Title: 1.4 Cabling
Course: Information and Communication Technology: Module B > Section: Section 1 - Telecommunications and Network Basics

1.4.1 Cabling

Cabling is essential for all networks. Data is transmitted by sending signals over a transmission medium. The most common media types are copper cable, which uses electrical current to send signals and fiber-optic cable, which uses light signals to send signals. Other networks communicate using:

- wireless radio, infrared, or microwave waves
- high-speed access technologies (such as CATV or DSL, which use existing telephone lines to transmit)
- data over electrical power lines

Past systems were separate. Today, structured cabling systems are integrated, organized, and standards-driven. A single cable can carry signals for voice, data, video, and home automation. The quality of the cabling and installation will determine whether quality and high-speed connections are established.

Several national and international organizations are responsible for standardizing cabling systems:

- The International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) are the worldwide standard for telecommunications.
- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA), and the Electronic Industry Association (EIA) standards are effective in the United States and Canada.
- The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a recognized authority in the information and communications technologies field. They are best known for developing standards for the computer and electronics industry, such as the IEEE 802 standards for local-area networks.

1.4.2 Copper Cabling

Copper cabling is a networking medium that conducts electrical signals through a copper medium. It has many uses in our homes.

Types of copper cabling include:

- Coaxial cable—Copper-cored cable surrounded by a heavy shielding. Uses BNC or “F” type connectors like you would find connected to your cable television.

- Twisted pair—Used by our phone and data networks. There are two kinds of twisted pair copper cabling:

  - Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP) cable combines the techniques of cancellation and the twisting of wires with shielding. Uses special metal connectors that must be properly grounded to provide shielding.

  - Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) cable is used in a variety of networks and is most common in the United States.

Both types have four pairs of wires—eight wires total. Each pair is twisted together to eliminate crosstalk. Both STP and UTP cable use RJ-45 connectors. Voice and dial-up connections are made on the same twisted pair cable as data, but they use a RJ-11 connector. Specifications dictate that a copper cable run should be no longer than 100 meters because of attenuation.

UTP is defined by the TIA/EIA 568 standard. It defines four colored pairs (Pair #1 - Blue, Pair #2 - Orange, Pair #3 - Green, Pair #4 - Brown). Each uses both a solid-colored wire and a striped wire.

There are two defined wiring schemes :

- 568A—Uses the wire pattern (from left to right): Green/White, Green, Orange/White, Blue, Blue/White, Orange, Brown/White, Brown

- 568B—Uses the wire pattern (from left to right): Orange/White, Orange, Green/White, Blue, Blue/White, Green, Brown/White, Brown

568B is the most common in the U.S. but when used in combination.

There are three types of cables we can create:

- Straight-Through cable—Used to connect unlike devices (router to switch, switch to computer)

- Cross-Over cable—Used to connect like devices (switch to switch, computer to router)

- Roll-Over or Console cable—Used to connect to networking devices for programming purposes

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1.4.2.2

1.4.3 Fiber Optic Cabling

Fiber-optic cable is a networking medium capable of conducting modulated light transmissions. The optical fiber is made of a flexible, transparent glass fiber that is slightly thicker than a human hair. It functions as a lightwave guide that transmits light from a transmitter to a receiver. It can send a transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths than copper cabling. Fiber is used instead of copper wires so that signals can travel for longer distances. Fiber-optic cables are immune to electromagnetic interference. Fiber-optic cable has many advantages over copper wire electrical transmission and has become the standard for core networks.

Optical communications fiber has the following parts:

- Core—The center of the fiber where the light travels

- Cladding—Outer layer glass that surrounds the core. The cladding reflects transmitted light back into the core.

- Buffer coating—A 900-micron plastic protective coating that protects the fiber from moisture and physical damage.

- Aramid fibers—Kevlar-based covering that keep the fiber from being pulled apart.

- Jacket—The cable's outer covering

Fiber optic cable is available in two varieties:

- Single-mode fiber cables have small diameter cores between 9-10 microns that transmit laser-generated infrared light. Used primarily between buildings and for longer distances.

- Multi-mode fiber cables have larger cores, 50 or 62.5 microns in diameter, and transmit light using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Used primarily for intra-building applications that cover shorter distances.

Please complete assignment 1.4.1 in the lab manual.