Network Cabling

Making connections with Cat5

Way cool!
Overview
 What cable types are available?
 How do cables work?

 How are cables used in networking?

 How are connections made?

Learning Objectives
 Listcommon cable types used in networking
 Describe how UTP cables are made

 Explain how UTP cables are used in Ethernet

networks
 Demonstrate the ability to make a working

patch cable
 Name the two wiring standards used for

wired Ethernet networks and their uses

Common network cable types
 Coaxial cable

 Unshielded
twisted pair

 Fiber optic
Twisted Pair
 is a type of copper A pair of wires forms
cabling that is used a circuit that
for telephone transmits data.
communications and
most Ethernet  The pair is twisted to
networks provide protection against
crosstalk, the noise
generated by adjacent
pairs of wires in the cable.
The two basic types of twisted-
pair cables are as follows:
 has two or four pairs
of wires.
Unshielded twisted •
This type of cable relies solely on the
pair (UTP) cancellation effect produced by the twisted-
wire pairs that limits signal degradation caused
by electromagnetic interface (EMI) and radio
frequency interference (RFI). UTP is the most
commonly used cabling in networks. UTP
cables have a range of 328 feet (100 m).
 each pair of wire is
shielded twisted pair wrapped in metallic foil to
(STP) better shield the wires
from noise.

 Four pairs of wires are

then wrapped in an
overall metallic braid or
foil.
 STP reduces electrical noise from within the
cable. It also reduces EMI and RFI from
outside the cable.
 Although STP prevents interference better

than UTP, STP is more expensive because

of the extra shielding. It is also more difficult
to install because of the thickness.
UTP characteristics
 Unshielded
 Twisted (why?) pairs of insulated conductors
 Covered by
insulating sheath
UTP categories
Category 1 Voice only (Telephone)

Category 2 Data to 4 Mbps (Localtalk)

Category 3 Data to 10Mbps (Ethernet)

Category 4 Data to 20Mbps (Token ring)

Category 5 Data to 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet)
Category 5e Data to 1000Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet)
Category 6 Data to 2500Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet)
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

 Terminated with RJ-45 connectors

Coaxial Cable

is a copper-cored cable

surrounded by a heavy
shielding. Coaxial cable is
used to connect the computers
to the rest of the network.
 Thicknet (10BASE5) is a coaxial cable used in networks
operating at 10 Mbps, with a maximum length of 500 meters.
  Thinnet (10BASE2) is a coaxial cable used in networks

operating at 10 Mbps, with a maximum length of 185 meters.

  RG-59 is most commonly used for cable television in the

U.S.
  RG-6 is higher-quality cable than RG-59, with more

bandwidth and less susceptibility to interference.

Fiber-Optic Cable
 An optical fiber is a glass or plastic conductor
that transmits information using light.
 has one or more optical fibers enclosed in a

sheath or jacket.
 Because it is made of glass, fiber-optic cable

is not affected by EMI or RFI.

 All signals are converted to light pulses to

enter the cable and are converted back into

electrical signals when they leave it.
These are the two types of glass
fiber-optic cable:

 Multimode is the cable that has a thicker

core than single-mode cable. It is easier to
make, can use simpler light sources such as
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), and works well
over distances of a few kilometers or less.
 Single-mode is the cable that has a very thin
core. It is harder to make, uses lasers as a
light source, and can transmit signals dozens
of kilometers with ease.
The Difference between cross-
over and straight-through

