        • Crosstalk
        • Tests cable types
          • Straight through
          • Crossover
        • NIC functionality
          • Send/Receive
          • Duplex (half/full)
        • Can be attached to devices
        • Types
          • Certification Tester
            • Checks the cable standard (CAT5e/CAT6)
          • Qualification Tester
            • Measures network speeds for the type of network (10BaseT, 1000BaseT)
          • LAN Tester
            • Tests transmission speeds, propagation delay, attenuation
          • Network Cable Certifier
            • Test transmission speed