Network cables are the medium used for information to move from one network device to another. There are many different types of cable which are often used in Local Area Networks. Most network set-ups are likely to use a variety of network cable types. Whereas in some other cases, a very basic network may only utilise one kind of network cable. The cable needed varies according to the client’s needs for example the size of the network (PAN, LAN, MAN, WAN), the network protocols and even the network topology. Different cables have different characteristics and it is important to learn about the different cables available on a network to develop a successful network. In this report I will be discussing and comparing the …show more content…
UTP cables consist of four pairs of wires inside the ‘jacket’ with each pair been twisted with a different number of twists per inch to help reduce the chances of interference from other pairs in the jacket and other electrical devices. By tightly twisting the wires, the transmission rate supported will increase alongside with it as well as the price per inch. This cable type can range in a number of categories from level 1 (which is used commonly for in-home telephone wiring) to level 6 (for Ethernet networking). The Electronic Industry Association and the Telecommunication Industry Association are the ones who have established the standards of UTP and have provided five rated categories of wire where both Category 3 and Category 5 UTP have a maximum segment length of 100 metres. Although there has been a new category 6 introduced and is used for much faster gigabit …show more content…
The shield’s purpose is to minimise electrical and radio frequency interference. These days, coax cables are often used or associate with television and some other broadband/ADSL services. Ultimately, there are two kinds of coaxial cable: thin coaxial and thick coaxial.
Thin coaxial
Thin coaxial is also referred to as ‘thinnet’ and is 10Base2. What this means is that in terms of the specifications of thinnet being able to carry Ethernet signals, thinnet can deliver a maximum segment length of up to 200metres before deteriorating. It is common to find the thin coax cables in public school networks and especially with linear bus networks.
Thick coaxial
Thick coaxial cable is also referred to as ‘thicknet’ and is 10Base5. What this means that in terms of the specifications of thicknet being able to carry Ethernet signals, thicknet can deliver a maximum segment length of up to 500metres before deteriorating. Thick coaxial cabling tends to be more expensive than thin coaxial cabling due to the further range with its extra protective plastic layer used to prevent moisture from damaging the central