The straight-through Ethernet

cable is used in local area network
to connect a PC to a network hub
and router. This is the standard
cable used for almost all purposes.
A cross-over cable, on the other
hand, can be used to connect two
network devices directly, without
the need for a router in the middle.
RJ45 connector
Making connections - Tools
 2 Meters Cat5 cable
 8pcs. RJ45 connectors
 Cable stripper
 Scissors
 Crimping tool
Making connections - Steps
1. Strip cable end
2. Untwist wire ends
3. Arrange wires
4. Trim wires to size
5. Attach connector
6. Check
7. Crimp
8. Test
Step 1 – Strip cable end
 Strip 1 – 1½” of insulating sheath
 Avoid cutting into conductor insulation
Step 2 – Untwist wire ends
 Sort wires by insulation colors
Step 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
Step 4 – Trim wires to size
 Trim all wires evenly
 Leave about ½” of wires exposed
Step 5 – Attach connector
 Maintain wire order,
left-to-right, with RJ45
tab facing downward
Step 6 - Check
 Do all wires extend to end?
 Is sheath well inside connector?
Step 7 - Crimp
 Squeeze firmly to crimp connecter
onto cable end (8P)
Step 8 – Test
 Does the cable work?
Let’s go to work!
 QUIZ
1. Which of the following cables can be used to
connect a PC to Hub?
A. Straight through cable
B. Cross over cable
C. Roller cable
D. Any of the above
2. How many twisted pair does
UTP Cat 5 cable have?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
3. What is the purpose of
twisting the pairs of cables
together in a UTP cable?
A. To reduce attenuation
B. To Reduce crosstalk
C. To reduce electromagnetic Interference
D. To reduce noise
4. Which cable uses RJ45
connectors?
A. Thin coaxial cable
B. Thick coaxial cable
C. Unshielded Twisted Pair cable
D. Shielded Twisted Pair cable
5. How many inch/inches of
plastic sheath should be cut?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
1. A university wants to install a
network with high data transfer rates
and low interference, but needs to
be cost-effective. Which cabling
option would best meet these
requirements?
a) Coaxial Cable
b) Fiber Optic Cable
c) Cat 5e UTP Cable
d) Cat 6 UTP Cable
2. A network technician needs to set up a
network across multiple floors of a building,
requiring high bandwidth and minimized
interference. Which cable should they choose,
and why?
a) Fiber Optic Cable – because it is high-speed
and immune to interference
b) Coaxial Cable – as it is durable and cost-
effective
c) Cat 5e UTP Cable – for affordability and ease of
use
d) Powerline Adapters – as they can extend the
network through electrical wiring
3. You need to install a network in a high-
security environment where data integrity is
crucial, and there’s high potential for
interference. Which cabling would best support
these requirements?
a) Coaxial Cable
b) Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
c) Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
d) HDMI Cable
4. A school needs a cost-effective
cabling solution to support gigabit
Ethernet speeds in a standard
classroom. Which cable type should the
school use?
a) Coaxial Cable
b) Cat 5e UTP Cable
c) Fiber Optic Cable
d) HDMI Cable
5. You are installing a network in an area
prone to extreme weather conditions.
Which factor is most critical in choosing
a cable to ensure network reliability?

a) The cost of the cable

b) The shielding and weather resistance of
the cable
c) The color and length of the cable
d) The availability of the cable
6. A hospital needs a secure, high-speed
network for transferring sensitive patient data.
The building has thick walls, which sometimes
cause interference. Which cable should be
recommended, and why?
a) Cat 5e UTP Cable – due to its affordability and
easy installation
b) Fiber Optic Cable – because it offers high-
speed data transfer and resistance to interference
c) Coaxial Cable – as it’s durable and has some
resistance to interference
d) Cat 6 UTP Cable – for supporting high-speed
Ethernet
7. A financial firm needs a flexible networking
solution that allows frequent reconfiguration of
the office layout. Which network cabling
solution would best support this need?
a) Fiber Optic Cable – as it provides the highest
speed and is future-proof
b) Cat 6 UTP Cable – for high-speed connections
with flexibility
c) Coaxial Cable – because it’s affordable and can
be easily moved
d) Wireless Networking – for maximum mobility
and reconfiguration**
8. An organization’s new office building is in an
industrial area with a high amount of
electromagnetic interference (EMI). Which
cable type should they prioritize, and why?
a) Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
b) Coaxial Cable
c) Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
d) Fiber Optic Cable